*TRACY«  IRWIN*  STQEE.P 


LIBRARY 

UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA 
DAVIS 


HISTOKY 


OF  THE 


BIBDS  OF  KANSAS 


By  N.  S.  GOSS. 


ILLUSTRATING   529   BIRDS. 


TOPEKA,  KANSAS: 

GEO.  W.   CRANE  &  CO.,  PRINTERS  AND  BINDERS. 
1891. 


OF  CALrFt)RNlA 


Copyright,  1891,  by  N.  S.  Goss. 


TO   MY   BROTHER, 

CAPT.  B.  F.  GOSS,   Oologist, 

WITH  WHOM   I   HAVE   SPENT   SO   MANY,  MANY,  PLEASANT 
HOURS  IN   THE   FIELD, 

* 
THIS   WORK  IS   AFFECTIONATELY  INSCRIBED. 


Pu 


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EXPLANATIONS. 


THE  title  of  this  work  is  explanatory  of  its  object,  and  there- 
fore does  away  with  the  usual  preface  or  introductory  remarks, 
further  than  to  say,  that  the  authors  aim  has  been  to  present 
to  the  general  reader,  as  well  as  to  the  student  interested  in  bird 
life,  a  book  containing  the  latest  knowledge  in  regard  to  the 
habits,  etc.,  of  our  birds.  It  embraces  343  species  and  sub- 
species. Several  other  species  and  subspecies  are,  without 
doubt,  entitled  to  recognition  in  this  work,  but  they  have  not  as 
yet  been  observed  in  the  State.  The  photogravure  illustrations 
represent  529  mounted  birds  (my  own  work)  in  "The  Goss  Or- 
nithological Collection." 

The  characteristic  descriptions  of  the  different  orders,  fami- 
lies, genera,  species  and  races  are  chiefly  from  "North  Ameri- 
can Land  and  Water  Birds,"  by  Baird,  Brewer  and  Ridgway, 
with  the  necessary  changes  in  nomenclature  and  classification  to 
conform  with  that  of  the  American  Ornithologists'  Union.  I 
have  also  quoted  freely  from  Mr.  Ridgway's  "Manual"  and 
"Birds  of  Illinois,"  and  occasionally  from  Dr.  Elliott  Coues' 
"Key  to  North  American  Birds."  In  all  cases  where  credit  is 
not  given,  the  characteristic  descriptions  are  referable  to  the 
first-named  works.  I  follow  these  works  because  they  are  more 
complete  than  I  could  possibly  m.ake  them  from  the  small  num- 
ber of  specimens  at  hand,  or  to  which  I  have  ready  access. 

The  descriptions  of  the  nests  and  eggs  (where  credit  is  not 
given)  are  from  notes  of  my  own  observations  in  the  field,  and 


< ;  EXPLANA  TION8. 

• 

upon  the  valuable  collection  made  by  my  brother,  Capt.  B.  F. 
Goss,  and  now  on  display  in  the  Milwaukee  Public  Museum. 

The  five  letters,  B.,  K.,  C.,  G.  and  U.,  each  followed  by  a 
number,  stand  respectively  for  Prof.  Spencer  F.  Baird's  Cata- 
logue of  1858,  Mr.  Robert  Ridgway' s  Catalogue  of  1881,  Dr. 
Elliott  Coues'  Check  List  of  1882,  my  Catalogues  of  1883  and 
1886,  and  the  American  Ornithologists'  Union  Check  List  of 
1886.  The  dash  after  any  of  these  letters  shows  that  the  bird 
is  not  contained  in  that  list. 

The  species  are  distinguished  by  consisting  of  two  terms,  the 
subspecies  of  three  terms;  for  example: 

Merula  migratoria. 

AMERICAN  ROBIN. 

Merula  migratoria  propinqua. 

WESTERN  ROBIN. 

The  dimensions  of  the  birds  and  eggs,  as  given,  represent 
their  approximate  average  measurements  in  inches  and  hun- 
dredths. 

Directions. — "Length:"  Distance  from  tip  of  bill  to  end  of  longest  tail 
feather.  "Stretch  of  wing:"  Distance  from  tip  to  tip  of  outspread  wings. 
"Wing:"  Distance  from  the  bend  or  carpal  angle  of  the  wing  to  the  end  of  the 
longest  primary.  "  Tail:"  Distance  from  the  root  of  the  longest  tail  feather  or 
"pope's  nose"  to  its  tip.  "Tarsus:"  Distance  between  the  joint  of  the  tarsus 
with  the  leg  above  and  the  lower  edge  of  the  lowermost  tarsal  scutella  In  front. 
"Bill:"  Distance  from  the  tip  of  the  bill  in  a  straight  line  to  extreme  base  of 
culmen.  In  the  description  of  colors,  the  "leg"  embraces  the  tarsus. 

In  the  Glossary,  I  have  mainly  followed  the  definitions  of  or- 
nithological terms  in  Mr.  Ridgway'  s  *  'Nomenclature  of  Colors. ' ' 

I  am  indebted  to  Dr.  J.  A.  Allen,  Mr.  Robert  Ridgway  and 
Capt.  Chas.  Bendire  for  valuable  information  kindly  furnished. 

K  S.  Goss. 

THE  Goss  ORNITHOLOGICAL  DEPARTMENT. 

BOOMS  : 
EAST  WING,  CAPITOL  BUILDING. 

Topeka,  Kansas,  February  1st,  1891. 


<:  z 

.  o 

-  o 


HISTORY 


OF   THE 


BIBDS  OF  KANSAS 


ORDER  PYGOPODES. 

DIVING  BIRDS. 

"Legs  Inserted  far  backward,  the  tarsi  extremely  compressed.  Anterior  toes 
fully  webbed  or  else  strongly  lobed  and  with  broad  flat  nails  (Podicipidce) .  Bill 
extremely  variable.  Habits  prsecocial  in  Podicipidce  and  Urinatoridce,  altrlcial 
in  Alcidce;  young  dasypaedic.  Palate  schizognatbous.  Carotids  double,  except 
in  Podicipidce  and  some  Alcidce  (e.  g.,  genus  Alle)." 

SUBORDER  PODICIPEDES.     GREBES. 

Tail  feathers  wanting.  Anterior  toes  lobed,  the  nails  very  broad,  flat,  and; 
with  rounded  tips.  (Ridgway.) 

FAMILY  PODICIPIDJE.     GKEBES. 

"Swimmers  resembling  the  Loons  in  the  posterior  insertion  of  the  legs,  but 
the  toes  lobate  and  semipalmate,  instead  of  completely  webbed,  the  claws  broad, 
flat,  and  nail-like,  instead  of  normally  narrow  and  curved.  Bill  variable  in 
shape;  nostrils  variable,  but  without  an  overhanging  lobe;  wings  very  short  and 
concave,  the  primaries  covered  by  the  secondaries  in  the  closed  wing;  tail  rudi- 
mentary, consisting  of  a  mere  tuft  of  downy,  loose-webbed  feathers,  without 
perfectly-formed  rectrices;  plumage  of  the  lower  surface  remarkably  silky  and 
lustrous,  usually  white." 

GENUS  .33CHMOPHORUS  COUES. 

"Neck  extremely  long  (almost  as  long  as  the  body),  the  bill  longer  than  the 
bead,  very  slender  and  acute. (the  length  of  the  culmen  five  to  six  times  greater 
than  the  depth  through  the  base),  straight,  or  even  slightly  recurved;  tarsus 


8  HISTORY  OF   THE 

«qual  to  the  middle  toe  and  claw.  Plumage  plain  plumbeous  dusky  or  blackish 
above,  pure  white  beneath,  including  the  whole  under  side  of  head  and  neck; 
much  the  same  at  all  seasons  and  stages." 

^Ichmophorus  occidentalis  (LAWK.). 

WESTERN  GREBE. 
PLATE  I. 

Accidental  visitant.  For  this  addition  to  our  State  list,  we 
are  indebted  to  Prof.  F.  H.  Snow,  who  reports  the  capture  of  a 
young  male  November  3d,  1887,  on  the  Kansas  River,  at  Law- 
rence. 

B.  704.     R.  731.     C.  845.     G.  ,       — .     U.  1. 

HABITAT.  Western  North  America,  from  Lower  California 
and  Mexico  to  Manitoba,  breeding  nearly  throughout  its  range. 

SP.  CHAR.  "•Adult,  full  breeding  plumage:  Pileum  and  nape  slaty  black; 
remaining  upper  parts  brownish  slate,  the  remiges  paler  and  more  grayish,  with 
the  inner  webs  chiefly  white;  concealed  bases  of  primaries  and  outer  webs  of 
secondaries  next  the  shaft  also  white.  Entire  lower  parts  satiny  white,  abruptly 
defined  against  the  black  of  the  pileum  and  nape;  sides,  beneath  the  wings 
clouded  with  grayish;  lores  usually  brownish  gray,  sometimes  white,  Bill 
olivaceous,  becoming  clear  yellowish  terminally  and  along  the  commissure;  iris 
bright  clear  rose  red;  legs  and  feet  greenish  olive  in  the  dried  skin.  Adult 
(and  young),  in  winter:  Similar,  but  pileum  and  nape  brownish  slate,  like  the 
back.  Bill  dull,  rather  light  yellow,  the  lower  mandible  deepening  into  or- 
ange terminally;  culmeu  and  broad  longitudinal  space  on  the  side  of  the  basal 
two-thirds  of  the  lower  mandible  dark  olive  green,  the  former  nearly  black;  iris 
pure  carmine  (having  much  the  appearance  of  a  red  currant),  growing  nar- 
rowly whitish  around  the  pupil;  tarsi  and  toes  dull  olivaceous  yellow,  the  outer 
side  of  the  tarsus  and  joints  of  the  toes  nearly  black.  Downy  young:  Above, 
uniform  brownish  gray,  the  nape  and  pileum  lighter;  lower  parts  uniform  white; 
bill  blackish.  No  streaks  or  other  markings  whatever  about  the  plumage." 

Stretch  of 
Length.          wing.          Wing.          Tail.        Tarsus.         Bill. 

Male 26.00         37.00         8.25         2.00         2.90         2.80 

Female...      24.00         35.00         7.50         1.60         2.85         2.60 

The  birds  are  quite  common  west  of  the  Rocky  Mountains; 
breeding  in  reedy  ponds  and  lakes,  east  to  Manitoba;  wintering 
south  into  Lower  California;  but  its  capture  at  Lawrence  is  the 
first  mention  that  I  can  find  of  its  occurrence  upon  the  east  side 
of  the  mountains  south  of  the  breeding  grounds.  I  have  noticed 
this  large  species  at  San  Diego  several  times,  and  in  the  winter 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  9 

and  early  spring  of  1882,  I  had  a  good  opportunity  to  observe 
them  on  the  waters  of  Puget  Sound.  The  birds  ride  the  water 
lightly,  and  their  silky  plumage,  slender  bill,  long,  waving  neck 
and  graceful  carriage  can  but  attract  the  attention  of  the  most 
indifferent  of  observers.  It  ranks  high  among  the  water  birds, 
and  is  by  right  the  queen  of  the  family.  Like  all  of  the  race, 
they  are  expert  swimmers  and  divers,  and  can  quietly  sink  out  of 
sight  in  the  water  without  any  apparent  motion;  but  their  natural 
manner  of  diving  is  to  spring  with  a  stroke  of  their  feet,  almost 
clearing  the  water  and  disappearing  about  three  feet  from  the 
starting  point.  They  are  at  home  on  the  waves,  and  it  is  almost 
impossible  to  force  the  birds  to  take  wing;  but  when  in  the  air 
fly  with  great  rapidity,  with  neck  and  feet  stretched  out  to  their 
full  extent,  and  in  alighting  often  do  not  attempt  to  slacken 
their  speed,  but  strike  the  water  with  partially  closed  wings, 
with  a  force  that  carries  them  on  the  surface  from  twenty  to 
forty  feet. 

Their  nests  are  usually  built  on  broken  down  reeds  or  rushes 
growing  in  the  water  from  two  to  three  feet  deep,  and  made  of 
decayed  vegetation  brought  up  from  the  bottom.  Eggs  two  to 
five;  dull  bluish  white.  A  set  of  four  eggs  collected  at  Devil's 
Lake,  Dakota,  June  1st,  1884,  measure:  2.20x1.47,  2.26x1.47, 
2.30x1.49,  2.32x1.50;  in  form,  vary  from  elliptical  ovate  to 
^nlongate  ovate. 

Two  sets  of  eggs,  one  of  four,  the  other  of  five,  taken  by 
Capt.  Chas.  Bendire,  May  28th,  1883,  on  a  marsh  in  Klarnath 
county,  Oregon,  average  2.31x1.52.  He  writes  that  they  often 
lay  seven  eggs,  and  possibly  more. 

GEXUS  COLYMBUS  LINX.EUS. 

"Neck  much  shorter  than  the  body;  bill  about  equal  to  the  head,  stout  (length 
of  the  culmen  about  three  and  a  half  times  the  depth  through  the  base),  the  tip 
blunt,  and  the  outlines  more  or  less  convex;  tarsus  shorter  than  middle  toe  with 
claw.  Breeding  plumage  ornamented  by  colored  tufts  or  patches  about  the 
head,  the  winter  plumage  and  the  young  very  different." 

SUBGENUS  DYTES  KAUP. 

"Size  small;  bill  much  shorter  than  head,  compressed  deeper  than  wide  at 
base;  tarsus  about  as  long  as  the  middle  toe  without  the  claw." 


10  HISTORY  OF  THE 

Colymbus  auritus  LINN. 

HORNED  GREBE. 
PLATE  I. 

Migratory;  rare.  Arrive  the  middle  to  last  of  April;  begin 
to  return  in  September. 

B.  706.     R.  732.     C.  848.     G.  317,     1.     U.  3. 

HABITAT.  Northern  hemisphere;  breeding  chiefly  north  of 
the  United  States;  wintering  in  the  southern  States  and  on  the 
Pacific  coast  south  into  Lower  California. 

SP.  CHAR.  "Adult,  breeding  plumage:  Head  generally  (including  the  fluffy 
tufts  on  each  side  of  the  upper  neck)  slightly  glossy  dull  greenish  black,  becom- 
ing gradually  dull  sooty  slate  on  the  forehead;  lores  dull  ochraceous  rufous, 
communicating  with  a  broad  superciliary  stripe  of  bright  ochraceous,  which 
continues,  gradually  widening,  to  the  sides  of  the  occiput;  fore  neck  rich  rufous. 
Upper  parts  dusky,  the  feathers  sometimes  with  indistinctly  paler  margins;  sec- 
ondaries chiefly  or  entirely  white.  Lower  parts  white,  the  sides  mixed  chestnut 
rufous  and  grayish  dusky.  Bill  bluish  black,  its  tip  yellow;  short  loral  space 
bright  carmine,  as  is  the  iris,  its  inner  margin  white;  edges  of  eyelids  grayish 
blue;  feet  dusky  externally,  internally  and  on  anterier  and  posterior  ridges  of 
the  tarsus  dull  yellow;  claws  dusky.  Winter  plumage:  Pileum,  nape  and  sides 
of  the  jugulum  smoky  slate;  under  part  and  sides  of  the  head,  lores,  and  lower 
parts  generally,  white;  jugulum  faintly  shaded  with  pale  grayish,  and  sides 
clouded  with  dark  grayish.  Upper  parts  as  in  the  summer  plumage,  but  more 
slaty.  Bill  bluish  gray,  as  in  the  bare  loral  space;  the  eye  bright  carmine,  with, 
an  inner  white  edge;  the  feet  bluish  gray.  Downy  young  (half  grmcri):  Pilenm 
and  nape  dusky;  sides  of  the  head  with  two  dusky  stripes  and  several  irregular 
spots  of  the  same  color;  throat  with  a  dusky  streak  on  each  side.  Otherwise 
similar  in  color  to  the  winter  plumage." 

Stretch  of 
Length.          wing.          Wing.          Tail.        Tarsus.         Bill. 

Male 14.50         25.25         5.65         1.00         1.80         1.00 

Female...     13.25        23.50         5.40         1.40         1.80  .85 

I  have  had  a  good  opportunity  to  observe  the  birds  in  south- 
ern California  and  on  the  northwest  and  the  northeast  coasts, 
and  found  them  in  each  locality  quite  common.  July  19th, 
1880,  I  found  several  pairs  of  the  birds  nesting  in  a  small,  nar- 
row pond  of  fresh  water,  on  Grosse  Isle,  one  of  the  Magdalen 
group,  in  the  Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence.  It  was  covered  with  a 
dense  growth  of  rushes,  with  the  exception  of  a  strip  of  deep, 
open  water  in  the  center.  I  shall  never  forget  that  day:  I  was 
extremely  anxious  to  procure  their  eggs,  and  wanted  a  pair  of 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  H 

the  birds  in  breeding  plumage.  The  birds  were  very  shy,  and 
the  rushes  too  thick  to  see  them  from  the  shore;  the  water  was 
cold,  and,  in  order  to  find  their  nests,  I  had  to  wade  in  water 
from  two  to  three  feet  in  depth.  While  in  motion,  I  did  not 
suffer  much  with  cold,  but  in  order  to  get  the  birds  was  forced 
to  stand  for  a  long  time  motionless  in  the  water  (barring  the 
shivering  and  chattering  of  teeth),  while  my  man  was  beating 
the  water  along  the  shore  with  a  pole.  The  frightened  birds 
would  not  rise,  but  crossed  the  open  space  from  side  to  side 
under  the  water;  one  passed,  with  closed  wings,  close  beside 
me,  but  its  lobate  feet,  that  are  placed  so  far  behind,  sculled  it 
with  surprising  velocity. 

It  is  said  by  some  writers  that  the  birds  do  not  use  their  wings 
under  the  water.  This  may  be  so,  but  I  am  inclined  to  think, 
when  out  of  the  reeds  or  rushes  and  with  nothing  to  catch  or 
tangle,  that  they  do  use  them  to  accelerate  their  speed.  In  the 
examination  of  their  stomachs,  however,  I  find  their  food  con- 
sists largely  of  Crustacea  (crawfish  the  favorite),  water  newts, 
insects,  and  all  forms  of  low  animalcula,with  traces  of  vegeta- 
tion and,  of  course,  minnows;  but  fish  are  not  so  essential  to 
sustain  life,  as  is  the  case  with  many  of  the  expert  divers,  and 
they  may  not  have  occasion  to  use  their  wings  often. 

Away  from  their  breeding  grounds  the  birds  do  not,  as  a  rule, 
skulk  or  hide  when  hunted,  but  dive,  coming  to  the  surface  at  a 
safe  distance,  and  at  once  take  wing,  flying  swiftly  and  low,  re- 
peating as  often  as  approached,  making  the  chase,  whether  in  a 
boat  or  otherwise,  tiresome  and  almost  hopeless. 

Before  leaving  the  pond  I  succeeded  in  finding  two  nests, 
without  eggs,  that  had  the  appearance  of  having  been  lately  set 
upon  (the  downy  little  chicks  leave  their  nests  as  soon  as 
hatched).  I  killed  one  about  two  weeks  old;  (I  have  the  same 
in  the  Goss  Ornithological  Collection.)  I  also  shot  a  few  of  the 
birds,  and  took  from  the  ovary  of  a  female  a  fully-formed  egg, 
1.71x1.20,  pure  bluish  white;  but,  as  the  loose,  puffy  feathers 
about  the  head  were  beginning  to  drop  off,  I  think  the  breeding 
season  was  nearly  over. 

The  two  nests  that  I  found  were  built  in  water  about  two  feet 


12  HISTORY  OF  THE 

deep,  and  on  the  old,  broken-down  rushes;  they  were  made  of 
old,  decayed  rushes,  leaves,  and  debris  gathered  from  the  bot- 
tom; were  quite  bulky,  and  piled  up  until  they  floated  several 
inches  above  the  water  —  at  least  two  inches  in  the  center  of  the 
nest  —  and  were  firmly  held  in  place  and  hid  by  the  standing, 
growing  rushes,  and  were  about  ten  rods  apart;  from  this  I  am 
led  to  think  that  they  do  not  build  in  communities  like  their 
cousins,  the  Eared  Grebes. 

Eggs  four  to  seven,  1.76x1.21,  bluish  white,  but  generally 
more  or  less  stained.  A  set  of  six  eggs,  collected  at  Ogden, 
Utah,  measure:  1.70x1.21,  1.70x1.22,  1.76x1.22,  1.78x1.22, 
1.80x1.20,  1.80x1.21;  inform,  elliptical  ovate. 

Colymbus  nigricollis  californicus  (HEEBM.). 

AMERICAN  EARED  GREBE. 
PLATE  I. 

Migratory;  rare  in  eastern  Kansas;  common,  and  may  occa- 
sionally breed  in  western  Kansas.  Arrive  the  last  of  April  to 
middle  of  May.  Return  early  in  September,  a  few  remaining 
into  November. 

.B.  707.     R.  733.     C.  850.     G.  318,     2.     U.  4. 

HABITAT.  Western  North  America,  east  to  the  Mississippi 
river,  north  to  Great  Slave  Lake,  south  into  Central  America. 
Abundant  from  the  plains  westward;  breeding  nearly  through- 
out its  range. 

SP.  CHAR.  "Adult,  breeding  plumage:  Head,  neck  and  upper  parts  dull 
black;  on  each  side  of  the  head,  behind  the  eyes,  and  occupying  the  whole  of 
the  postocular  and  auricular  regions,  a  flattened  tuft  of  elongated,  narrow,  and 
pointed  feathers  of  an  ochraceous  color,  those  of  the  lower  part  of  the  tuft  in- 
clining to  rufous  or  ferruginous,  those  along  the  upper  edge  straw  yellow  or 
buff,  sometimes,  but  rarely,  forming  a  rather  well-defined  streak;  fore  pan  of 
head  sometimes  inclining  to  grayish  or  smoky  dusky.  Upper  parts  blackish 
dusky,  the  secondaries  —  sometimes  also  the  inner  primaries  —  mostly  or  en- 
tirely white.  Lower  parts  satiny  white,  the  sides  mixed  chestnut  rufous  and 
dusky.  Bill  deep  black;  iris  bright  carmine,  with  an  inner  whitish  ring;  legs 
and  feet  dusky  gray  externally,  greenish  gray  on  the  inner  side.  Winter 
plumage:  Pileum,  nape  and  upper  parts  fuliginous  slate  or  plumbeous  dusky; 
malar  region,  chin  and  throat  white;  auricular  region  white,  sometimes  tinged 
with  pale  grayish  buff  or  light  grayish;  fore  part  and  sides  of  neck  pale  dull 
grayish;  lower  parts  satiny  white,  the  sides  plumbeous  dusky.  Upper  mandi- 
ble greenish  black,  growing  pale  ashy  olive  green  on  basal  third  of  the  commis- 


BIRD H   OF  KANSAS.  13 

sure  (broadly)  and  on  the  culmeu;  lower  mandible  ashy  olive  green,  paler 
below,  and  more  yellowish  basally;  iris  bright  orange  red,  more  scarlet  out- 
wardly, and  with  a  fine  thread-like  white  ring  around  the  pupil;  tarsi  and  toes 
dull  blackish  on  the  outer  side,  passing  on  the  edges  into  olive  green;  inner  side 
dull  light  yellowish  green;  inner  toe  apple  green.  Young,  first  plumage:  Simi- 
lar to  winter  adults,  but  colors  more  brownish.  Downy  young:  Top  of  the 
head,  as  far  down  as  the  auriculars,  dusky,  the  forehead  divided  medially  by  a 
white  line,  which  soon  separates  into  two,  each  of  which  again  bifurcates  on  the 
side  of  the  crown  (over  the  eye),  one  branch  running  obliquely  downward  and 
backward  to  the  sides  of  the  nape,  the  other  continued  straight  back  to  the 
occiput;  middle  of  the  crown  with  a  small  oblong  or  elliptical  spot  of  bare- 
reddish  skin.  Suborbital,  auricular  and  malar  regions,  chin  and  throat,  im- 
maculate white;  fore  neck  pale  grayish;  lower  parts  white,  becoming  grayish 
laterally  and  posteriorly;  upper  parts  dusky  grayish." 

Stretch  of 
Length.          wing.  Wing.         Tail.        Tarsus.          Bill. 

Male 12.75         21.50         5.20         1.60         1.50         1.00 

Female...      12.00         20.25         5.00         1.50         1.45  .90 

June  4th,  1877,  I  had  the  pleasure  of  finding  about  one  hun- 
dred pairs  of  these  birds  nesting  in  a  little  cove  of  Como  Lake, 
a  small  alkali  lake  without  outlet,  in  the  Territory  of  Wyoming, 
on  the  line  of  the  Union  Pacific  Railway;  altitude  6,680  feet. 
The  nests  were  in  a  narrow  strip  of  rushes,  growing  in  water 
eighteen  inches  deep,  and  about  one  hundred  and  thirty  feet 
from  the  shore.  Between  the  rushes  and  the  shore  was  a  heavy 
growth  of  coarse  marsh  grass,  the  whole  covering  not  over  from 
one  to  one  and  one-half  acres  in  area.  The  bank  being  a  little 
higher  than  the  ground  back  of  it,  the  approach  could  be  made 
unobserved,  and  my  appearance,  so  unexpected  and  near,  gave 
the  birds  no  time  to  cover  their  eggs,  as  is  their  wont,  giving 
me  a  fine  opportunity,  on  wading  out,  to  see  the  eggs  in  their 
nests.  I  collected  the  eggs  from  two  nests,  five  in  each,  and 
counted  from  where  I  stood  over  twenty  nests,  with  from  one 
to  five  eggs  in  each.  Quite  a  number  of  others  were  com- 
pleted, but  without  eggs,  and  still  others  were  building.  The 
floating  nests  were  made  of  old  broken  rushes,  weeds,  and  de- 
bris from  the  bottom,  and  were  partially  filled  in  and  around 
the  standing,  growing  rushes.  There  were  no  feathers  or  other 
kind  of  lining.  They  were  from  five  to  ten  inches  in  diameter; 
the  outer  edge  or  rim  was  from  two  to  three  inches  above  the 


14       ,  HISTORY.  OF  THE 

water.  The  eggs  in  several  touched  the  water,  and  were  more 
or  less  stained  in  their  wet  beds.  The  color  of  the  eggs  when 
fresh  was  white,  with  a  slight  bluish  shade.  The  average  meas- 
urement  of  the  ten  eggs  was  1.81  by  1.20  inches.  I  watched 
the  birds  closely  during  the  three  days  I  remained  there.  Those 
out  upon  the  lake  were  noisy  and  active,  keeping  near  the  cen- 
ter and  closely  together.  It  was  their  courtship  and  mating 
ground,  but  the  birds  in  going  to  and  from  their  nesting  places 
were  silent  and  watchful.  In  leaving  their  nests,  they  would 
dive  and  come  up  quite  a  distance  away  and  swim  rapidly  for 
the  flock  in  the  lake.  I  noticed  at  all  times,  not  far  from  the 
breeding  grounds,  from  five  to  eight  birds,  evidently  sentinels, 
sitting  upon  the  water  with  their  heads  high,  ever  upon  the  look- 
out and  ready  to  give  the  alarm,  but  slow  to  leave  their  station, 
in  fact,  never  leaving  the  little  bay,  but  taking  good  care  to 
keep  out  of  reach.  As  soon  as  I  passed  by,  the  birds  fright- 
ened from  their  nests  would  cautiously  but  quickly  return  and 
join  the  sentinels,  from  which  point  they  would  dive  and  come 
up  within  the  rushes.  In  no  instance  did  I  see  them  swim  to 
or  from  their  nests;  they  may,  however,  do  so  when  not  dis- 
turbed. 

In  general  habits  and  actions  the  birds  do  not  appear  to  dif- 
fer from  others  of  the  family. 

GENUS  PODILYMBUS  LESSON. 

"Size  medium;  bill  very  stout,  the  length  of  the  culmen  less  than  twice  the 
basal  depth;  bill  much  shorter  than  the  head,  the  culineu  much  curved  termi- 
nally; tarsus  shorter  than  the  middle  toe  without  claw.  No  tufts  in  summer 
plumage  but  bill  particolored,  and  throat  ornamented  by  a  black  patch." 

Podilymbus  podiceps  (LINN.). 

PIED-BILLED  GREBE. 
PLATE  L 

Summer  resident;  not  uncommon;  in  migration  abundant. 
Arrive  the  last  of  April  to  first  of  May.  Begin  laying  early  in 
May.  Remain  until  late  in  the  fall. 

B.  709.     E.  735.     C.  852.     G.  319,     8.     U.  6. 

HABITAT.  British  Provinces  southward  into  northern  South 
America,  breeding  nearly  throughout  its  range. 


OF  KANSAS.  15 

SP.  CHAR.  "Adult,  breeding  plumage:  Chin,  throat,  and  a  spot  at  the  base 
of  the  mandible,  black;  rest  of  the  head  and  neck  brownish  gray,  darker  on  the 
pileum  and  nape,  lighter  on  the  sides  of  the  head,  the  malar  region  light  ashy, 
streaked  with  dusky.  Upper  parts  uniform  dusky  grayish  brown,  the  remiges 
paler,  the  inner  webs  of  the  secondaries  tipped  with  white;  lower  parts  grayish 
white,  everywhere  spotted  with  dusky  grayish.  Bill  milk  white,  crossed  past 
the  middle  by  a  black  band,  the  terminal  portion  more  bluish;  eyelids  white; 
naked  lores  bluish;  iris  rich  dark  brown,  with  a  narrow  outer  ring  of  ochra- 
ceous  white,  and  an  inner  thread-like  ring  of  pure  white;  tarsi  and  toes  green- 
ish slate  black  on  the  outer,  and  plumbeous  on  the  inner  side.  Winter  plumage: 
Head  and  neck  dull  brownish,  darker  on  the  pileum  and  nape,  and  becoming 
white  on  the  chin  and  throat  (sometimes  also  on  the  malar  region);  lower  parts 
silvery  white,  brownish  laterally  and  posteriorly;  upper  parts  as  in  the  summer 
plumage.  Bill  horn  color,  becoming  blackish  basally  and  on  the  culmen;  lower 
mandible  more  lilaceous,  with  a  dusky  lateral  stripe;  iris  of  three  distinct  colors, 
•disposed  in  concentric  rings,  the  first  (around  the  pupil)  clear  milk  white,  the 
next  dark  olive  brown,  the  outer  pale  ochraceous  brown,  the  dark  ring  reticula- 
ted into  the  lighter;  tarsi  and  toes  greenish  slate,  the  joints  darker.  Young, 
first  plumage:  Similar  to  the  winter  dress,  but  side  and  under  part  of  the  head 
white,  indefinitely  striped  with  brown,  the  throat  sometimes  immaculate. 
Downy  young:  Head  and  neck  distinctly  striped  with  white  and  black;  a  spot 
of  rufous  on  the  middle  of  the  crown,  one  on  each  side  of  the  occiput,  and  one 
on  the  upper  part  of  the  nape;  the  latter  confluent  with  two  white  stripes  run- 
ning down  the  nape,  the  others  entirely  surrounded  with  black;  upper  parts 
blackish  dusky,  marked  with  four  longitudinal  stripes  or  lines  of  grayish  white 
running  the  whole  length  of  the  body;  lower  parts  immaculate  white  medially, 
dusky  grayish  anteriorly,  laterally  and  posteriorly." 

Stretch  of 

Length.         wing.  IV ing.  Tail.  Tarsus.  Bill. 

Male 14.00         23.50  5.00  1.50         1.50  .80 

Female...     13.00        22.50  4.80  1.40         1.45  .80 

These  birds,  so  active  and  at  home  on  the  water,  (like  all  of 
the  family,)  are  awkward  and  almost  helpless  upon  the  land, 
and  unless  forced  by  tired  wings  to  drop,  are  never  seen  far 
from  the  water's  edge.  They  are  very  shy,  and  about  their 
breeding  grounds  secretive,  waiting  and  feeding  far  away,  going 
to  and  returning  beneath  the  water,  and  when  upon  their  nests, 
if  approached,  will  cover  their  eggs  and  slip  unobserved  under 
the  water,  without  making  a  ripple  upon  its  surface.  For  these 
reasons  some  writers  are  led  to  think  that  the  birds  do  not 
occupy  their  nests  during  the  day;  but  this  is  not  so;  they  are 
close  sitters.  To  see  the  birds  upon  their  nests  one  must  hide 
a  long  distance  away  and  await  their  return.  Their  nest  is 
placed  in  thick  weeds  or  rushes,  in  water  from  two  to  three  feet 


16  HISTORY  OF  THE 

deep;  composed  of  old  decaying  weeds  or  rushes,  brought  up 
from  the  bottom  and  piled  upon  each  other  in  and  around  the 
standing  stalks,  until  the  fabric  reaches  the  top  and  floats  upon 
the  water,  quite  a  bulky  structure.  Upon  this  a  small  nest  is 
built  of  debris  and  bits  of  slimy  moss.  Eggs,  1.69x1.17; 
bluish  white  at  first,  but  soon  become  stained  in  their  wet  beds; 
usually  five  ;  ten  have  been  found  in  a  nest.  They  are  often 
more  or  less  coated  with  a  chalky  calcareous  matter;  in  form, 
elliptical. 

SUBOEDER  CEPPHI.    LOONS  AND  AUKS. 

Tail  feathers  present,  but  short.  (Ridyway.) 

FAMILY  URINATOU-ID^.     LOONS. 

"Swimming  birds,  with  the  feet  situated  far  back,  a  well  developed  hallux, 
the  anterior  toes  completely  webbed  and  normally  clawed;  the  bill  straight, 
acute,  compressed,  the  nostrils  linear,  overhung  by  a  membraneous  lobe;  tail 
normal,  but  short.  Nature  prsecocial;  eggs  two  or  three,  dark  colored,  and 
more  or  less  spotted. 

"The  family  includes  a  single  genus,  Urinator,  usually,  but  wrongly,  called 
Colymbus" 

GENUS  UEINATOR  CUVIER. 

"Characters  the  same  as  those  of  the  family." 


Urinator  imber 

LOON. 
PLATE  I. 

Migratory;  rare.  Arrive  the  last  of  March,  to  last  of  April. 
Return  late  in  the  fall. 

B.  698.     R.  736.     C.  840.     G.  320,     4.     U.  7. 

HABITAT.  Northern  part  of  northern  hemisphere.  Breeds 
from  about  latitude  41°  to  within  the  Arctic  circle.  South  in 
winter  to  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  and  Lower  California. 

SP.  CHAB.  "Adult:  Head  and  neck  dull  black,  with  a  greenish  reflection, 
this  brightest  on  the  lower  part  of  the  neck;  fore  neck  crossed  by  a  narrow  bar 
of  white  longitudinal  oblong  dots  or  short  streaks;  sides  of  the  neck  some  dis- 
tance below  this  crossed  by  a  broad  bar  of  longitudinal  white  streaks;  upper 
parts  black  beautifully  variegated  with  white  dots,  these  largest,  and  nearly 
quadrate  in  form,  on  the  scapulars,  minute  and  dot-like  on  the  rump.  Lower 
parts  immaculate  white,  the  sides  of  the  jugulum  narrowly  streaked  with  black, 
the  sides  and  flanks  black,  dotted  with  white.  Bill  black,  paler  at  the  tip;  iris 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  17 

carmine:  legs  and  feet  livid  grayish  blue,  their  inner  sides  tinged  with  pale 
yellowish  flesh  color;  claws  black,  lighter  at  the  base;  webs  brownish  black- 
lighter  in  the  middle.  Young:  Upper  parts  dusky,  the  scapulars,  iuterscapu, 
lars  and  upper  tail  coverts  bordered  terminally  with  plumbeous  gray;  lower 
parts,  including  malar  region,  chin,  throat  and  fore  neck,  white,  the  sides  and 
flanks  dusky  brown,  squamated  with  grayish.  Bill  pale  yellowish  green,  the 
ridge  and  tip  of  upper  mandible  dusky;  iris  brown;  feet  dusky  externally,  pale 
yellowish  flesh  color  internally,  webs  dusky,  but  yellow  in  the  middle.  Downy 
]l»iin<j:  Uniformly  dark  fuliginous,  lighter  and  more  slaty  on  the  throat,  fore 
neck,  jugulum  and  sides,  the  entire  abdomen  velvety  yellowish  white,  shaded 
with  pale  ash  gray  exteriorly.  The  down  short  and  very  dense,  very  similar 
to  the  fur  of  an  otter  or  other  fur-bearing  mammal." 

Stretch  of 
Length.  wing.          Wing.         Tail.        Tarsus.         Bill. 

Male 32.00         56.50        14.50        3.50         3.15         3.00 

Female...      30.00         54.00        13.50        3.25         3.15         2.90 

During  the  summer  months  the  birds  are  to  be  found  in  the 
northern  ponds  and  lakes,  sporting  and  fishing  in  the  open  clear 
waters;  and  their  plaintive  call  can  often  be  heard  far  beyond 
the  range  of  our  sight:  a  weird  sound,  more  supernatural  than 
real;  one  that  the  imaginative  mind  could  well  be  led  to  think 
a  wail  from  Nereus,  who  was  doomed  by  Poseidon,  the  god  of 
the  sea,  to  dwell  in  the  waters. 

The  -birds  reluctantly  leave  their  northern  home,  and  as  a 
rule  linger  until  the  ice  closes  their  watery  resorts,  wintering 
largely  upon  the  sea  coast.  I  found  them  very  common  during 
the  winter  months  in  the  harbor  of  San  Diego;  and  have  often 
laid  upon  the  railroad  track  at  its  crossing  of  a  narrow  outlet  to 
a  small  pond,  a  little  south  of  the  city,  and  watched  the  birds 
pass  and  repass,  invariably  coming  and  going  with  the  tide. 
As  they  approached  the  outlet  from  either  side,  they  would  dive 
at  a  safe  distance  and  with  the  aid  of  their  wings  fly  beneath  its 
surface  with  the  speed  of  an  arrow:  making  the  water  fairly 
boil  around  them,  and  leaving  in  their  wake  a  silvery  streak  of 
bubbles.  And  once,  when  upon  their  breeding  grounds  in  com- 
pany with  my  brother,  in  trying  to  catch  two  little  chicks  not 
over  a  week  old,  the  mother  passed  under  our  boat  several 
times,  in  like  manner. 

It  is  a  difficult  matter  to  force  the  birds  to  take  wing,  and, 
without  a  fair  breeze  to  aid  them,  I  never  saw  one  make  the 


18  HISTORY  OF  THE 

attempt.  (All  birds  naturally  rise  and  alight  facing  the  wind, 
and  the  short-winged  ones  cannot  well  rise  otherwise.)  In 
rising  they  spring  with  their  feet,  striking  the  air  at  the  same 
time  vigorously  with  their  wings,  patting  the  water  for  some 
distance;  but  once  in  the  air  can  sustain  themselves  for  a  long 
time,  flying  very  swiftly  and  direct.  When  upon  the  ground 
the  birds  cannot  rise,  and  are  almost  helpless,  shuffling  and 
floundering  along,  using  both  their  wings  and  feet  in  a  most  awk- 
ward manner;  and  for  this  reason  the  name  they  bear  (which 
signifies  lame)  was  given  them  by  the  Laplanders. 

Their  nests  are  built  at  or  near  the  edge  of  the  water,  on 
marshy  or  boggy  grounds;  they  are  quite  bulky,  and  made  of 
water  grasses,  or  plants  at  hand,  with  a  mixture  of  slimy  moss 
and  mud,  with  a  place  hollowed  out  in  the  center  to  fit  the  body. 
Eggs  usually  two,  but,  according  to  Audubon  and  Nuttall,  some- 
times three;  vary  in  size  from  3.27x2.10  to  3.90x2.38.  A 
set  collected  May  10th,  1878,  on  Pewaukee  Lake,  Wisconsin, 
measured  3.45x2.20  to  3.27x2.21.  Ground  color  olive  brown 
to  olivaceous  drab,  more  or  less  spotted  and  occasionally  blotched 
with  blackish  brown;  in  form,  vary  from  narrow  oval  to  ellip- 
tical ovate. 


ORDER  LONGIPENNES. 

LONG-WINGED  SWIMMERS. 

"Hind  toe  small  or  rudimentary,  and  elevated,  sometimes  almost  obsolete; 
anterior  toes  fully  webbed.  Bill  more  or  less  compressed  (nearly  cylindrical 
only  in  some  Stercorariidce),  the  nostrils  linear,  never  tubular.  Habits  altricial; 
young  dasypsedic.  Palate  schizognathous.  Carotids  double." 

FAMILY  LARID.32.     GULLS  AND  TERNS. 

"Bill  moderately  compressed,  or  sometimes  nearly  cylindrical,  its  covering 
entire;  the  tips  of  the  maxilla  overhanging,  or  at  least  meeting,  that  of  the 
mandible;  the  culmen  more  or  less  curved,  but  never  arched  terminally — some- 
times nearly  straight  throughout;  symphysis  of  the  mandible  usually  forming 
more  or  less  of  an  angle,  this,  in  most  cases,  prominent  in  proportion  to  the 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  19 

relative  depth  of  the  bill;  nostrils  syb-basal,  perforate;  legs  and  feet  of  propor- 
tionate sise.     Tail  extremely  variable  in  form  and  length. 

"Although  including  among  its  very  numerous  members  great  extremes  of 
size  and  form,  the  family  Laridce  as  here  restricted  is  not  divisible  into  more 
than  two  subfamilies,  and  these  are  so  nearly  united  through  certain  forms  as 
to  be  really  more  artificial  than  natural." 

SUBFAMILY  LAKIN^E.      GULLS. 

"Depth  of  bill  through  the  angle  decidedly  greater  than  through  the  middle 
of  the  nostrils;  terminal  portion  of  the  culmen  decidedly  curved;  mandibular 
angle  frequently  prominent,  always  distinct.  Tail  even,  except  in  Xema  (forked  ) 
and  Rhodostethia  (wedge  shaped).  Size  extremely  variable,  but  usually  medium 
or  large;  sometimes  very  large." 

GEXUS  LAB.US  LINN.EUS. 

"Size  exceedingly  variable,  ranging  from  that  of  the  smaller  Albatrosses 
down  to  that  of  the  medium-sized  Terns;  tail  even;  tarsus  always  longer  than 
the  middle  toe  with  its  claw  (except  in  L.  minutus),  and  smoothish  behind;  col- 
ors extremely  variable,  but  young  always  widely  different  from  the  adult." 

Larus  argentatus  smithsonianus  COTJES. 

AMERICAN  HERRING  GULL. 
PLATE  II. 

Migratory;  rare.  I  have  met  with  the  birds  in  March  and 
JS" overnber,  and,  as  they  occasionally  winter  as  far  north  as  Lake 
Michigan,  it  would  not  be  strange  if  met  with  in  winter  along 
our  larger  rivers,  when  not  frozen;  but  in  any  event  they  can 
only  be  treated  as  migrants  and.  visitants,  as  they  are  only  at 
home  about  large  bodies  of  water. 

B.  661.     R.  666a.  C.  773.     G.  307,     5.     TJ.  51a. 

HABITAT.  North  America  in  general;  breeding  from  Maine 
northward,  and  westward  throughout  the  interior,  on  the  large 
inland  waters,  and  occasionally  on  the  Pacific  coast;  south,  in 
winter,  to  Cuba  and  Lower  California. 

SP.  CHAR.  "Adult,  in  summer:  Mantle  pale  pearl  blue  (a  shade  darker  than 
in  L.  glaucescens),  the  secondaries  and  tertials  passing  terminally  into  white. 
Outer  primary  black,  more  slaty  basally,  the  tip  white,  and  a  large  white  spot 
across  the  inner  and  sometimes  the  outer  web;  next  quill  black,  tipped  with 
white,  and  usually  without  any  white  except  the  apical  spot;  third,  fourth  and 
fifth  quills  similar,  but  the  basal  half,  or  more,  light  pearl  gray  ( this  extending 
farther  on  the  inner  web),  the  line  of  demarcation  sharply  defined;  sixth  quill 
light  pearl  gray,  broadly  tipped  with  white,  this  preceded  by  a  broad  subtermi- 
nal  space  of  black,  widest  on  the  outer  web;  seventh  quill  similar,  but  the  black 
much  more  restricted,  and  confined  to  the  outer  web;  remaining  primaries  pale 


20  UltiTOltY  OF   THE 

pearl  gray,  passing  gradually  into  white  at  ends.  Remainder  of  the  plumage 
snow  white.  Bill  deep  chrome  or  wax  yellow,  with  a  large  spot  of  bright  red 
near  the  end  of  the  mandible;  eyelids  bright  yellow;  iris  silvery  white  or  pale 
yellow;  legs  and  feet  flesh  color,  claws  brownish  black.  Adult,  in  winter:  Sim- 
ilar, but  head  and  neck,  except  underneath,  streaked  with  dusky  grayish.  Bill 
pale  grayish  yellow;  deepest  on  anterior  half  of  maxilla,  and  inclining  to  flesh 
color  on  basal  portion  of  mandible,  except  along  upper  edge;  angle  of  mandible 
with  a  large  spot  of  dull  orange  red,  becoming  dusky  toward  gonys;  iris  dull 
light  yellow;  eyelids  dusky  yellowish;  legs  and  feet  very  pale  grayish  flesh  color. 
(Fresh  colors  of  a  specimen  killed  at  Washington,  D.  C., November  llth,  1880.) 
Y»niff,  first  plumage:  Prevailing  color  brownish  ash,  nearly  uniform  below,  the 
head  and  neck  streaked  with  white;  upper  parts  variegated  by  borders  to  the 
feathers  and  irregular  spots  of  pale  grayish  buff;  primary  coverts,  remiges  and 
rectrices  blackish  dusky.  Bill  dusky  black,  more  brownish  basally;  iris  brown; 
legs  and  feet  purplish  flesh  color  in  life,  brownish  in  the  dried  skin.  Dmcny 
young:  Grayish  white,  the  lower  parts  (except  throat)  immaculate;  head  marked 
with  irregular  spots  of  black,  indefinitely  distributed;  back,  wings  and  rump 
clouded  with  dusky  grayish.  Bill  black,  the  ends  yellowish;  feet  brownish.'' 

Stretch  of 
Length.          wing.          Wing.          Tail.         Tarsus.          Bill. 

Male 25.50         59.00        17.25        7.50         2.55         2.50 

Female...     23.00         57.00        16.00        6.50         2.40        2.10 

The  birds  ride  the  water  buoyantly,  but  do  not  dive,  only  im- 
mersing the  head  and  neck.  In  their  food  habits  omnivorous, 
greedy  eaters;  scavengers  of  the  beach,  and  in  the  harbors  to 
be  seen  boldly  alighting  upon  the  masts,  and  flying  about  the 
vessels;  picking  up  the  refuse  matter  as  it  is  cast  overboard, 
and  often  following  the  steamers  from  thirty  to  forty  miles  from 
the  land,  and  occasionally  much  farther.  They  are  ever  upon 
the  alert,  with  a  quick  eye  that  notices  every  falling  object,  or 
disturbance  of  the  water;  and  as  they  herald  with  screams  the 
appearance  of  the  herring,  or  other  small  fishes  that  often  swim 
in  schools  at  the  surface  of  the  water,  they  prove  an  unerring 
pilot  to  the  fishermen,  who  hastily  follow  with  their  lines  and 
nets;  for  they  know  that  beneath,  and  following  the  valuable 
catch  in  sight,  are  the  larger  fishes  that  are  so  intent  upon  tak- 
ing the  little  ones  in  out  of  the  wet  as  largely  to  forget  their 
cunning,  and  thus  make  their  capture  an  easy  one. 

The  birds  are  abundant  on  the  Atlantic  coast,  decreasing  in 
numbers  west,  and  I  think  rare  on  the  Pacific  coast.  I  have 
collected  three  winters  along  that  coast,  and  during  the  time  did 
not  meet  with  a  single  bird. 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  21 

In  the  month  of  June,  1880,  I  found  the  birds  breeding  in 
large  communities  on  the  little  islands  adjacent  to  Grand  Manan; 
many  were  nesting  in  the  spruce  tree  tops,  from  twenty  to  forty 
feet  from  the  ground.  It  was  an  odd  sight  to  see  them  on  their 
nests,  or  perched  upon  a  limb  chattering  and  scolding  as  ap- 
proached. The  greater  number,  however,  were  nesting  on  the 
rocks.  In  the  trees  I  had  no  difficulty  in  finding  full  sets  of 
their  eggs,  as  the  egg  collectors  rarely  take  the  trouble  to  climb; 
but  on  the  rocks  I  was  unable  to  find  an  egg  within  reach;  the 
eggers  going  daily  over  the  rocks.  I  was  told  by  several  that 
they  yearly  robbed  the  birds,  taking  however  but  nine  eggs  from 
a  nest,  as  they  found  whenever  they  took  a  greater  number,  the 
birds  so  robbed  would  forsake  their  nests,  or,  as  they  expressed 
it,  cease  to  lay;  and  that,  in  order  to  prevent  an  over  collection, 
they  invariably  dropped  near  the  nest  a  little  stone  or  pebble 
for  every  egg  taken. 

The  young  birds  grow  rapidly.  July  26th,  I  saw  at  Percy 
Rock,  in  the  Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence,  young  birds  upon  the  water 
fully  grown.  They  do  not  leave  their  nesting  grounds  until 
able  to  fly;  though  half  grown  birds  are  occasionally  seen  on 
the  water,  that  by  fright  or  accident  have  fallen.  Their  nests 
are  composed  of  grass,  (often  moss  and  lichens,  especially  in 
the  trees.)  sea  weeds,  and  a  mixture  of  dirt.  In  the  trees  they 
are  quite  bulky  and  well  woven  together,  but  loosely  and  slov- 
enly made  upon  the  rocks,  and  varying  greatly  in  their  size; 
some  with  only  a  slight  lining. 

Eggs,  usually  three,  2.75x1.90.  The  ground  color  varies 
from  a  pale  olive  drab  to  a  greenish  and  bluish  white,  irregu- 
larly spotted  and  blotched  with  lilac  and  pale  yellowish  to  dark 
sepia  brown,  the  markings  occasionally  the  thickest  and  running 
together  about  the  larger  end;  in  form,  ovate. 

Larus  californicus  LA\VR. 

CALIFORNIA  GULL. 
PLATE  II. 

A  rare  visitant.  One  specimen  taken  by  me  on  the  Arkansas 
River,  in  Reno  county,  October  20th,  1880. 

B.  633.     R.  60S.     C.  777.     G.  308,    6.     U.  53. 


22  HISTORY  OF  THE 

HABITAT.  Western  North  America,  from  Mexico  to  Alaska, 
breeding  northward  from  about  latitude  38°. 

SP.  CHAR.  "Slightly  smaller  than  L.  occidentalis,  with  much  weaker  bill 
and  lighter  mantle.  Adult,  in  summer:  Mantle  deep  bluish  cinereous,  inter- 
mediate in  shade  between  the  plumbeous  of  occidentals  and  the  pearl  blue  of 
argentatus,  the  secondaries  and  tertials  broadly  (for  about  one  inch)  tipped  with 
white.  Outer  primary  black,  its  terminal  portion  white  for  about  two  inches, 
with  or  without  a  black  subterminal  spot;  second  quill  also  black,  the  tip  white 
and  usually  (though  not  always)  marked  by  a  white  spot  (sometimes  one  inch 
long)  near  the  end;  third  quill  black,  tipped  with  white,  the  base  plumbeous: 
fourth  with  the  basal  half  plumbeous  blue,  the  terminal  half  black,  tipped  with 
white;  fifth,  similar  but  the  black  more  restricted,  and  the  line  of  demarcation 
between  the  black  and  blue  still  more  sharply  defined;  sixth,  lighter  plumbeous 
blue,  passing  on  to  white  toward  the  end,  and  crossed  by  a  wide  subterminaJ 
baud  of  black;  remaining  quills  cinereous  blue,  broadly  tipped  with  white. 
Remainder  of  the  plumage  snow  white. .  Bill  yellow,  varying  from  greenish 
lemon  to  chrome,  the  terminal  third  of  the  mandible  bright  red  (varying  from 
orange  red  to  carmine),  the  tip  again  yellow;  a  more  or  less  distinct  dusky  spot 
in  or  immediately  in  front  of  the  red,  and  one  directly  above  it  on  the  maxilla, 
the  tip  of  which  is  sometimes  grayish  white;  rictus  and  eyelids  vermilion  red; 
iris  dark  hazel  or  Vandyke  brown;  legs  and  feet  pale  pea  green,  sometimes 
tipped  with  grayish.  Adult,  in  winter:  Similar,  but  head  and  neck  (except  un- 
derneath) broadly  streaked  with  grayish  brown.  Young,  first  plumage:  Above, 
coarsely  spotted,  in  nearly  equal  quantities,  with  brownish  slate  and  grayish 
buffy  white,  the  latter  bordering  the  feathers,  and  forming  broad  irregular  bars, 
mostly  beneath  the  surface;  primary  coverts,  remiges  and  rectrices  dusky 
black,  the  inner  primaries  more  grayish,  the  primary  coverts  narrowly  tipped 
with  white,  and  the  outer  tail  feathers  with  irregular  broken  bars  of  the  same. 
Head,  neck  and  lower  parts  mottled  or  clouded  with  grayish  white  and  brown- 
ish gray,  the  latter  prevailing  on  the  head  and  neck — nearly  uniform  on  the 
nape.  Bill  dusky,  black  at  the  tip  and  brownish  basally;  iris  brown;  legs  and 
feet  brownish  (in  the  dried  skin).  Downy  young:  Grayish  white,  purer  white 
centrally  beneath,  where  immaculate;  head  marked  by  irregular  dusky  black 
spots,  of  indefinite  arrangement,  but  most  numerous  above;  upper  parts  clouded 
•with  dusky  grayish.  Bill  black,  tipped  with  pale  yellowish  brown." 

Stretch  of 
Length.          -wing.          Wing.          Tail.         Tarsus.         Bill. 

Male 22.50         55.50        16.00        6.75         2.33         2.00 

Female...     21.50         54.00        15.25        6.25         2.30         1.85 

In  the  winter  and  spring  of  1881  and  1884,  I  noticed  the  birds 
quite  often  at  San  Diego,  and  found  them  quite  common  on  the 
northwest  coast,  in  fact  abundant,  during  the  early  spring, 
about  Vancouver  and  the  San  Juan  Islands. 

They  fly  rather  slowly  and  gracefully  over  the  water;  pick- 
ing up  here  and  there  floating  matter  and  the  little  fishes  at  the 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  23 

surface,  often  dropping  upon  a  fish  with  a  force  that  carries 
them  nearly  under.  They  do  not  tarry  long  in  the  harbors  for 
the  offal,  and  are,  in  their  food  habits,  I  think,  less  parasitic 
than  many  others  of  the  same  family. 

The  birds  winter  on  the  coast  but  breed  inland,  and  in  com- 
munities, upon  the  islands  in  the  larger  ponds  and  lakes.  Cap- 
tain Clias.  Bendire  found  them  breeding  abundantly  on  Lake 
Malheur,  Oregon,  and  Mr.  Robert  Ridgway,  at  Great  Salt  Lake 
and  Pyramid  Lake,  in  the  month  of  May,  1868. 

Their  nests  are  usually  placed  upon  rocks  and  bare  spots  of 
dry  ground,  but  occasionally  on  the  tops  of  low  standing  bushes; 
and  are  made  of  grasses,  sticks,  feathers,  or  any  loose  material 
at  hand,  and  are  slightly  hollowed  in  the  center.  Eggs,  usually 
three  or  four.  One  set  of  three  eggs,  taken  May  31st,  1883, 
by  Mr.  W.  C.  Flint,  on  the  Farallones  Isles,  measure:  2.84x1.96, 
2.80x1.96,  2.88x1.92.  Ground  color  bluish  white  to  brownish 
gray,  rather  thickly  spotted,  sometimes  more  or  less  blotched, 
with  occasional  zigzag  markings  of  various  shades  of  brown, 
and  shell  stains  of  lilac;  in  form,  oval  to  ovate. 

Larus  delawarensis  ORD. 

RING-BILLED  GULL. 
PLATE  II. 

Migratory;  quite  common.  Arrive  the  last  of  April,  to  first 
of  May;  returning  in  September. 

B.  064.     11.  639.     C.  778.     G.  300,     7.     U.  54. 

II AHITAT.  North  America  at  large;  south  in  winter  to  Cuba 
and  Mexico.  Breeding  in  high  northern  latitudes. 

SP.  CHAR.  "Smaller  than  L.  californicus,  the  bill  more  slender,  and  without 
red  spots,  the  mantle  much  paler,  the  iris  yellow,  and  feet  greenish  yellow  in 
the  adult.  Adult,  in  summer:  Mantle  pale  pearl  blue  ( much  as  in  L.  aryen- 
tatus,  much  paler  than  in  L.  brachyrhyncJms  or  L.  canus),  the  secondaries  and 
tertials  passing  terminally  into  pure  white.  Outer  primary  black,  with  a  white 
space  1.25  to  1.50  inches  long  near  the  end,  involving  both  webs,  the  shaft, 
however,  black;  second  qnill  similar,  but  with  the  white  space  smaller,  and  the 
extreme  tip  also  white;  third,  with  basal  half  pale  pearl  gray,  and  the  apical 
white  spot  larger;  next  similar,  but  the  subterminal  black  more  restricted,  the 
line  of  demarcation  between  it  and  the  pale  pearl  gray  still  more  sharply  de- 
nned; fifth  pale  pearl  gray,  passing  terminally  into  white,  but  crossed  near  the 


21  HISTORY  OF  THE 

end  by  a  wide  band  of  black,  about  .75  of  an  inch  wide;  sixth  quill  pale  pearl 
gray,  passing  into  white  terminally,  and  marked  near  the  end  by  a  more  or  less 
imperfect  black  spot;  remaining  quills  pale  pearl  blue,  passing  terminally  into 
white,  and  without  a  trace  of  black.  Bill  greenish  yellow,  crossed  near  the  end 
by  a  blackish  band,  the  tip  sometimes  tinged  with  orange;  rictus  and  eyelids 
vermilion  red;  interior  of  inouth  rich  orange  red,  more  intense  posteriorly; 
iris  clear  pale  yellow;  feet  pale  yellow,  sometimes  tinged  with  greenish:  claws 
black.  Adult,  in  winter:  Similar,  but  the  head  and  neck,  except  beneath, 
streaked  with  brownish  gray.  Young,  first  plumage:  Above,  brownish  dusky, 
the  feathers  bordered  with  pale  grayish  buff;  primaries  blackish  dusky,  the  in- 
ner quills  bluish  gray  basally,  and  tipped  with  white;  secondaries  bluish  gray 
on  basal  half,  dusky  black  terminally,  where  edged  with  white;  basal  two-thirds 
of  the  tail  pale  gray,  more  whitish  basally,  mottled  with  deeper  grayish;  ter- 
minal third  dusky  black,  narrowly  tipped  with  white.  Lower  parts  white, 
spotted  laterally  with  grayish  brown.  Bill  black,  base  of  lower  mandible  and 
edges  of  the  upper  toward  the  base  livid  flesh  color;  edges  of  eyelids  livid  blue; 
iris  hazel;  feet  purplish  gray;  claws  brownish  black." 

Stretch  of 
Length.  iving.          Wing.          Tail.        Tarsus.         Bill. 

Male 20.00         49.00        15.00        6.50         2.20         1.65 

Female...      18.75         40.00        14.00        5.50         2.10         1.55 

This  species  is  at  home  on  the  wing,  as  well  as  upon  the 
water,  and  in  the  fall  of  the  year,  during  the  early  part  of  the 
afternoon,  can  often  be  seen  about  the  streams  or  bodies  of  wa- 
ter sailing  and  circling  in  the  air. 

An  examination  of  their  stomachs  at  such  times  will  show 
that  it  is  grasshoppers  they  are  after,  not  pleasure  alone.  To 
satisfy  myself  upon  this  point,  I  shot,  on  the  Arkansas  River, 
several  of  the  birds  while  thus  flying,  and  found  grasshoppers 
in  all,  also  a  few  beetles.  Two  of  the  birds  that  fell  had  grass- 
hoppers in  their  mouths.  In  other  respects  their  food  habits 
are  much  like  the  Herring  Gull,  often  following  the  steamers  a 
long  distance  from  the  shore. 

During  the  winter  months  I  have  seen  them  on  the  south 
coast  of  Florida,  and  on  the  Pacific  side,  south  to  Altata, 
Mexico.  In  migration,  they  are  common  throughout  the  United 
States.  They  breed  west  of  the  Rocky  Mountains  from  about 
latitude  40°,  and  east  of  the  same  from  about  latitude  50°, 
north  into  the  Arctic  region.  Audubon  says:  "On  an  island 
within  a  few  miles  of  Eastport,  Maine,  I  found  these  birds 
breeding  in  great  numbers,  in  the  beginning  of  May.  Their 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  25 

nests  were  placed  amid  the  scanty  tufts  of  grass."  But  of  late 
years  I  think  they  have  not  been  found  breeding  on  the  Atlan- 
tic coast  south  of  Labrador. 

Their  nests  are  placed  on  the  rocks  or  ground,  and  made 
chiefly  of  sea  weed.  Eggs  usually  three.  One  set,  taken  June 
23d,  1884,  on  the.  south  coast  of  Labrador,  measure:  2.40x 
l.»U,  2.44x1.68,  2.40x1.68.  Ground  color  varies  from  a  pale 
bluish  white  or  greenish  tint  to  olive  drab,  with  pale  markings 
of  lilac,  and  irregular  spots  and  blotches  of  varying  shades  of 
brown,  thickest  about  larger  end;  in  form,  oval  to  ovate. 

Larus  franklinii  Sw.  &  Kicn. 

FRANKLIN'S  GULL. 
PLATE  II. 

Migratory;  common.  My  notes  show  their  capture  from  the 
last  of  March  to  first  of  May,  beginning  to  return  the  last  of 
September,  and  are  often  to  be  seen  as  late  as  November. 

B.  068,  669.     R.  674.     C.  787.     G.  310,     8.     U.  59. 

HABITAT.  Interior  of  North  America,  breeding  chiefly  north 
of  the  United  States;  south  in  winter  to  Peru,  South  America. 

SP.  CHAR.  "Adult,  in  summer:  Head  and  upper  part  of  the  neck  plumbe- 
ous black  (more  plumbeous  anteriorly);  au  enlougated  white  spot  on  each 
eyelid;  lower  part  of  the  neck  (all  round),  entire  lower  parts,  lower  part  of  the 
rump  and  upper  tail  coverts  snow  white,  the  neck  and  lower  parts  with  a  deep 
tinge  of  delicate  rose  pink  in  fresh  specimens.  Mantle  deep  bluish  plumbeous, 
a  little  lighter  than  in  L.  atricitta,  the  secondaries  and  tertials  broadly  tipped 
with  white.  Tail  white,  the  four  to  six  central  feathers  tinged  with  pale  gray- 
ish blue,  deepest  on  the  intermedia.  Primaries  bluish  gray,  the  shafts  white, 
the  five  outer  quills  marked  with  a  subtermiual  space  of  black  varying  in  extent 
from  nearly  2.00  inches  long  on  the  second  quill  to  about  .50  on  the  fifth,  each 
quill  broadly  tipped  with  white,  this  occupying  on  the  outer  about  1.50  inches 
of  the  terminal  portion,  on  the  rest  less  than  .50  of  an  inch;  the  bluish  gray  of 
the  basal  portion  of  the  quills  becoming  nearly  or  quite  white  where  joining  the 
black,  and  the  shafts  of  the  black  portion  also  black;  remaining  quills  light 
grayish  blue,  broadly,  but  not  abruptly,  tipped  with  white,  the  sixth  sometimes 
marked  with  a  subterminal  black  spot  or  bar.  Bill  deep  red,  with  a  more  or 
less  distinct  darker  subterminal  band;  eyelids  red;  feet  deep  red.  Adult,  in 
winter:  Similar,  but  head  and  neck  white,  the  occiput,  with  orbital  and  auricular 
regions,  grayish  dusky.  Bill  and  feet  brownish,  the  former  tipped  with  orange 
reddish.  Young,  first  plumage:  Top  and  sides  of  head  (except  forehead  and 
lores),  back  and  scapulars  grayish  brown,  the  longer  scapulars  bordered  termi- 
nally with  pale  grayish  buff;  wing  coverts  bluish  gray,  tinged  with  grayish 


26  HISTORY  OF  THE 

brown;  secondaries  dusky,  edged  with  pale  grayish  blue,  and  broadly  tipped 
with  white;  primaries  dusky,  the  inner  more  plumbeous,  all  rather  broadly 
tipped  with  white.  Central  portion  of  the  rump  uniform  light  bluish  gray; 
lateral  and  posterior  portions  of  the  rump,  upper  tail  coverts,  entire  lower  parts, 
forehead,  lores  and  eyelids  white.  Bill  brownish,  dusky  terminally;  feet  brown 
(in  skin)." 

Stretch  of 
Length.          wing.          Wing.          Tail.         Tarsus.         Bill. 

Male 14.75         37.00        11.25        4.20         1.65         1.13 

Female...      14.00         36.00        11.00         4.00         l.CO         1.10 

This  beautiful  bird,  called  by  the  farmers  the  Prairie  Dove, 
feeds  largely  upon  the  land,  often  great  distances  from  the 
water.  In  the  spring  it  hovers  over  the  newly-plowed  lands, 
and  often  follows  the  plow,  picking  up  the  insect  life,  larva  and 
worms  exposed  in  the  furrow;  and  in  the  fall  catches  the  grass- 
hoppers in  the  air,  often  flying  high  and  circling. 

The  birds  are  easily  tamed  and  make  interesting  pets;  one 
that  I  kept  for  some  time  became  greatly  attached  to  me;  would 
follow  me  about  the  room,  and  the  moment  I  stopped,  whether 
standing  or  sitting,  would  perch  upon  one  of  my  feet  and  com- 
mence dressing  up  his  feathers;  climbing  back  as  often  as  I 
would  toss  him  off.  Most  birds  dislike  to  be  handled,  but  this 
one  seemed  to  enjoy  it,  rubbing  his  head  and  bill  against  my 
hand  and  cheek,  as  if  coaxing  me  to  caress  him. 

During  the  winter  I  have  met  with  the  birds  in  Central 
America,  and  on  the  southwest  coast  of  Mexico;  and  they  have 
been  found  breeding  as  far  south  as  northern  Iowa,  and  in 
abundance  in  the  vicinity  of  Manitoba,  and  north  at  least  to 
the  65th  parallel.  They  breed  in  communities,  on  low,  wet, 
marshy  grounds,  in  shallow  water,  upon  the  tops  of  broken 
down  rushes.  Their  nests  are  made  largely  of  grasses  and 
rushes.  Eggs  usually  three,  2.12x1.45;  one  set  of  three  eggs, 
taken  May  20th,  1885,  by  J.  D.  Preston,  on  Marsh  Lake,  Min- 
nesota, measure:  2.00x1.40,  2.12x1.40,  2.08x1.44.  Ground 
color  pale  grayish  gi-een  to  light  olive  drab,  splashed  with 
rounded  and  zigzag  markings  of  varying  shapes  and  sizes,  of 
olive  brown  to  dark  sepia;  thickest  and  generally  forming  a 
wreath  around  the  larger  end;  in  form,  rather  oval. 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  27 

Larus  Philadelphia  (ORD.). 

BONAPARTE'S  GULL. 
PLATE  II. 

Migratory;  rare.  Arrive  the  last  of  March  to  last  of  April; 
begin  to  return  as  early  as  August. 

B.  670.     R.  675.     C.  788.     G.  311,     9.     U.  60. 

HABITAT.  The  whole  of  North  America;  breeding  far  north- 
ward; south,  in  winter,  to  Mexico  and  Central  America. 

SP.  CHAR.  "Adult,  in  summer:  Head  aiid  upper  part  of  the  neck  dark  plum- 
bous,  the  eyelids  marked  by  an  elongated  white  spot.  Lower  part  of  the  neck, 
entire  lower  parts,  tail,  upper  tail  coverts,  lower  and  lateral  portions  of  the 
rump,  border  of  the  wing,  alulse,  primary  coverts,  and  greater  portion  of  the 
primaries,  snow  white;  the  neck  and  lower  parts  with  a  delicate  rose-pink 
blush  in  fresh  specimens.  Mantle,  including  upper  and  middle  portions  of  rump, 
delicate  light  pearl  blue.  Three  outer  primaries  chiefly  white;  the  outer  web 
of  the  exterior  quill,  and  the  terminal  portion  of  all,  deep  black;  fourth  quill 
similar  to  the  third,  but  the  inner  web  pale  grayish  blue;  fifth  and  sixth  quills 
pale  grayish  blue,  with  a  large  subteruiiual  black  space,  and  tipped  with  white 
(third  and  fourth  quills  also  marked  with  a  small  white  apical  spot);  remaining 
quills  pale  grayish  blue,  without  white  tips,  but  marked  near  the  end,  usually 
on  inner  web  only,  with  a  black  spot.  Bill  deep  black;  iris  dark  brown;  interior 
of  mouth,  with  legs  and  feet,  rich,  clear  orange  red;  claws  black.  Adult,  in 
winter:  Similar,  but  head  and  neck  white,  the  occiput  tinged  with  grayish,  and 
the  auricular  region  marked  by  a  spot  of  dusky  gray.  Legs  and  feet  flesh  color. 
Young,  first  plumage:  Sides  and  under  parts  of  head  and  neck,  entire  lower 
parts,  upper  tail  coverts,  and  basal  three-fourths  of  the  tail,  pure  white;  crown, 
occiput,  and  upper  part  of  the  back,  brownish  gray;  a  clunky  grayish  spot  on 
the  auricular  region;  scapulars  and  posterior  interscapulars  grayish  umber, 
tipped  with  pale  buff;  central  area  of  lesser  wing-covert  region  dusky  brownish 
gray;  rest  of  wing  coverts,  edges  of  secondaries,  greater  portion  of  inner  pri- 
maries, with  upper  and  central  portions  of  rump,  light  grayish  blue;  band  across 
end  of  tail  black  or  dusky,  the  tip  narrowly  whitish.  Outer  primary  with  the 
entire  outer  web,  and  a  stripe  along  the  inner  next  the  shaft,  with  the  end, 
black,  the  remaining  portion  white;  second  and  third  quills  similar,  but  the 
white  successively  more  restricted;  fourth  bluish  white  on  both  webs  (inner  web 
more  bluish),  the  subterminal  portion  black  for  more  than  an  inch,  the  tip  with 
a  small  white  spot;  remaining  quills  similar,  but  deeper  bluish  gray.  Bill  dusky; 
feet  pale  brownish  (in  skin).  Young,  second  year:  Similar  to  the  adult  in  win- 
ter plumage,  but  central  lesser  wing  coverts  dusky,  tail  crossed  by  a  subterminal 
band  of  dusky  brown,  and  primaries  marked  as  in  the  first  plumage." 

Stretch  of 
Length.  wing.  Wing.         'Tail.         Tarsus.          Bill. 

Male 14.00          33.00         10.50        4.25          1.37          1.10 

Female..        13.50         32.00        10.20        4.05         1.35         1.12 


28  HISTORY  OF  THE 

The  birds  are  said  to  be  common  throughout  the  continent, 
but  I  have  never  been  so  fortunate  as  to  meet  with  them  often, 
or  in  numbers. 

In  their  food  habits,  are  much  like  the  Franklin's  Gull.  In 
their  northward  flights  arrive  early,  and  do  not  tarry  long.  At 
Pewaukee,  Wisconsin,  where  I  lived  during  the  early  settlement 
of  the  State,  I  noticed  nearly  every  spring  a  few  flocks  flying 
about  the  lake  and  alighting  upon  the  melting  ice,  but  I  cannot 
recall  seeing  them  on  the  lake  after  the  ice  was  wholly  gone. 

The  birds  are  quite  noisy,  fly  gracefully,  and  float  on  the  sur- 
face of  the  water  as  lightly  as  an  egg  shell,  and  when  at  rest 
drift  as  readily  in  the  breeze.  They  breed  in  high  latitudes, 
and  in  communities;  their  nests  are  placed  on  bushes  and  trees, 
usually  on  the  branching  limbs  of  the  spruce  trees?,  and  are 
made  of  sticks  and  lined  with  grasses,  leaves,  often  moss  and 
lichens,  with  an  occasional  mixture  of  down.  Eggs  usually 
three,  rarely  ever  four.  One  set  of  two  eggs,  taken  July  5th, 
1864,  by  Mr.  Farlane,  on  Anderson  river,  Arctic  America,  meas- 
ure: 2.08x1.40,  1.96x1.40.  Ground  color  olive  gray,  with  small 
spots  of  varying  shades  of  brown,  chiefly  clove  brown,  thickest 
about  larger  end;  in  form,  oval  to  ovate. 

GENUS  XEMA  LEACH. 

"Size  small  or  medium;  tail  forked;  tarsus  equal  to  or  rather  shorter  than 
the  middle  toe  with  claw;  adult  with  a  dark  hood,  the  plumage  otherwise  pearl 
gray  above  and  white  beneath." 

Xema  sabinii  (SAB.). 

SA BINE'S  GULL. 
PLATE  IL 

A  rare  visitant. 

B.  680.     R.  677.     C.  700.     G.S12,     10.     U.  62. 

HABITAT.  Arctic  regions  in  North  America;  south  in  winter 
to  New  York,  Kansas  and  Great  Salt  Lake. 

SP.  CHAR.  "Adult,  in  summer:  Head  and  upper  part  of  the  neck  plumbeous, 
bounded  below  by  a  well-defined  collar  of  black,  widest  behind;  lower  part  of 
neck,  entire  lower  parts,  tail,  upper  tail  coverts,  and  lower  part  of  rump,  snow 
white,  the  lower  parts  faintly  tinged  with  delicate  rose  pink  in  some  freshly- 
killed  specimens.  Mantle  deep  bluish  gray  (nearly  the  same  shade  as  in  Larus 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  29 

franklinu),  the  secondaries  pure  white,  becoming  gradually  pale  grayish  blue 
toward  bases;  most  of  the  exposed  portions  of  the  greater  coverts  also  white, 
forming,  together  with  the  secondaries,  a  conspicuous  longitudinal  white  stripe 
on  the  closed  wing.  Four  outer  primaries  black,  broadly  tipped  with  white, 
the  inner  webs  broadly  margined  with  the  same;  fifth  quill,  with  the  greater 
part  of  the  inner  web,  and  about  1.75  inches  of  the  terminal  portion  of  the 
outer,  white,  the  remainder  black;  remaining  quills  white;  outer  border  of 
wing,  from  the  carpal  back  to  the  primary  coverts,  including  the  latter  and  the 
alulae,  uniform  black.  Bill  black,  tipped  with  yellow;  eyelids  red;  iris  brown; 
feet  dull  lead  color;  claws  black.  Adult,  in  winter:  Similar  to  the  summer 
plumage,  but  head  and  neck  white,  except  occiput,  nape  and  auricular  region, 
which  are  dull  dusky  plumbeous.  Young,  first  plumage:  Crown,  nape,  back, 
scapulars,  wing  coverts  and  rump  brownish  gray,  each  feather  bordered  termi- 
nally with  light  fulvous  or  pale  grayish  buff,  this  fulvous  border  preceded  on 
the  tertials,  longer  scapulars,  etc.,  by  a  dusky  internal  sub-border;  greater  wing 
coverts  and  secondaries  white,  as  in  the  adult;  primaries  much  as  in  the  adult. 
Tail  white,  with  a  broad  subterminal  band  of  black,  the  tip  narrowly  white  or 
pale  fulvous;  upper  tail  coverts  and  entire  lower  parts  white.  Bill  dusky, 
brownish  toward  the  base;  feet  light  brownish  (in  the  skin)." 

Stretch  of 
Length.          wing.  Wing.          Tail.        Tarsus.         Bill. 

Male 14.00         34.00        10.50        ;".00         1.30         1.05 

Female...     13.25         32.50        lu.OO        4.50         1.25         1.00 

This  elegant  bird  was  first  discovered  as  a  new  species  by  Sir 
Edward  Sabine,  on  the  coast  of  Greenland,  while  accompanying 
Ross  and  Parry  in  their  first  Arctic  expedition.  It  has  since 
been  found  to  be  quite  common  during  the  breeding  season  in 
the  extreme  northern  portion  of  the  continent;  also  in  Asia,  oc- 
curring occasionally  in  Europe.  It  winters  chiefly  within  the 
Arctic  circle,  but  occasionally  visits  the  United  States.  One,  in 
its  migratory  or  wandering  flight,  has  been  captured  on  the 
coast  of  Peru,  and  its  occasional  occurrence  through  the  conti- 
nent may  be  looked  for. 

A  young  male,  on  the  19th  of  September,  1876,  flew  into  a 
billiard  saloon  in  Humboldt,  Kansas,  at  midnight,  no  doubt  at- 
tracted there  by  the  light  of  the  burning  lamps  that  brightly 
reflected  out  into  the  darkness,  I  have  the  specimen  in  the 
Goss  Ornithological  Collection;  also  a  pair  that  I  shot  May 
22d,  1882,  about  thirty  miles  off  the  coast  from  Cape  Flattery. 
There  were  twelve  of  the  birds  in  the  flock,  flying  slowly  north- 
ward, and  near  the  surface  of  the  water. 

In  habits,  appear  to  be  similar  to  Bonaparte's  Gull.     They 


30  HISTORY  OF   THE 

have  been  found  breeding  in  numbers  on  the  islands  in  the 
Arctic  Sea;  their  nests  are  upon  dry  ground,  near  the  water's 
edge;  a  slight  depression  worked  out  to  fit  the  body,  with  usu- 
ally a  few  blades  of  grass  arranged  in  a  circular  manner  around 
the  edge.  Eggs  usually  three;  Ridgway  says:  tlEggs  two  to 
five,  1.78x1.26;  ovate  or  short  ovate,  deep  olive  (varying  in  in- 
tensity, however),  rather  indistinctly  spotted  or  blotched  with 
brown." 

SUBFAMILY  STEKNINJE.     TEKNS. 

"Depth  of  the  bill  through  the  angle  (symphysis  of  the  lower  jaw)  less 
than  through  the  middle  of  the  nostrils;  terminal  portion  of  the  culmen  slightly 
curved,  or  nearly  straight;  mandibular  angle  seldom  prominent.  Tail  forked, 
except  in  Anous  (graduated).  Size  extremely  variable,  but  usually  small; 
never  very  large." 

GENUS  STERNA  LINNJEUS. 

"Size  exceedingly  variable,  the  form  and  colors  less  so;  tail  always  decidedly 
forked,  and  toes  almost  fully  webbed,  but  the  webs  concave,  or  'seal loped  out' 
anteriorly." 

SUBGENUS  STERNA. 

Wing  less  than  12.00;  occipital  feathers  short  and  blended.  Mantle  bluish 
gray;  the  tail  chiefly  white;  inner  webs  of  quills  largely  white.  (Ridgway.) 

Sterna  forsteri  NUTT. 

FORSTER'S  TERN. 
PLATE  II. 

Summer  resident;  rare;  in  migration,  common.  Arrive  from 
the  middle  of  April  to  first  of  May.  Begin  to  return  the  last 
of  August. 

B.  686,     690.     R.  685.     C.  798.     G.  313,     11.     U.  69. 

HABITAT.  North  America  generally,  breeding  from  Manitoba 
southward  to  Virginia,  Texas  and  California;  in  winter,  south- 
ward to  Brazil. 

SP.  CHAR.  "Adult,  in  summer:  Pileum  and  nape  deep  black;  upper  parts, 
including  rump  and  tail,  light  pearl  gray,  the  primaries  and  tail  paler  and  more 
silvery,  the  inner  webs  of  the  outer  pair  of  rectrices  usually  darker  (sometimes 
quite  dusky)  for  that  portion  beyond  the  tip  of  the  next  feather.  Inner  webs 
of  primaries  without  any  well-defined  white  space,  except  on  two  outer  quills, 
but  the  edge  usually  more  or  less  dusky.  Tips  of  secondaries,  anterior  upper 
tail  coverts,  sides  and  upper  part  of  head  and  neck,  and  entire  lower  parts,  pure 
white.  Bill  dull  waxy  orange,  the  terminal  third  or  more  blackish,  with  the 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  31 

tip  usually  paler;  mouth  orange;  edges  of  eyelids  black;  iris  dark  brown;  legs 
and  feet  very  fine  orange  red,  the  claws  black.  Adult,  in  winter:  Similar,  but 
the  head  and  neck  white,  the  occiput  and  nape  more  or  less  tinged  with  grayish, 
the  sides  of  the  head  marked  by  a  broad  space  of  black  surrounding  the  eyes 
and  extending  back  over  the  auriculars.  Tail  less  deeply  forked  than  in  sum- 
mer, the  outer  rectrices  broader  and  less  elongated.  Young,  first  plumage: 
Similar  to  the  winter  plumage,  but  the  pileum,  nape,  back  scapulars,  tertials 
and  wing  coverts  overlaid  by  a  wash  of  raw-umber  brown,  chiefly  on  the  ends 
of  the  feathers,  but  appearing  nearly  uniform  on  the  back  and  crown;  sides  of 
the  breast  tinged  with  the  same.  Rectrices  all  distinctly  dusky  terminally, 
especially  on  inner  webs  ( the  outer  web  of  the  lateral  feather  hoary  white  to 
the  tip),  the  middle  feathers  tipped  with  raw  umber.  Bill  dusky,  more  brown- 
ish on  basal  portion  of  the  mandible;  legs  and  feet  light  brown  in  the  dried 
skin.  Dmcny  young:  Prevailing  color  light  brownish  buff,  the  breast  and  abdo- 
men white;  lower  surface  entirely  immaculate,  but  upper  parts  coarsely  and 
irregularly  marbled  with  black,  the  sides  of  the  head  with  a  few  scattered 
irregular  minute  markings  of  the  same.  Length  about  3.50  inches,  the  culmeii 
.35  of  an  inch." 

Stretih  of 
Length.  -w.ng.  Wing.         Tail.         Tarsus.          Bill. 

Male 17.50         31.50        10.25        8.00  .90         1.60 

Female...      15.25         30.00          9.75        6.50  .90         1.50 

This  species,  with  their  slender  bodies  and  long,  pointed 
wings  (like  all  of  the  family),  sail  through  the  air  as  lightly  as 
a  kite,  and  rest  as  buoyantly  as  a  feather  upon  the  water. 
Delicate,  attractive  birds  in  any  position,  and  especially  so  while 
feeding  upon  the  wing,  coursing  with  easy,  varied  motions  over 
the  water,  with  their  bills  pointed  downward  at  a  right  angle 
with  the  body;  scanning  closely  every  object  beneath,  and  pick- 
ing up  here  and  there  a  tiny  fish,  a  floating  insect,  or  any  choice 
morsel  at  or  near  the  surface;  never  plunging  beneath  the  sur- 
face, but  dropping  swiftly  upon  the  water,  or  lightly  swooping 
down  and  picking  up  as  they  go;  sometimes  patting  the  water 
with  their  feet. 

They  breed  in  communities  and  are  largely  gregarious 
throughout  the  year,  collecting  in  numbers  at  eve  and  resting 
during  the  night  on  the  sandy  beach  of  an  island  or  point  of 
land  extending  well  out  into  the  water. 

The  birds  are  quite  common  upon  both  coasts,  as  well  as  in 
the  interior,  but  are  not  usually  so  reported,  as  they  are  gener- 
ally taken  by  the  casual  observer  for  Sterna  hirundo,  which 
they  so  closely  resemble. 


32  HISTORY  OF   THE 

I  found  them  during  the  winter  months  very  abundant  on 
the  southwest  coast  of  Mexico  and  at  La  Paz;  and  breeding  in 
numbers  on  the  small  islands  in  Nueees  Bay,  Texas,  as  early  as 
the  first  of  April.  The  birds  at  such  times  are  very  noisy,  and, 
as  their  nesting  places  are  approached,  their  hoarse  notes  as 
they  circle  close  overhead  are  almost  deafening.  Nest,  a  hol- 
low, worked  out  in  the  sand,  and  broken  shells,  and  lined  with 
grasses.  Eggs,  three;  said  to  average  1.78x1.33;  but  two  sets 
collected  April  12th,  1881,  at  Nueces  Bay,  only  average  1.61x 
1.20.  Ground  color  from  pale  bluish  green  to  olive  buff,  with 
faint  shell  markings  of  lilac,  and  rather  evenly  and  coarsely 
spotted  with  different  shades  of  brown;  in  form,  ovate  to  short 
ovate. 

Sterna  hirundo  LINN. 

COMMON  TERN. 
PLATE  II. 

Migratory;  very  rare.  Arrive  from  the  middle  of  April  to 
first  of  May;  returning  as  early  as  the  first  of  September. 

B.  689.     R.  686.     C.  797.     G.  314,     12.     U.  70. 

HABITAT.  Chiefly  eastern  temperate  North  America,  and 
various  parts  of  the  eastern  hemisphere;  breeding  irregularly 
throughout  its  range. 

SP.  CHAK.  "Adult,  in  summer:  Pileum  and  nape,  including  upper  half  of 
the  lores,  uniform  deep  black.  Upper  parts  deep  pearl  gray  (much  the  same 
shade  as  in  paradiscea),  the  border  of  the  wings,  tips  of  secondaries,  lower  part 
of  rump,  upper  tail  coverts  and  greater  portion  of  the  tail  pure  white.  Lower 
parts  pale  pearl  gray  or  grayish  white  (much  lighter  than  the  upper  parts),  be- 
coming gradually  white  on  the  under  part  and  sides  of  the  head,  and  pure  white 
on  the  crissum.  Outer  web  of  lateral  tail  feather  ash  gray,  darker  terminally, 
in  abrupt  contrast  with  the  pure  white  of  the  inner  web;  outer  webs  of  remaining 
rectrices,  except  the  intermedise,  paler  grayish.  Outer  web  of  outer  primary 
blackish  slate;  outer  surface  of  other  primaries  light  silver  gray,  slightly  paler 
than  the  back;  inner  webs  chiefly  white,  with  a  stripe  of  grayish  next  the  shaft, 
this  stripe  abruptly  defined  on  the  first  five  quills,  but  growing  gradually  broader 
and  paler  toward  the  fifth,  and  extending,  near  the  end  of  the  feathers,  a  greater 
or  less  distance  toward  the  base,  but  the  edge  itself  narrowly  white;  five  inner 
quills  pale  silvery  gray,  the  inner  webs  edged  with  white.  Bill  bright  vermil- 
ion, blackish  terminally,  except  on  the  tornia;  inside  of  the  mouth  orange  ver- 
milion; edges  of  eyelids  black;  iris  very  dark  brown;  legs  and  feet  orange 
vermilion,  lighter  than  the  bill;  claws  black.  Adult,  in  winter:  Similar,  but 
forehead,  crown  and  anterior  parts  of  lores  white,  the  vertex  mixed  with  black, 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  33 

entire  lower  parts  pure  white.  Young,  first  plumage:  Orbital  region,  occiput 
and  nape  dull  black;  crown  mixed  black  and  grayish  white;  forehead  and  lores, 
with  entire  lower  parts,  upper  tail  coverts,  inner  webs  of  rectrices,  and  tips  of 
secondaries,  white.  Upper  parts  pale  bluish  gray,  the  scapulars,  iuterscapulars 
and  tertials  tipped  with  pale  buff,  and  marked  with  an  indistinct  subtenninal 
lunule  of  dusky  brown;  anterior  lesser  wing  coverts  dusky,  forming  a  broad 
bar  across  the  wing;  primaries  much  as  in  the  adult,  but  darker;  wing  coverts 
paler  than  the  back,  and  bordered  indistinctly  with  white.  Outer  webs  of  rec- 
trices grayish,  deepening  on  outer  feathers  into  slate.  Bill  dusky  brownish, 
the  base  of  the  mandible  paler  and  more  reddish;  feet  pale  yellowish  (in  the 
dried  skin)." 

Stretch  of 
Length.          -wing.  Wing.          Tail.         Tarsus.          Bill. 

Male 15.00         31.50        10.75        6.20  .75         1.40 

Female...      12.75         30.00          9.75        4.50  .75       '1.30 

The  birds  are  abundant  on  the  Atlantic  coast,  decreasing  in 
numbers  west,  and,  I  think,  rare  and  exceptional  on  the  Pacific 
coast;  at  least  Dr.  Cooper  has  never  met  with  them  there,  and 
I  failed,  during  the  three  winters  that  I  collected  along  the 
coast  and  inland,  to  find  a  single  specimen;  and  I  am  inclined 
to  think  writers  that  report  them  common  there  have  taken  S. 
forsteri  for  this  species. 

The  birds  have  been  found  breeding  from  the  south  coast  of 
Florida  to  the  Arctic  circle.  I  have  found  them  breeding  in 
small  flocks  on  the  lakes  in  Wisconsin,  and  in  large  numbers  on 
several  of  the  Magdalen  Isles,  Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence.  Their 
nests  are  said  by  some  writers  to  be  made  of  seaweeds  and 
grasses,  but  all  that  I  have  examined  were  without  material  of 
any  kind,  the  eggs  lying  upon  the  bare  ground  in  a  slight  de- 
pression in  the  sand.  Eggs  three  or  four.  One  set  of  three 
(.o-o-s,  collected  May  27th,  1881,  on  Pewaukee  Lake,  Wisconsin, 
measure:  1.56x1.19,  1.60x1.20,  1.60x1.20;  and  a  set  of  four, 
taken  July  8th,  1880,  at  Byron  Isle,  one  of  the  Magdalen  group: 
1.60x1.20,  1.60x1.22,  1.62x1.20,  1.66x1.18.  Color  pale 
bluish  to  greenish  drab,  thickly  and  rather  evenly  spotted  and 
blotched  with  varying  shades  of  light  to  dark  brown,  with  shell 
markings  of  pale  lilac;  in  form,  ovate. 

SUBGENUS  STERNULA  BOIE. 

Wings  less  than  7.00.    Tail  about  half  as  long  as  wing,  forked  for  about  half 
its  length.   (Ridgway.) 
—3 


34:  HISTORY  OF  THE 

Sterna  antillarum  (LESS.). 

LEAST  TERN. 
PLATE  II. 

Summer  resident;  rare.  Arrive  the  last  of  April  to  first  of 
May;  return  in  August. 

B.  694.     E.  690.     C.  801.     G.  315.      13.     U.  74. 

HABITAT.  North  America,  northward  to  California  and  New 
England,  and  casually  to  Labrador;  breeding  nearly  throughout 
its  range;  south  in  winter,  on  both  coasts,  into  northern  South 
America. 

SP.  CHAR.  "Smallest  of  the  Terns  (wing  less  than  seven  inches).  Adult,  in 
mmmer:  Pileum  and  nape  deep  black,  the  forehead  covered  by  a  broad  lunule 
of  white  extending  back  laterally  to  the  eyes,  the  lores  being  crossed  by  a  black 
line  or  narrow  stripe  extending  from  the  eye  to  the  lateral  base  of  the  maxilla, 
immediately  behind  the  nostril.  Entire  upper  parts,  including  lower  part  of 
the  nape,  upper  tail  coverts,  and  tail,  pale  pearl  gray,  deepest  on  the  dorsal  re- 
gion and  wings.  Two  to  three  outer  primaries  dusky  slate,  the  inner  webs 
broadly  edged  with  white;  remaining  quills  pearl  gray,  like  the  coverts,  the  edge 
of  the  inner  webs  white.  Entire  lower  parts  pure  white.  Bill  bright  yellow, 
usually  ( but  not  always)  tipped  with  black;  iris  dark  brown;  legs  and  feet 
bright  orange  yellow.  Adult,  in  winter:  Similar,  but  lores,  forehead  and  crown 
grayish  white  (purer  white  anteriorly),  an  occipital  crescent,  and  a  stripe  for- 
ward from  this  to  and  surrounding  the  eye  blackish.  Bill  dusky;  legs  and  feet 
dull  yellowish.  Young,  first  plumage:  Somewhat  similar  to  the  winter  plumage. 
but  humeral  region  marked  by  a  wide  space  of  dusky  slate,  the  scapulars  and 
interscapulars  with  submargiual  V  or  U-shaped  marks  of  dusky,  the  crown 
streaked  and  the  occiput  mottled  with  dusky,  and  the  primaries  darker  than  in 
the  adult.  Bill  dusky,  brownish  toward  the  base;  feet  brownish.  l)<><rmj 
young:  Above,  grayish  white,  finely  mottled  with  dusky  grayish,  the  head  dis- 
tinctly marked  with  irregular  clots  of  dusky  black;  lower  parts  entirely  immae. 
ulate  white.  Bill  dull  yellow,  tipped  with  dusky;  legs  and  feet  clear  pale 
yellow." 

Stretch  of 
Length.          -wing.  Wing.         Tail.        Tarsus.          Bill. 

Male 9.00          19.75         6.70          3.40  .60  1.08 

Female...      8.75          19.25        6.60         3.25          .60          1.08 

These  little  beauties,  the  smallest  of  the  family,  flit  through 
the  air  like  swallows,  darting  here  and  there  for  an  insect,  or 
suddenly  stopping  to  hover,  like  Hawks  or  Kingfishers,  over  a 
school  of  minnows  or  shrimp,  ready  to  drop  upon  the  first  that 
comes  to  the  surface. 

The  birds,  as  a  rule,  are  not  timid,  and  take  little  or  no  heed 
of  the  approach  of  an  intruder. 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  35 

Audubon  found  them  breeding  in  Labrador,  but  I  think  they 
are  rarely  to  be  met  with  north  of  latitude  45°.  On  my  north- 
era  cruise  I  failed  to  find  the  birds  north  of  Brier  Island,  Nova 
Scotia,  and  only  noticed  a  single  pair  there.  They  are  abund- 
ant south,  along  the  coast  of  Florida,  and  I  have  often  met  with 
them  on  the  coast  of  Lower  California,  and  at  San  Diego;  and 
have  found  them  breeding  on  the  Gulf  coast,  the  salt  plains  of 
the  Indian  Territory,  and  a  few  on  the  Cimarron  River,  in  Kan- 
sas. Their  nest  is  a  mere  depression  or  place  worked  out  to  fit 
the  body  in  the  sand,  on  the  islands  and  banks  of  the  streams. 
Eggs  two  to  four  —  rarely  ever  more  than  three  —  1.15x.90; 
buff  to  cream  white,  speckled  and  spotted,  in  some  cases  blotched 
about  the  larger  end  with  brown  umber  and  lilac;  in  form,  rather 
oval  to  ovate. 

GENUS  HYDROCHELIDON  BOIE. 

"Similar  to  the  smaller  species  of  Sterna,  but  tail  only  very  slightly  forked 
or  emarginate,  the  rectrices  not  attenuated  at  ends,  and  the  webs  of  the  toes  fill- 
ing less  than  half  the  interdigital  spaces.  Adults  gray  or  blackish  beneath,  as 
dark  as  or  darker  than  the  color  of  the  upper  surface." 

Hydrochelidon  nigra  surinamensis  (GMEL.). 

BLACK  TERN. 
PLATE  II. 

Summer  resident;  rare;  in  migration,  common.  Arrive  the 
last  of  April  to  first  of  May;  beginning  to  lay  about  the  middle 
of  May. 

B.  695.     R.  693.     C.  806.     G.  316,     14.     U.  77. 

HABITAT.  Temperate  North  America,  south  in  winter  to  mid- 
dle South  America;  breeding  from  the  middle  United  States 
northward. 

SP.  CHAR.  "Adult,  in  summer:  Head,  neck  and  lower  parts  sooty  black, 
the  head  and  neck,  especially  above,  nearly  pure  black;  anal  region  and  crissum 
pure  white.  Entire  upper  parts  uniform  plumbeous,  the  border  of  the  wing, 
from  the  shoulders  to  the  carpo-metacarpal  joint,  white.  Lining  of  the  wing 
light  plumbeous  gray.  Bill  deep  black,  the  rictus  lake  red,  the  interior  of  the 
mouth  pinkish;  iris  dark  brown;  legs  and  feet  purplish  dusky.  Adult,  in  win- 
ter: Head,  neck  and  lower  parts  pure  white;  orbital  and  auricular  regions 
dusky;  crown  and  occiput  dark  grayish,  the  feathers  bordered  with  paler.  Up- 
per parts  as  in  the  summer  plumage,  but  rather  paler  plumbeous.  Young,  first 
plumage:  Very  similar  to  the  wiuter  plumage,  but  scapulars,  interscapulars,  and 


36  HISTORY  OF  THE 

tertials  tipped  with  raw-umber  brown,  the  anterior  lesser  wing  coverts  dusky, 
the  crown,  occiput  and  upper  part  of  the  nape  dusky,  and  the  entire  sides 
washed  with  plumbeous.  Downy  young:  Above,  deep  soft-umber  brown,  with 
a  few  coarse  irregular  marblings  of  black;  forehead,  crown,  throat  and  jugu- 
lum  more  sooty  brown,  without  markings;  side  of  the  head,  (including  lores] 
dull  whitish;  abdomen  white  centrally,  pale  sooty  grayish  exteriorly." 

Stretch  of 
Length.          wing.  Wing,          Tail.         Tarsus.         Bill. 

Male 10.00         23.70         8.10         3.40  .62         1.10 

Female...       9.80        23.25         8.00         3.30  .62         1.00 

This  species  in  its  manner  of  flight  is  much  like  the  Least 
Tern,  but  more  easy  and  graceful  in  its  motions,  often  skim- 
ming for  hours  over  the  surface  of  the  water,  upon  which  it 
rarely  alights. 

In  the  stomachs  of  those  examined,  I  found  chiefly  dragon 
flies,  beetles  and  grasshoppers,  with  now  and  then  the  remains 
of  little  fishes. 

I  have  met  with  the  birds  upon  both  coasts,  but  their  natural 
home  is  inland,  along  the  streams  and  about  the  marshes  and 
reedy  ponds.  Nest  on  low,  wet  or  marshy  ground,  bordering 
ponds  and  sloughs;  made  of  bits  of  stems  of  reeds  and  grasses, 
and  lined  with  the  leaves  and  finer  stems.  In  some  cases  the 
eggs  are  laid  upon  the  bare  ground.  Eggs  usually  three,  occa- 
sionally four,  1.30x.96;  greenish  drab  to  olive  brown,  spotted 
and  blotched  with  brownish  black,  often  thickest  and  running 
together  around  larger  end;  in  form,  rather  ovate  to  pyriform. 


ORDER  STEGANOPODES. 

TOTIPALMATE  SWIMMERS. 

"Hind  toe  lengthened  and  incumbered,  and  united  to  the  inner  toe  by  a 
complete  web  (small  only  in  Fregatida).  Bill  extremely  variable,  but  usually 
with  a  more  or  less  extensible  naked  gular  sac  between  the  mandibular  rami. 
Nostrils  obsolete.  Habits  altricial;  young  dasypsedic  in  Tachypetidce,  Plialac- 
rocoracidce,  AnhingidcB  and  Phaethontidce,  gymuopsedic  in  Pelecanidce  and  Su- 
Palate  saurognathous.  Carotids  double." 


FAMILY  ANHINGIDJE,     DARTERS. 

"Bill  slender,  pointed,  compressed,  and  very  Heron-like  in  shape,  the  culmen 
and  commissure  almost  straight,  the  gonys  slightly  ascending;  terminal  half  of 
the  tomia  serrated,  the  serrations  directed  backward  and  forming  a  series  of 


03  Q: 
z  < 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  37 

«lose-set,  sharp-pointed,  fine  bristly  teeth;  nostrils  obliterated.  Head  small, 
neck  slender  and  greatly  elongated  (nearly  as  long  as  the  wing);  outer  toe 
about  as  long  as  the  middle,  or  slightly  shorter.  Tail  very  long,  fan  shaped, 
rounded,  the  feathers  widened  toward  the  ends,  the  outer  webs  of  the  inter- 
mediae,  in  fully  adult  birds,  transversely  corrugated  or  'fluted.' 

"  This  singular  family  consists  of  but  one  genus,  Anhinga,  which  has  a  rep- 
resentative iu  the  warmer  parts  of  each  of  the  great  divisions  of  the  earth." 

GENUS  ANHINGA  BRISSON. 
"Characters  the  same  as  those  of  the  family." 

Anhinga  anhinga  (Lixx.). 

ANHINGA. 
PLATE  HI. 

A  rare  summer  visitant. 

B.  628.     R.  649.     C.  760.     G.  306,     15.     U.  1,     18. 

HABITAT.  Tropical  and  subtropical  America,  north  to  South 
"Carolina,  southern  Kansas  and  western  Mexico. 

SP.  CHAR.  "Adult  male,  in  full  breeding  plumage:  Plumage  of  the  neck 
and  body  deep  glossy  black,  with  a  faint  greenish  gloss;  scapular  and  lesser 
wing  coverts  marked  centrally  (longitudinally)  with  light  hoary  ash,  these 
markings  elliptical  on  the  upper  part  of  the  scapular  region,  linear  or  nearly 
acicular  on  the  longer  scapulars,  and  broadly  ovate  on  the  wing  coverts;  exposed 
surface  of  the  middle  and  greater  wing  coverts  light  hoary  ash;  remainder  of 
the  wings,  with  the  tail,  deep  black,  the  latter  less  glossy,  and  broadly  tipped 
with  pale  brown,  passing  into  dirty  whitish  terminally.  Sides  of  the  occiput 
and  neck  ornamented  by  lengthened,  loose-webbed,  hair-like  feathers  of  dirty 
white  or  pale  grayish  lilac;  nuchal  feathers  elongated,  hair-like,  forming  a  sort 
•of  loose  mane,  Upper  mandible  dusky  olive,  the  edges  yellow;  lower  mandible 
bright  yellow,  the  edges  and  tip  greenish;  bare  space  about  the  eye  bluish 
green;  gular  sac  bright  orange;  iris  bright  carmine;  tarsi  and  toes  anteriorly 
dusky  olive,  the  hind  parts  and  webs  yellow;  claws  brownish  black.  Adult 
male,  in  winter:  Similar  to  the  above,  but  destitute  of  the  whitish  feathers  of 
the  head  and  neck.  Adult  female,  in  full  breeding  plumage:  Head,  neck  and 
breast  grayish  buff,  becoming  grayish  brown  (sometimes  quite  dusky)  on  the 
pileum  and  nape,  the  breast  lighter,  and  bounded  below  by  a  narrow  band  of 
dark  chestnut,  bordering  the  upper  edge  of  the  back  of  the  abdomen;  sides  of 
the  upper  part  of  the  neck  adorned  with  an  inconspicuous  longitudinal  stripe  of 
short  white,  loose-webbed  feathers.  Eest  of  the  plumage  as  in  the  male.  Bill, 
etc.,  colored  much  as  in  the  male,  but  iris  paler  red  (pinkish).  Young,  in  first 
winter:  Similar  to  the  adult  female,  but  lower  parts  duller  black  (the  feathers 
usually  indistinctly  tipped  with  grayish  brown),  the  chestnut  pectoral  band  en- 
tirely absent;  upper  parts  much  duller  black  (the  back  decidedly  brownish), 
the  light  markings  much  smaller  and  more  indistinct.  Young,  first  plumage: 
Similar  to  the  above,  but  entire  lower  parts  light  grayish  buff,  darker  posteri- 


38  HISTORY  OF   THE 

orly.     Transverse  corrugations  of  the  middle  rectrices  quite  obsolete.    Nestling: 
Covered  with  buff-colored,  down.7' 

Stretch  of 
Length.          wing.  Wing:  Tail.         Tarsus.         Bill. 

Male 36.00         46.25        14.00       11.00        1.40         3.25 

Female...      35.00         44.30        13.25       10.65        1.40         3.00 

This  species  was  captured  within  the  State,  in  the  Solomon 
valley,  in  August,  1881,  by  Mr.  C.  W.  Smith,  of  Stockton;  and 
May  1st,  1888,  Mr.  Daniel  Lambert,  of  Wilburn,  Ford  county, 
shot,  in  the  northern  part  of  Meade  county,  on  Crooked  Creek, 
five  of  the  birds,  out  of  a  small  flock  that  arrived  a  few  days 
before  and  together.  There  is  quite  a  thick  grove  of  trees  along 
the  creek  in  that  vicinity,  and  if  they  had  not  been  disturbed  it 
is  possible  they  might  have  nested  there,  and  it  may  have  been 
their  occasional  breeding  ground  before  the  settlement  of  the 
county. 

The  first  time  that  I  met  with  the  birds  was  at  the  mouth  of 
the  San  Jacinto  River  and  on  Buffalo  Bayou,  Texas,  during  the 
last  of  March  and  the  first  of  April.  I  was  too  early  for  their 
eggs,  but  before  I  left  they  had  commenced  building  their  nests 
in  the  trees. 

The  birds  are  more  or  less  gregarious,  roosting  in  small  flocks 
at  night  in  the  tree  tops,  and  during  the  day  when  at  rest  are 
to  be  seen  perched  upon  an  old  stub  or  the  lower  branches  of 
trees  over  the  water.  I  found  them  very  shy,  and  ever  upon  the 
alert,  darting  from  their  perch  at  the  sight  of  an  intruder,  and 
disappearing  beneath  the  water  without  scarcely  leaving  a  ripple 
upon  its  surface,  coming  up  hundreds  of  yards  away,  and,  if 
badly  frightened,  only  thrusting  the  bill  out  far  enough  to  take 
in  a  supply  of  air;  and  if  the  water  is  not  perfectly  smooth  it  is- 
useless  to  look  for  them. 

Its  food  is  chiefly  fish,  which  it  catches  beneath  the  water, 
where  it  flies  with  the  aid  of  its  feet  as  swiftly  as  in  the  air; 
rarely  ever  at  such  times  coming  above  the  surface  with  more 
than  the  head  and  neck,  which  is  so  long,  slim  and  wavy  in 
motions,  that  it  is  oftener  taken  for  a  snake  than  a  bird.  When 
not  fishing  or  apprehensive  of  danger,  they  ride  up  lightly  upon 
the  water.  I  have  since  met  with  the  birds  all  along  the  Gulf 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  39 

coast,  and  on  the  lagoons  and  up  the  rivers  that  I  visited  in 
Central  America. 

The  nests  of  the  birds  are  placed  on  bushes  and  branches  of 
trees  overhanging  the  water,  varying  in  height  from  four  to 
thirty  feet;  they  are  quite  bulky  and  made  of  sticks,  and  lined 
with  leaves,  rootlets,  moss,  etc.  Eggs  two  to  four,  2.12x1.34; 
pale  bluish  green,  with  more  or  less  of  a  white  calcareous  cov- 
ering; in  form,  ovate.  A  set  of  two  eggs,  taken  April  28th, 
1882,  at  the  mouth  of  the  Gaudaloupe  River,  Texas,  from  a  nest 
made  of  sticks  and  green  twigs  in  leaf,  in  a  willow  tree,  eleven 
feet  from  the  ground,  are,  in  dimensions,  2.20x1.66,  2.10x1.34. 

FAMILY  PHALACROCORACIDJE.     CORMORANTS. 

"Bill  small  (shorter  than  the  middle  toe),  variable  in  outline,  but  the  maxil- 
lary unguis  always  prominent  and  strongly  hooked;  nostrils  obliterated;  lores, 
orbital  region,  lower  jaw,  chin  and  upper  part  of  throat  naked;  middle  toe 
longer  than,  or  about  equal  to,  the  tarsus,  the  outer  toe  much  longer,  and  the 
inner  about  as  much  shorter.  Wings  rather  short,  concave,  reaching  but  little 
beyond  the  base  of  the  tail;  tail  variable  as  to  length,  usually  rounded  or  gradu- 
ated, the  feathers  stiff,  with  very  rigid  shafts,  which  are  exposed  almost  to  the 
base  of  the  tail,  on  account  of  the  much  abbreviated  coverts.  Plumage  very 
compact;  usually  dark  colored  and  glossy." 

GENUS  PHALACROCORAX  BRISSON. 
"Characters  the  same  as  those  of  the  family." 

SUBGENUS  PHALACROCORAX. 

Bill  stout,  with  decidedly  curved  upper  outline,  the  middle  portion  of  the 
culmen  being  appreciably  concave,  the  terminal  nail,  or  unguis,  more  or  less 
airhfd,  strongly  hooked,  and  occupying  one-third  or  more  of  the  entire  length 
of  the  upper  mandible,  measured  to  the  base  of  the  culmen.  (Ridgicay.) 

Phalacrocorax  dilophus  (Sw.  &RICH.). 

DOUBLE-CRESTED  CORMORANT. 
PLATE  III. 

Migratory;  not  uncommon.  Arrive  the  last  of  March  to 
first  of  April.  To  be  looked  for  in  the  old,  deep  channels  of 
the  rivers  in  the  low  timbered  lands.  Return  in  October. 

B.  623.     R.  643.     C.  751.     G.  304,     16.     U.  120. 

HABITAT.  Northern  North  America;  south  in  winter  to  the 
Gulf  coast;  breeding  from  the  Bay  of  Furidy  northward,  and 
westward  to  Manitoba. 


4:0  HISTORY  OF   THE 

SP.  CHAR.  "Basal  outline  of  the  gular  pouch  extending  straight  across  the 
throat  or  projecting  slightly  back  along  the  median  line.  Adult,  in  full  breed- 
ing plumage:  Head,  neck,  rump  and  entire  lower  parts  glossy  black,  with  a  faint 
luster  of  dull  bluish  green;  back,  scapulars  and  wings  dull  grayish  brown,  each 
feather  conspicuously  aud  broadly  bordered  with  black;  tail  uniform  dull  black. 
A  tuft  of  narrow,  lengthened,  curved  feathers  on  each  side  the  crown,  springing 
from  behind  and  above  the  eye;  these  feathers  are  wholly  black.  Maxilla  black, 
mottled  with  grayish  or  dull  yellowish  along  the  sides;  mandible  yellowish  or 
pale  bluish,  mottled  with  dusky;  loral  region  and  gular  sac  deep  orange;  eyelids 
and  whole  interior  of  the  mouth  bright  cobalt  blue,  the  former  sometimes  dotted 
with  white;  iris  bright  grass  green;  legs  and  feet  deep  black.  Adult,  in  ic int< •>•: 
Similar  to  the  above,  but  tufts  of  the  head  wanting,  and  the  bare  skin  of  the 
lores,  guiar  pouch,  etc.,  deep  yellow  instead  of  orange,  and  the  blue  of  the  mouth 
aud  eyelids  absent.  Young,  first  plumage:  Head  and  neck  grayish  brown, 
lighter  next  to  the  gular  sac,  darker  on  the  crown  and  nape;  back,  scapulars  and 
wings  dull  brownish  gray,  the  feathers  bordered  with  dusky  brown;  rump  dusky 
brown;  primaries  and  tail  dull  grayish  black;  lower  parts  light  fawn  color. 
darker  on  the  sides,  anal  region  and  crissum.  Bill  dull  brownish  yellow,  nearly 
black  on  the  culmen;  gular  sac  deep  chrome  yellow;  iris  greenish  gray;  legs  and 
feet  deep  black.  Young,  in  winter:  Similar  to  the  above,  but  throat,  jugulum 
and  breast  paler,  sometimes  quite  white." 

Stretch  of 
Length.          "wing.          Wing.          Tail.         Tarsus.         Bill. 

Male 33.00      .52.00        13.00        7.00         2.20         2.30 

Female...     31.00         50.50        12.25        6.25        2.20        2.20 

Th'e  birds  are  abundant  on  the  northeast  coast,  decreasing  in 
numbers  westward  to  the  Rocky  Mountains.  They  have  been 
reported  west  of  the  Rockies,  and  breeding  there,  but  the  speci- 
mens taken  on  the  Pacific  side  prove  to  be  an  intermediate  race 
between  this  species  and  albociliatus. 

The  birds  subsist  chiefly  upon  fish,  which  they  capture  by  div- 
ing and  pursuing  beneath  the  water,  with  a  speed  the  swiftest  of 
the  finny  tribe  seldom  escape,  coming  to  the  surface  with  their 
capture,  tossing  the  same  in  the  air  and  catching  it  head  first  as 
it  falls,  so  that  the  fins  will  not  prevent  its  passing  into  the  stom- 
ach. The  throat  readily  expands  and  enables  them  to  swallow 
fish  larger  than  the  neck  in  its  normal  condition.  I  have  often 
noticed  the  birds  when  resting  upon  a  log,  or  perched  upon  a 
limb  over  the  water,  suddenly  drop  and  disappear  beneath  its 
surface  at  the  sight  of  a  fish,  catching  it,  however,  in  a  fair  chase, 
and  not,  like  the  Gannet  or  Kingfisher,  by  a  plunge  upon  their 
prey. 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  41 

All  the  birds  of  this  family  are  voracious  eaters,  and  the  craving 
for  food  makes  them  active  hunters,  and  they  are  successfully 
used  in  many  places  by  the  fishermen,  who  tie  a  string  around 
their  neck  to  prevent  their  swallowing  the  fish  they  catch.  The 
Chinese  especially  rear  and  train  the  birds  upon  their  boats  for 
fishing,  with  great  success.  Le  Comte  says:  "To  this  end  they 
are  educated  as  men  rear  up  spaniels  or  hawks,  and  one  man 
can  easily  manage  a  hundred.  The  fisher  carries  them  out  into 
the  lake,  perched  on  the  gunnel  of  the  boat,  where  they  con- 
tinue tranquil,  and  expecting  his  order  with  patience.  When 
arrived  at  the  proper  place,  at  the  first  signal  given  each  flies 
a  different  way  to  fulfill  the  task  assigned  it.  It  is  very  pleas- 
ant on  this  occasion  to  behold  with  what  sagacity  they  portion 
out  the  lake  or  the  canal  where  they  are  upon  duty.  They  hunt 
about,  they  plunge,  they  rise  an  hundred  times  to  the  surface, 
until  they  have  at  last  found  their  prey.  They  then  seize  it 
with  their  beak  by  the  middle,  and  carry  it  without  fail  to  their 
master.  When  the  fish  is  too  large  they  then  give  each  other 
mutual  assistance  —  one  seizes  it  by  the  head,  the  other  by  the 
tail,  and  in  this  manner  carry  it  to  the  boat  together.  There  the 
boatman  stretches  out  one  of  his  long  oars,  on  which  they  perch, 
and  being  delivered  of  their  burden,  they  fly  off  to  pursue  their 
sport.  When  they  are  wearied  he  lets  them  rest  for  a  while; 
but  they  are  never  fed  till  their  work  is  over.  In  this  manner 
they  supply  a  very  plentiful  table;  but  still  their  natural  glut- 
tony cannot  be  reclaimed  even  by  education.  They  have  always, 
while  they  fish,  the  same  string  fastened  around  their  throats 
to  prevent  them  from  devouring  their  prey,  as  otherwise  they 
would  at  once  satiate  themselves  and  discontinue  the  pursuit  the 
moment  they  had  filled  their  bellies." 

The  birds  breed  in  communities,  and  where  the  ground  or 
rocks  will  admit,  their  nests  are  placed  close  together.  On  the 
last  of  July,  1880,  I  found  the  birds  breeding  in  the  Gulf  of  St. 
Lawrence,  on  the  sides  of  the  cliffs  on  Bonaventure  Isle,  and 
on  the  top  of  Perce  Kock.  The  latter  cannot  be  climbed,  and 
nearly  all  the  nests  upon  the  isle  were  beyond  reach;  those  ex- 
amined, however,  had  young  birds  from  half  to  nearly  full 


42  HISTORY  OF   THE 

grown,  and  hundreds  of  little  fellows  could  be  seen  either  upon 
their  nests  or  standing  near  by  upon  the  rock. 

The  birds  are  very  filthy,  and  the  stench  about  their  breed- 
ing grounds  sickening.  Their  nests  are  made  of  sticks,  moss 
from  the  rocks,  and  seaweed.  Eggs  three  or  four,  2.50x1.56; 
pale  bluish  green,  coated  with  a  white  chalky  substance,  but  more 
or  less  stained  in  their  dirty  nests;  in  form,  elongate  ovate. 


Phalacrocorax  mexicanus  (BRANDT). 

MEXICAN  CORMORANT. 
PLATE  III. 

A  rare  visitant;  a  single  specimen  taken  four  miles  south  of 
Lawrence,  April  2d,  1872,  by  Mr.  George  D.  Allen,  and  re- 
ported by  Prof.  F.  H.  Snow. 

B.  625.     R.  644.     C.  754.     G.  305,     17.     U.  121. 

HABITAT.  Central  America  to  southern  United  States;  north 
in  the  interior  to  Kansas  and  southern  Illinois. 

SP.  CHAR.  "Smallest  American  species  of  the  genus.  Tail  feathers,  .12. 
Bill  moderately  robust,  the  unguis  arched  atid  strongly  hooked,  the  culmen 
slightly  concave  in  the  middle  portion,  and  gently  ascending  basally.  Bare 
skin  of  the  face  extending  fartherest  back  on  the  side  of  the  head,  forming 
quite  an  angle  behind  the  rictus;  feathers  of  the  throat  advancing  forward  to  a 
little  anterior  to  the  rictus,  the  middle  portion  sometimes  slightly  indented  by 
an  obtuse  angle  of  the  naked  skin  of  the  gular  sac.  Scapulars  and  wing  cov- 
erts rather  narrow  and  tapering,  and  nearly  or  quite  pointed.  Adult,  (in  full 
breeding  plumage  ?):  Gular  sac  bordered  posteriorly  by  a  line  of  white  reaching 
upward  nearly  or  quite  to  the  eye.  Head,  neck,  rump  and  entire  lower  parts 
deep  silky  brownish  black,  with  a  very  faint  purplish-brown  gloss  in  some 
lights;  back,  scapulars  and  wings  dark  brownish  slaty,  each  feather  narrowly 
bordered  with  black;  primaries  slate  black;  tail  uniform  deep  dull  black,  the 
shafts  black.  Superciliary  regions,  sides  of  the  neck  and  anal  regions  orna- 
mented by  a  few  short  and  narrow  white  filamentous  feathers.  Bill  light  col- 
ored (in  skin),  mottled  with  darker,  the  culmen  dusky;  gular  sac  brownish 
(orange  red  in  life?);  iris  green;  legs  and  feet  deep  black.  Adult,  in  winter: 
Similar  to  the  above,  but  without  the  white  filaments.  Young,  first  plumage: 
Head,  neck  and  lower  parts  grayish  umber  brown,  becoming  gradually  darker, 
or  nearly  black,  on  the  nape,  sides,  flanks,  anal  region  and  crissum,  and  whitish 
on  upper  part  of  throat,  next  the  gular  pouch.  Upper  parts  as  in  the  adult. 
Iris  green;  bill  dark  fleshy,  culmeu  and  upper  part  of  lower  mandible  dusky; 
gular  sac  brownish;  feet  deep  black.  Young,  in  winter:  Similar  to  the  above, 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  43 

but  throat,  foreneck.  jugulmn  and  breast  much  lighter  colored,  sometimes  al- 
most white.'' 

Stretch  of 
Length.          wing.          Wing.  Tail.         Tarsus.         Bill. 

Male 28.50         42.50        10.40        7.25         1.80         1.90 

Female...      36.50         41.00        10.00        6.50         1.75         1.80 

I  have  three  of  the  birds  in  the  Goss  Ornithological  Collec- 
tion, taken  in  the  early  spring  of  1881,  at  the  mouth  of  the 
Xueces  River,  Texas.  They  appeared  to  be  quite  common,  were 
mating,  and,  from  actions,  without  doubt  upon  their  breeding 
grounds.  I  also  noticed  a  few  of  the  birds  in  the  winter  of 
1886,  on  the  Chocon  River,  Guatemala,  but  cannot  recall  (with 
certainty)  meeting  with  them  elsewhere  in  Central  America. 
In  habits  the  birds  are  similar  to  the  Double-crested. 

Their  nests  are  rudely  constructed  of  sticks,  leaves,  etc.,  and 
placed  on  bushes  or  trees,  over  or  near  the  water.  A  set  of 
two  eggs,  taken  the  latter  part  of  May,  1883,  from  a  tree  on  the 
banks  of  the  Colorado  River  (near  its  mouth),  Texas,  are,  in  di- 
mensions, 1.72x1.24,  1.74x1.28;  bluish  white,  with  a  slight 
chalky  deposit;  in  form,  elongate  ovate. 

FAMILY  PELECANID^l.     PELICANS. 

"Bill  greatly  elongated  and  excessively  depressed,  the  terminal  tinguis  very 
prominent  and  strongly  hooked:  gular  pouch  exceedingly  large  and  greatly  dis- 
tensible; lores  and  orbital  region  —  sometimes  other  parts  of  the  head  also  — 
naked.  Toes  fully  webbed,  the  outer  almost  as  long  as  the  middle,  the  inner 
much  shorter.  Tail  very  short,  nearly  even  or  slightly  rounded.  Size  usually 
very  large." 

GENUS  PELECANUS  LINN^US. 
"Characters  same  as  those  of  the  family." 

SUBGENTJS  CYRTOPELICANUS  REICHENBACH. 

Tail  feathers,  24;  lower  jaw  densely  feathered;  color  white,  with  blackish 
reniiges.  (Ridgicay.) 

Pelecanus  erythrorhynchos  GMEL. 

AMERICAN  WHITE  PELICAN. 
PLATE  III. 

Migratory;  quite  common.  Arrive  the  first  of  April  to  first 
of  May;  return  early  in  September. 

B.  C.15.     R.  640.     C.  748.     G.  303,      18.     U.  125. 


44  HISTORY  OF  THE 

HABITAT.  Temperate  North  America;  north  in  the  interior  to 
about  latitude  61°,  south  in  winter  as  far  as  Guatemala;  rare 
along  the  Atlantic  coast;  common  in  the  middle  provinces,  the 
Gulf  coast,  western  Mexico  and  California. 

SP.  CHAR.  "Tail  feathers,  24.  Malar  region  completely  feathered;  color 
chiefly  white;  bill,  pouch  and  feet  light  yellowish  or  reddish.  Adult,  in  full 
breeding  plumage:  Culmeu  with  a  narrow  median  horny  excreseuce,  situated  a 
little  anterior  to  the  middle  of  the  culmeu,  the  upper  outlines  more  or  less  con- 
vex, the  fibers  vertical,  the  size  and  exact  shape  variable.  Plumage  white; 
sometimes  tinged  with  pale  pinkish,  the  narrow  lesser  wing  coverts  and  jugular 
plumes  straw  yellow  or  (rarely)  purplish  buff;  primaries  dull  black,  their  shafts 
white  toward  the  base;  secondaries  dusky,  edged  both  externally  and  internally 
with  ashy  white.  Upper  part  of  the  nape  with  a  pendent  crest  of  long,  narrow, 
silky,  pure-white  or  pale  straw-colored  feathers.  Bill  chiefly  orange,  paler  on 
the  culmeu,  the  nails  and  edges  of  the  maxilla  and  mandible  more  reddish, 
mandible  deeper  red  than  the  maxilla,  growing  almost  brick  red  basally;  pouch 
dirty  whitish  anteriorly,  where  suffused  with  blackish,  passing  successively 
through  yellow  and  orange  into  intense  dragon's  blood  or  brick  red  at  the  base; 
lower  edges  of  the  mandible  sometimes  blackish,  and  side  of  the  mandible 
sometimes  marked,  nearly  opposite  the  maxillary  crest,  with  a  somewhat  quad- 
rate black  spot;  bare  skin  of  the  lores  and  orbital  region  rich  orange  yellow; 
eyelids  dark  reddish;  iris  pearl  white;  legs  and  feet  intense  orange  red.  Adult, 
during  the  latter  part  of  the  breeding  season:  Similar  to  the  above,  but  maxil- 
lary excrescence  wanting  (having  been  cast),  and  the  nuchal  crest  replaced  by 
a  patch  of  brownish  gray.  Adult,  in  fall  and  winter:  Similar  to  the  last,  but 
no  grayish  patch  on  the  occiput  (crest  also  absent);  the  bill  and  feet  clear  yel- 
low. Young:  Similar  to  the  winter  adult,  but  lesser  wing  coverts  brownish 
gray  centrally,  the  pileum  similarly  marked;  jugular  feathers  short  and  broad, 
and  pure  white,  like  the  other  feathers  of  the  lower  surface;  bill,  pouch  and 
feet  pale  yellow. 

"Individual  variation,  both  in  size  and  in  the  details  of  coloration,  is  very 
considerable  in  this  species.  Most  descriptions  of  the  perfect  adult  bird  say 
that  the  plumage  is  tinged  with  peach-blossom  pink;  but  in  only  a  single  ex- 
ample among  the  very  large  number  examined  by  us  (including  both  skins  and 
freshly-killed  birds)  was  the  faintest  trace  of  this  color  visible,  and  that  confined 
to  a  few  feathers  of  the  back.  The  straw-yellow  color  of  the  narrow  jugular 
feathers  and  lesser  wing  coverts,  however,  seems  to  be  always  a  characteristic 
of  the  adult  birds,  both  in  "winter  and  summer,  though  much  paler  in  the  former 
season.  The  black  along  the  lower  edge  of  the  mandible  and  the  squarish  spot 
on  its  side  are  not  infrequently  entirely  absent.  The  maxillary  excrescence 
varies  greatly,  both  in  size  and  shape;  frequently  it  consists  of  a  single  piece, 
nearly  as  high  as  long,  its  vertical  outlines  almost  parallel  and  the  upper  outline 
quite  regularly  convex,  the  largest  specimen  seen  being  about  three  inches  high 
by  as  many  in  length;  more  frequently,  however,  it  is  very  irregular  in  shape, 
usually  less  elevated,  and  not  infrequently  with  ragged  anterior,  or  even  posterior, 
continuations.  This  excrescence,  which  is  assumed  gradually  in  the  spring, 
reaches  its  perfect  development  in  the  pairing  season,  and  is  dropped  before  or 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  45 

soon  after  the  young  are  hatched;  simultaneously  with  the  shedding  of  this  ap- 
pendage the  nuchal  crest  falls  off,  and  in  its  place  a  patch  of  short,  brownish- 
gray  feathers  appears;  this  disappears  with  the  fall  moult,  when  the  occiput  is 
entirely  unadorned,  there  being  neither  crest  nor  colored  patch." 

Stretch  of 
Length.          -wing.  Wing.          Ta.il.         Tarsus.          Bill. 

Male 65.00       104.00       24.00         7.25         5.00         14.75 

Female...     59.50         95.00       22.00        6.25         4.80         11.50 

The  birds  are  social  in  their  habits,  rarely  quarrel,  and  are 
seldom  to  be  seen  alone,  are  very  strong  upon  the  wing,  soaring 
for  hours,  often  at  an  immense  height.  From  their  large  size,  re- 
markably long  bill,  and  expansive  pouch,  they  readily  attract  the 
attention  of  the  most  indifferent  of  observers;  and  it  is  an  in- 
teresting sight  to  watch  the  birds  upon  their  feeding  grounds, 
as  they  unite  to  drive  the  fishes  into  shallow  water,  where  they 
can  catch  them,  which  they  cannot  well  do  in  deep  water,  as 
their  skins  are  honeycombed  with  air  cells  that  buoy  them  up 
like  a  cork  and  prevent  their  diving,*  and  they  do  not  plunge 
for  their  food  \vhen  upon  the  wing,  like  their  cousins,  the  Brown 
Pelicans,  and  therefore  have  to  adopt  fishing  habits  suited  to 
shallow  water.  I  have  often  noticed  the  birds  in  flocks,  in 
pairs,  or  alone,  swimming  on  the  water  with  partially  opened 
wings,  and  head  drawn  down  and  back,  the  bill  just  clearing 
the  water,  ready  to  strike  and  gobble  up  the  prey  within  their 
reach;  when  so  fishing,  if  they  ran  into  a  shoal  of  minnows, 
they  would  stretch  out  their  necks,  drop  their  heads  upon  the 
water,  and  with  open  mouths  and  extended  pouches  scoop  up 
the  tiny  fry.  Their  favorite  time  for  fishing  on  the  seashore  is 
during  the  incoming  tide,  as  with  it  come  the  small  fishes  to 
feed  upon  the  insects  caught  in  the  rise  and  upon  the  low  forms 
of  life  in  the  drift,  as  it  washes  shoreward,  the  larger  fishes  fol- 
lowing in  their  wake  —  each,  from  the  smallest  to  the  largest, 
eagerly  engaged  in  taking  Me  in  order  to  sustain  life.  All  sea 
birds  know  this  and  the  time  of  its  coming  well,  and  the  White 
Pelicans  that  have  been  patiently  waiting  in  line  along  the 
beach  quietly  move  into  the  water,  and  glide  smoothly  out,  so 
as  not  to  frighten  the  life  beneath,  and,  at  a  suitable  distance 

*  The  statement  in  North  American  Birds  —  Water  Birds,  Vol.  II,  page  137,  that  this  spe- 
cies "dives  with  great  celerity"  is  in  error. 


46  HISTORY  OF  THE 

from  the  shore,  form  into  line  in  accordance  with  the  sinuosities 
of  the  beach,  each  facing  shoreward  and  waiting  their  leader's 
signal  to  start.  When  this  is  given,  all  is  commotion;  the  birds, 
rapidly  striking  the  water  with  their  wings,  throw  it  high 
above  them,  and  plunge  their  heads  in  and  out,  fairly  making 
the  water  foam,  as  they  move  in  an  almost  unbroken  line,  fill- 
ing their  pouches  as  they  go.  When  satisfied  with  their  catch, 
they  wade  and  waddle  into  line  again  upon  the  beach,  where 
they  remain  to  rest,  standing  or  sitting  as  suits  them  best,  until 
they  have  leisurely  swallowed  the  fishes  in  their  nets;  then,  if 
undisturbed,  they  generally  rise  in  a  flock,  and  circle  for  a  long 
time  high  in  air. 

Off  the  south  coast  of  Florida  (a  coral  formation)  the  shoal 
water  often  extends  out  for  miles,  and  the  tide  is  scarcely  per- 
ceptible. There  the  birds  have  no  occasion  to  dive,  but  gather 
their  food  by  coursing,  and  in  such  places  the  Brown  Pelicans, 
so  expert  in  dropping  upon  their  prey  in  deep  water,  are  forced, 
in  order  to  save  their  necks  unbroken,  to  feed  in  like  manner; 
this  is  especially  noticeable  in  the  shallow  ponds  in  the  Ever- 
glades. Several  years  ago,  in  the  month  of  September,  I  had 
the  pleasure  of  observing  a  small  flock  of  the  birds  fishing  in 
the  Neosho  River,  Kansas.  When,  late  at  evening,  they  were 
forced  by  tired  wings  to  stop  in  their  southward  flight,  the  place 
selected  was  in  still,  deep  water  at  the  head  of  a  fall  or  rapids 
in  the  stream,  where  the  water  for  some  fifteen  rods,  and  with  a 
depth  of  about  six  inches,  was  rippling  and  dashing  over  the 
rocks,  a  natural  feeding  ground  for  the  fishes.  The  birds  after 
first  bathing  and  dressing  their  feathers,  giving  particular  atten- 
tion to  their  primaries,  without  any  unity  of  action,  as  hunger 
moved  them,  floated  down  over  the  rapids,  picking  up  the  fishes 
here  and  there,  until  the  still  water  below  was  reached,  when 
they  would  rise  and  fly  back,  to  float  down  again,  leisurely  re- 
peating this  mode  of  fishing  until  it  was  quite  dark. 

The  birds  winter  upon  the  seaboard  in  large  numbers,  seldom 
going  south  of  the  Gulf  coast  or  the  Gulf  of  California;  breed- 
ing chiefly  upon  the  islands  in  the  large  inland  lakes,  from  Min- 
nesota and  California  northward.  They  commence  nesting  on 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  47 

the  west  side  of  the  Rocky  Mountains  as  early  as  the  middle  of 
April;  upon  this  side  about  a  month  later.  They  breed  in  com- 
munities; their  nests  are  a  mere  depression  worked  out  in  the 
sand;  Eggs  usually  two;  a  set  collected  April  27th,  1875,  up- 
on an  island  in  Malhuer  Lake,  Oregon,  and  presented  to  me  by 
Capt.  Chas.  Bendire,  measure:  3.40x2.28,  3.58x2.29;  in  color 
pure  white  (when  not  stained),  with  a  rough,  chalky  shell;  in 
form,  oval  to  ovate. 

FAMILY  FREGATID-32.     MAN-O'-WAR  BIRDS. 

"Bill  longer  than  the  head,  thick,  but  broader  than  deep,  the  culmen  gently 
concave,  and  the  terminal  ungui  strongly  decurved;  nostrils  obliterated;  gular 
pouch  naked,  but  rest  of  head  scantily  feathered  except  on  top,  where  densely 
clothed;  wings  and  tail  excessively  elongated,  the  latter  deeply  forked;  tarsi 
excessively  abreviated.  wholly  concealed  by  feathers;  toes  weak  and  slender, 
the  middle  much  longer  than  the  outer,  which  again  greatly  exceeds  the  inner; 
middle  claw  with  its  inner  edge  flattened  and  pectinated;  webs  occupying  less 
than  half  the  space  between  the  toes.  A  single  genus  only  is  known,  which 
includes  two  closely  allied  species,  or  perhaps,  more  properly,  geographical  races. 
They  inhabit  the  seacoasts  of  intertropical  countries." 

GENUS  FREGATA  CUVIEB. 
"Characters  same  as  those  of  the  family." 

Fregata  aquila  (Lixx.). 

MAN-O'-WAR  BIRD. 
PLATE  HI. 

A  stragler.  Mr.  Frank  Lewis,  of  Downs,  Kansas,  reports  to 
me  the  capture  of  the  bird,  on  the  North  Fork  of  the  Solomon 
River,  in  Osborne  county,  August  16th,  1880.  It  was  killed 
with  a  stone,  while  sitting  on  a  tree.  The  specimen  has  passed 
out  of  his  hands;  but  he  sends  me  a  photograph  of  the  bird, 
taken  after  it  was  mounted. 

B.  619.     R.  639.     C.  761.     G.— ,     19.     U.  128. 

HABITAT.  Tropical  and  subtropical  seas,  chiefly  north  of  the 
equator;  north  regularly  to  Florida,  Texas  and  California,  acci- 
dental to  Nova  Scotia,  Ohio  and  Kansas. 

SP.  CHAR.  "Adult  male:  Entirely  black,  the  lanceolate  feathers  of  the  back 
and  scapulars  glossed  with  dull  bottle  green  and  reddish  purple;  bill  light 
purplish  blue,  white  in  the  middle,  the  curved  tips  dusky;  inside  of  mouth 
carmine;  gular  sac  orange;  bare  space  above  the  eye  purplish  blue;  iris  deep 


48  HISTORY  OF  THE 

brown;  feet  light  carmine  above,  orange  beneath.  Adult  female:  Dull  black, 
the  central  area  of  the  lesser  wing  covert  region  light  grayish  brown;  back  and 
scapulars  only  faintly  glossed,  the  feathers  not  lanceolate;  breast  with  a  large 
white  patch,  extending  downward  along  each  side  nearly  or  quite  to  the  flanks, 
and  upward  on  the  sides  of  the  jugulum  (sometimes  extending  around  the  hind 
neck);  iris  dark  brown;  orbits  and  gular  skin  dark  plumbeous,  with  a  tinge  of 
violaceus;  feet  carmine.  Young,  (second  year  ?):  Upper  parts  as  in  the  adult 
female;  head,  neck,  breast  and  abdomen  white;  iris  dull  dark  blue;  bill  horn 
color,  darker  at  base;  legs  and  feet  pale  pinkish  blue.  Nestling:  Covered  with 
a  very  fluffy  white  cottony  down.  The  bare  gular  space,  gular  sac,  legs  and 
feet  differ  largely  in  color  with  age  and  season." 

Stretch  of 
Length.          -wing.          Wing.  Tail.         Tarsus.         Bill. 

Male 40.50         88.00        26.00        18.50          .80         4.75 

Female...      39.00         86.00        24.00        18.00          .80         4.25 

The  birds  are  strictly  maritime,  and  never  wander  far  inland, 
unless  bewildered  or  lost  Their  power  of  flight  is  developed 
to  the  highest  degree,  enabling  them  to  face  the  most  violent 
of  storms;  and  when  the  waves  are  rolling  mountains  high,  and 
breaking  upon  the  shoals  and  the  beach  with  wild  fury,  and 
most  of  the  water  birds  have  fled  to  sheltered  retreats,  this 
species  can  be  seen  beating  the  wind  and  circling  through  it 
with  the  ease  of  the  swallow  when  it  is  calm. 

The  birds  are  parasitical  in  their  habits,  and  depend  largely 
for  their  food  upon  the  catch  of  the  Boobies,  Gulls  and  Terns, 
which  they  swoop  down  upon  and  harrass  until  they  disgorge 
or  drop  their  fish,  catching  the  same  without  an  apparent  effort 
before  it  reaches  the  water;  and  I  have  seen  them  catch  the 
flying  fish,  as  they  spring  into  the  air  to  escape  from  the  larger 
fishes  that  prey  upon  them  within  their  own  element.  The 
birds  course  during  the  day  in  small  flocks  and  alone,  but  at  eve 
gather  together  in  larger  numbers  at  their  roosts,  in  the  mangrove 
bushes  growing  in  or  overhanging  the  water.  They  also  nest 
in  communities,  and  in  similar  situations,  on  the  bushes  and 
trees.  Their  nests  are  poorly  constructed  platforms  of  sticks 
loosely  interwoven.  The  female  lays  one  egg,  2.75x1.86;  in 
color,  white  or  pale  greenish  white,  with  a  thick,  smooth  shell; 
in  form,  ovate  to  elongate  ovate. 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  49 

ORDER  ANSERES. 

LAMELLIROSTRAL  SWIMMERS. 

"Lamellirostral  swimming  birds,  with  straight  bills,  short  legs  (always 
shorter  than  the  wing),  the  tibiae  usually  completely  feathered,  and  scarcely 
free  from  the  body;  hallux  well  developed,  though  usually  small,  never  absent. 
Reproduction  prsecocial,  and  young  ptilopsedic;  eggs  numerous  and  unmarked, 
with  a  hard,  usually  very  smooth,  shell. 

"Like  the  Ondontoglossce,  the  order  Anseres  is  composed  of  a  single  family, 
which,  however,  includes  a  very  numerous  genera  and  species.  The  order  is 
represented  in  every  portion  of  the  globe,  but  most  numerously  in  the  northern 
hemispheres." 

FAMILY  ANATID.33.     DUCKS,  GEESE  AND  SWANS. 
"Characters  the  same  as  those  of  the  order." 

SUBFAMILY  MERGING.     MERGANSERS. 

Neck  shorter  than  the  body.  Tarsus  shorter  than  middle  toe  with  claw. 
Lower  mandible  without  trace  of  lamellae  along  the  side,  but  with  a  series  of 
distinct,  tooth-like  serrations  along  the  upper  edge.  (Ridgway.) 

GENUS  MERGANSER  BRISSON. 

"Bill  longer  than  the  head,  the  breadth  uniformly  about  equal  to  the  depth, 
the  serrations  conical,  acute,  and  pointed  backward;  crest  occipital  pointed,  or 
scarcely  developed  and  depressed.  Tarsus  nearly  three-fourths  the  middle  toe 
with  claw.  Tail  about  half  the  length  of  the  wings.  Bill  mostly  reddish." 

Merganser  americanus  (CASS.). 

AMERICAN  MERGANSER. 
PLATE  IV. 

Winter  sojourner;  quite  common.  Leave  the  last  of  Feb- 
ruary to  middle  of  March.  Return  late  in  the  fall. 

B.  611,     R.  636.     C.  743.     G.  300,     20.     U.  129. 

HABITAT.  The  whole  of  North  America;  breeding  chiefly 
north  of  the  United  States,  but  occasionally  in  the  mountain 
regions  south  to  Arizona. 

SP.  CHAR.  "Adult  male:  Head  and  upper  half  (or  more)  of  the  neck  deep 
black,  the  elongated  feathers  of  the  pileum  and  nape  distinctly,  other  portions 
faintly,  glossed  with  greenish;  whole  back  and  inner  scapulars  deep  black; 


50  HISTORY  OF   THE 

rump,  upper  tail  coverts  and  tail  plain  cinereous;  sides  of  the  crissum  (anteri- 
orly) and  femoral  region  whitish,  narrowly  barred  with  slate  color;  primary 
coverts,  primaries  and  outer  secondaries  plain  blackish  dusky.  Remainder  of 
the  plumage  fine  salmon  buff  in  life,  fading  to  buffy  white  in  dried  skins;  inner 
secondaries  narrowly  skirted  with  black;  base  of  the  greater  coverts  deep  black, 
forming  a  distinct  bar  about  half  way  across  the  wing;  anterior  border  of  the 
wing  dusky  grayish  or  blackish.  Bill  deep  vermilion  red,  the  culmen  and  nail 
black;  feet  deep  red;  iris  carmine.  Adult  female:  Head  and  upper  half  of  the 
neck  reddish  cinnamon,  the  pilenrn  and  occipital  crest  (the  latter  much  longer 
than  in  the  male)  more  brown,  the  lores  grayish;  chin,  throat  and  malar  region 
white;  upper  parts,  sides  and  flanks  bluish  gray,  the  inner  secondaries  white, 
the  exposed  portion  of  the  lower  greater  coverts  white,  tipped  with  dusky;  outer 
secondaries,  primary  coverts  and  primaries  uniform  slate  color.  Lower  parts, 
except  laterally,  pale  creamy  salmon  color,  fading  to  nearly  white  in  dried 
specimens,  the  feathers  of  the.  jugulum  ash  gray  beneath  the  surface.  Bill, 
eyes  and  feet  as  in  the  male,  but  less  brilliant  in  color.  Downy  young:  Upper 
half  'of  the  head,  with  nape,  reddish  brown,  more  reddish  on  the  nape  where 
encroaching  on  the  sides  of  the  neck;  remaining  upper  parts  hair  brown  or 
grayish  umber,  relieved  by  four  white  spots,  one  on  the  posterior  border  of  each 
wing  and  on  each  side  of  the  rump;  lower  parts  white;  a  stripe  on  the  lower 
half  of  the  lores,  running  back  beneath  the  eye,  white;  below  this  a  narrow 
stripe  of  deep  brown,  from  the  rictus  back  to  the  auricular  region;  a  wide 
stripe,  occupying  the  upper  half  of  the  lores,  from  the  bill  to  the  eye,  blackish 
brown,  this  separated  from  the  umber  of  the  forehead  by  a  very  indistinct  streak 
of  brownish  white  or  pale  brown." 

Stretch  of 
Length.          -wing.  Wing:  Tail.         Tarsus.          Bill. 

Male 26.00         37.50        10.80        4.75         1.75         2.10 

Female...     24.00         34.50          9.60        4.25         1.65        2.00 

These  birds  are  common  in  the  northern  and  middle  portions 
of  the  continent;  breeding  on  the  inland  lakes  and  streams 
usually  north  from  the  Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence,  and  west  to  Alaska; 
in  winter,  south  to  the  Gulf  coast,  southern  California,  and  occa- 
sionally Mexico  and  Central  America. 

Early  in  the  month  of  May,  1832,  Nuttall  found  a  mother 
bird,  with  a  brood  of  eight  little  ones,  on  the  Susquehanna  river. 
near  the  gorge  of  the  Alleghanies.  Dr.  C.  Hart  Merriam  says: 
"In  the  Adirondack  region,  northeastern  New  York,  the  birds 
are  a  common  summer  resident,  breeding  on  numerous  lakes, 
very  abundant  in  the  fall."  And  I  saw,  on  and  near  the  head 
of  the  Pecos  River,  New  Mexico,  (latitude  35°  45',  elevation 
6,800  feet,)  a  female  with  four  little  chicks  not  over  ten  days 
old;  and  I  am  inclined  to  think  the  birds  will  prove  to  be  quite 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  51 

a  common  summer  resident  in  the  mountains  within  the  United 
States.  The  birds  seem  to  prefer  for  their  feeding  grounds  the 
pools  in  the  swift,  shallow,  rocky  streams.  They  are  expert 
divers,  and  subsist  chiefly  upon  fish,  and  their  flesh,  like  that  of 
all  this  family,  tastes  rather  rank  and  fishy. 

The  nests  are  placed  in  hollow  trees  and  stubs;  composed  of 
leaves,  moss  and  grasses,  and  lined  with  down  from  the  birds.* 
Eggs  usually  eight  to  ten  —  as  high  as  fourteen  are  said  to  have 
been  found,  2.65x1.78;  pale  buff  or  buffy  white;  in  form,  oval 
to  ovate. 

Merganser  serrato  (LINN.). 

RED-BREASTED  MERGANSER. 
PLATE  IV. 

Winter  visitant;   rare. 

B.  612.     R.  637.     C.  744.     G.  301,     21.     U.  130. 

HABITAT.  Northern  portion  of  northern  hemisphere;  breeding 
from  the  northern  United  States  to  Greenland;  south  in  winter 
throughout  the  United  States. 

SP.  CHAR.  "Adult  male:  Head  dull  greenish  black,  duller  and  more  brown- 
ish on  the  forehead  and  throat,  the  crest  faintly  glossed  with  purplish;  neck  and 
sides  of  the  jugulura  pale  fawn  color  or  dull  buff,  indistinctly  streaked  with  black, 
the  streaks  being  on  the  edges  of  the  feathers;  a  white  collar  around  upper  part 
of  neck,  just  below  the  black.  Lower  parts  pure  creamy  white,  the  sides  and 
flanks  undulated  with  narrow  zigzag  bars  of  black.  Back  and  scapulars  uni- 
form black;  shoulders  overhung  by  a  tuft  of  broad  feathers,  broadly  margined 
with  black,  the  central  space  being  white.  Anterior  and  outer  lesser  wing  cov- 
erts dark  slate  gray,  darker  centrally;  posterior  lesser  coverts  and  middle  coverts 
wholly  white;  greater  coverts  with  the  terminal  half  white,  the  basal  half  black, 
partly  exposed,  thus  forming  a  narrow  baud  or  bar  across  the  wing;  two  inner 
tertials  wholly  black,  the  rest  white,  edged  with  black;  inner  secondaries  en- 
tirely white;  outer  secondaries,  primary  coverts  and  primaries  black.  Rump 
and  upper  tail  coverts  dark  ash  gray,  with  black  shafts  centrally,  finely  mottled 
laterally  with  white  and  black  zigzags.  Tail  slate  gray,  with  black  shafts. 
Bill  deep  carmine,  the  culmen  black,  the  nail  yellowish;  iris  carmine;  feet  bright 
red.  Adult  female:  Head  and  neck  cinnamon  brown,  duller  and  more  grayish 
on  the  pileum  and  nape,  the  crest  shorter  than  in  the  male;  throat  and  lower 
parts  white;  the  sides  aud  flanks  ash  gray.  Upper  parts  dark  ash  gray,  the 
feathers  with  darker  shafts;  exposed  portion  of  greater  coverts  and  secondaries 
white,  the  base  of  the  latter  black,  but  seldom  showing  as  a  narrow  bar;  prima- 
ries black.  Bill,  eyes  and  feet  as  in  the  male,  but  less  intense  in  color.  Young: 
Similar  to  the  adult  female,  but  chin  and  throat  pale  reddish  instead  of  pure 

*  All  of  the  Duck  family  that  line  their  nests  with  down  pluck  the  same  from  their  breasts, 
chiefly  after  they  begin  to  sit. 


52  HISTORY  OF  THE 

white,  the  lower  part  of  the  neck  and  jugulum  brownish  white,  with  the  feathers 
mouse  gray  beneath  the  surface;  black  at  base  of  secondaries  exposed,  forming 
a  narrow  bar  between  two  white  areas.  Downy  young:  Above,  hair  brown;  the 
posterior  border  of  each  wing  aud  a  large  spot  on  each  side  of  the  rump  yellow- 
ish white;  lower  parts,  including  the  malar  region,  yellowish  white;  side  of  head 
and  neck  reddish  cinnamon,  paler  on  the  lores,  which  are  bordered  above  by  a 
dusky  stripe  running  back  to  the  anterior  angle  of  the  eye,  and  below  by  a  dark 
brown,  rather  indistinct,  rictal  stripe;  lower  eyelid  white." 

Stretch  of 
Length.          wing.  Wing.          Tail.         Tarsus.          Bill. 

Male 23.50         33.50         9.25         4.00         1.85         2.40 

Female...     21.50         31.50         8.75         3.50         1.80         2.20 

The  birds  are  found  throughout  the  interior,  but  not  as  com- 
mon as  upon  or  near  the  seacoast.  During  the  winter  months 
I  have  seen  a  few  of  the  birds  at  San  Diego,  and  found  them 
abundant  in  Puget  Sound,  also  in  the  Bay  of  Fundy,  and  breed- 
ing on  Grosse  Isle,  one  of  the  Magdalen  group,  in  the  Gulf  of 
St.  Lawrence. 

In  their  food  habits  similar  to  the  Buff-breasted.  Their  nests 
are  placed  upon  the  ground,  near  the  water,  and  usually  in  a 
thick  growth  of  grass,  composed  of  leaves,  moss  and  grass,  and 
lined  with  down  and  feathers.  Eggs  usually  eight  to  ten,  2.56 
xl.77;  cream  drab,  with  an  olive  tinge;  in  form,  ovate  to  ellip- 
tical ovate. 

GENUS  LOPHODYTES  REICHENBACH. 

"Bill  shorter  than  the  head,  black;  serrations  compressed,  low,  short,  in- 
serted obliquely  on  the  edge  of  the  bill.  Tail  more  than  half  as  long  as  the 
wings.  Tarsus  about  two-thirds  as  long  as  the  longest  toe  with  claw.  Head 
with  a  full,  semicircular,  compressed  crest  of  hair-like  feathers." 

Lophodytes  cucullatus  (LINX.). 

HOODED  MERGANSER. 
PLATE  IV. 

Resident;  rare;  common  in  winter.  Begin  laying  the  last  of 
April. 

B.  613.     K.  638.     C.  745.     G.  302,     22.     U.  131. 

HABITAT.  North  America  in  general,  south  to  Mexico  and 
Cuba,  north  to  Alaska,  accidental  in  Greenland,  casual  in  Eu- 
rope; breeding  nearly  throughout  its  range. 

SP.  CHAR.  "Adult  male:  Head,  neck,  back  and  scapulars  black;  crest 
chiefly  pure  white,  but  bordered  by  a  distinct  'rim'  of  black;  forehead  and  feath- 
ers round  the  base  of  bill  dark  fuliginous,  but  this  blending  insensibly  into  the 


BWD3  OP  KANBA8.  53 

deep  black.  Wing  coverts  dark  gray,  lighter  and  more  ashy  posteriorly;  greater 
coverts  broadly  tipped  with  white,  the  base  black,  this  exposed  sufficiently  to 
show  a  distinct  baud;  inner  secondaries  with  their  exposed  surface  (inclosed 
wing)  white,  the  basal  portion  black,  showing  narrowly  beyond  the  end  of  the 
greater  coverts:  tertials  with  a  central  stripe  of  white.  Primaries,  primary 
coverts,  rump,  upper  tail  coverts  and  tail  brownish  dusky.  Sides  of  the  breast 
crossed  by  two  black  cresceuts,  projecting  from  the  black  of  the  back,  these 
iutercligitating  with  two  white  ones,  the  last  crescent  being  black.  Sides  and 
flanks  rusty  cinnamon  (more  grayish  anteriorly),  narrowly  undulated  with  black; 
remaining  lower  parts  white,  the  posterior  part  of  the  crissum  mottled  with 
grayish  brown.  Bill  deep  black;  iris  bright  yellow;  legs  and  feet  yellowish 
brown,  the  claws  dusky.  Adult  female:  Head,  neck,  jugulum,  and  upper  parts 
generally,  grayish  brown,  darker  above,  the  crest  reddish  hair  brown  or  dull 
cinnamon,  smaller  and  of  looser  texture  than  in  the  male;  chin,  upper  part  of 
the  throat  and  lower  parts,  except  sides  and  posterior  part  of  the  crissum, 
white;  middle  feathers  of  the  greater  wing  coverts  tipped  with  white;  inner 
secondaries  with  their  exposed  surface  white,  except  at  the  base.  Maxilla  black, 
edged  with  orange;  mandible  orange;  iris  hazel;  feet  dusky.  Young:  Similar 
to  the  adult  female,  but  crest  rudimentary  or  wanting,  the  sides  and  posterior 
part  of  the  crissum  more  distinctly  brown.  Downy  young:  Above,  deep  hair 
brown,  darkest  on  the  back  and  rump;  posterior  border  of  the  arm  wing,  a  small 
spot  on  each  side  of  the  back  (nearly  concealed  by  the  closed  wing),  and  a  larger 
one  on  each  side  of  the  rump,  grayish  white.  Lower  half  of  the  head  (from 
about  on  a  line  with  the  eye)  brownish  buff,  paler  on  the  chin  and  throat;  jug- 
ulum light  dingy  brownish;  remaining  lower  parts  dingy  white,  the  sides  browii, 
like  the  upper  parts." 

Stretch  of 
Length.  iving.  IVing.         Tail.          Tarsus.         Bill. 

Male 18.50         26.50         7.75         4.00         1.20         1.60 

Female...      17.50         25.50         7.25         3.50         1.15         1.50 

This  handsome  species  is  common  inland  upon  the  streams 
and  ponds,  but  I  have  seldom  met.  with  it  upon  the  salt  water. 
The  birds  are  swift  in  flight,  graceful  upon  the  water,  and  active 
divers.  Their  food  consists  of  small  fishes,  crawfish,  frogs,  and 
all  forms  of  insect  life. 

Their  nests  are  placed  in  shallow  holes  and  trough-like  cavi- 
ties in  trees  near  the  streams,  and  are  lined  with  grasses,  leaves", 
feathers  and  down.  Soon  after  the  young  are  hatched,  the 
mother  carries  them  by  the  neck  or  wing  to  a  secluded  retreat 
at  the  waters  edge.  Eggs  six  to  ten,  2.10x1.72;  pure  ivory 
white,  with  a  few  neutral  tints;  in  form,  ovate  to  rounded  ovate. 

SUBFAMILY  ANATIN^E.      RIVER  DUCKS. 

Lower  mandible  with  a  very  distinct  series  of  lamella?  along  the  side,  in 
addition  to  the  series  along  upper  edge.  (  Ridgway.) 


54  I/ /STORY  OF  THE 

GENUS  ANAS  LINN^ETJS. 

"Usually  rather  large-sized  ducks,  with  the  bill  a  little  longer  than  the  head 
or  foot,  rather  broad,  depressed,  the  edges  parallel,  the  end  rounded;  speculum 
metallic  green,  bine,  or  violet,  in  both  sexes,  usually  broader  posteriorly  by  a 
black  band;  this  generally  succeeded  by  a  white  one." 


Anas  boschas  LIXN. 

MALLARD. 
PLATE  IV. 

Resident;  rare;  in  migration,  abundant;  begin  laying  the  last 
of  April  to  first  of  May. 

B.  576.     R.  601.     C.  707.     G.  282,     23.     U.  133. 

HABITAT.    Whole  of  northern  hemisphere. 

Sp.  CHAR.  '•'Adult  male:  Head  and  neck  continuous  soft,  brilliant  metallic 
green,  showing  purple  and  golden  bronze  reflections  in  different  lights;  a  ring 
of  pure  white  round  the  lower  part  of  the  neck,  interrupted  on  the  nape;  jugu- 
lum  and  upper  part  of  the  breast  rich  dark  chestnut;  iuterscapulars  brownish 
gray,  finely  waved  with  grayish  white;  scapulars  and  lower  parts  grayish  white, 
delicately  waved  with  dark  ash;  outer  webs  of  tertials  dark  umber  brown,  this 
also  tinging  the  adjoining  scapulars;  wing  coverts  uniform  deep  brownish  gray, 
the  last  row  tipped  with  opaque  velvety  black,  and  with  a  subtermiual  bar  of 
pure  white;  speculum  rich  metallic  violet,  with  a  subtermiual  velvety  black, 
and  terminal  pure  white  bar;  primaries  plain  brownish  gray.  Rump,  upper 
tail  coverts  and  crissum  intense  velvety  black,  showing  faint  reflections  of  blu- 
ish green.  Tail  white,  the  feathers  grayish  centrally.  Two  middle  feathers 
black,  slightly  recurved;  the  two  longer  upper  tail  coverts  greatly  recurved.  Bill 
olive  yellow  or  ochraceous  olive  (in  life),  the  nail  black;  iris  hazel;  tarsi  and 
toes  fine  rich  orange  red  (changing  to  yellowish  in  dried  skin).  Adult  female: 
Wing  as  in  the  male.  Above,  brownish  dusky,  much  variegated  by  broad,  pale 
ochraceous  edges  to  the  feathers;  beneath,  pale  ochraceous,  the  feathers  dusky 
centrally,  producing  a  thickly  spotted  or  striped  appearance.  On  the  top  of  the 
head  the  dusky  predominates,  as  it  also  does  in  a  loral  and  auricular  line,  form- 
ing a  lighter  superciliary  stripe  between  this  and  the  crown.  Downy  young: 
Above,  deep  olivaceous,  relieved  by  two  pairs  of  yellowish  buff  spots,  the  first 
pair  on  the  back,  just  behind  the  wings,  the  second  at  the  base  of  the  tail,  the 
first  not  confluent  with  the  buff  of  the  lower  parts;  wings  deep  olivaceous,  va- 
ried on  both  edges  with  dull  greenish  yellow;  pileum  and  nape  olivaceous, 
darker  on  the  occiput,  lighter  on  the  forehead;  a  broad  superciliary  stripe,  in- 
cluding the  sides  of  the  forehead,  sides  of  the  head  and  neck  and  entire  lower 
parts,  yellowish  buff,  deepest  on  the  head,  paler  on  the  anal  region  and  crissum; 
sides  -more  grayish,  and  crossed,  between  the  wings  and  thighs,  by  two  wide 
patches  of  dark  olive,  projecting  from  that  of  the  back.  Side  of  the  head 
marked  by  a  narrow  but  very  distinct  stripe  of  dark  brown  from  the  upper  basal 
angle  of  the  maxilla  to  the  eye,  thence  back  to  the  confluent  with  the  olivaceous 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.     '  55 

of  the  occiput;  beneath  the  latter,  almost  directly  over  the  ear,  an  isolated  spot 
of  the  same." 

Stretch  of 
Length.          wing.          Wing.          Tail.         Tarsus.          Bill. 

Male  .....     23.75         38.25         11.40        4.25        1.70         2.20 
Female...      21.50         36.00         10.60        3.75        1.60         2.10 

The  birds  are  widely  distributed  over  the  continent,  breeding 
from  the  southern  United  States  to  Greenland,  but  chiefly  north- 
ward. They  are  strictly  fresh  water  birds,  and  abundant  inland, 
preferring  for  their  homes  the  grassy  ponds  and  marshes,  sel- 
dom frequenting  the  open  waters  of  the  larger  lakes.  In  a  wild 
state,  occasionally  cross  with  other  species,  but  as  a  rule  are 
monogamous,  pairing  each  season.  They  are  easily  tamed,  and 
in  a  domestic  state  become  polygamous.  In  flight,  they  are 
swift  and  strong.  Their  food  consists  of  snails,  frogs,  tadpoles, 
insects,  aquatic  plants,  seeds,  and  grains  of  all  kinds;  they  are 
also  very  fond  of  acorns,  and  upon  our  prairies  during  the  fall 
and  winter  feed  largely  upon  corn,  entering  the  corn  fields  at 
eve  and  leaving  at  daylight. 

Their  nests  are  placed  on  the  ground  in  the  grass,  at  or  near 
the  edge  of  ponds  or  sloughs,  constructed  of  grass,  weeds  and 
leaves  loosely  scraped  or  placed  together,  and  lined  with  feath- 
ers and  down.  Eggs  six  to  ten,  2.30x1.60;  dull  greenish 
white,  or  pale  buffy  green;  in  form,  oval  or  ovate. 


Anas  obscura 

BLACK  DUCK. 
PLATE  IV. 

Entered  in  first  catalogue  as  "Migratory;  rare;"  but  the 
supposed  specimens  captured  in  the  State,  that  I  have  seen, 
prove  to  be  the  Mottled  Duck.  Other  writers  have  reported 
them  in  Texas,  and  as  far  west  as  Utah.  I  therefore  have  re- 
tained the  birds  in  the  Revised  Catalogue.  Farther  examination 
tends  to  convince  me  that  the  writers  were  mistaken  in  the 
birds,  and  that  they  do  not  come  this  far  west.  I  have  called 
the  attention  of  ornithologists  to  the  matter,  in  The  Auk,  Vol. 
5,  p.  444-,  and,  until  we  have  more  light,  will  let  the  bird  stand 
as  first  entered/ 

B.  577.     It.  602.     C.  708.     G.  283.     24.     U.   133. 


56  .  HISTORY  OF  THE 

HABITAT.  Eastern  North  America;  breeding  from  the  more 
northern  United  States  to  Hudson's  Bay  and  Labrador.  (West- 
ern and  southern  limits  imperfectly  determined.) 

SP.  CHAR.  '•'•Adult:  Prevailing  color  brownish  black  or  dusky,  the  feathers 
edged  more  or  less  distinctly  with  pale  grayish  fulvous.  Head  and  neck  about 
equally  streaked  with  grayish  white  (more  ochraceous  near  the  bill)  and  dusky; 
pileum  nearly  uniform  dusky,  and  a  dusky  stripe  back  from  the  eye.  Speculum 
violet,  changing  to  green  in  some  lights,  narrowly  tipped  with  white,  and  with 
a  broad  subterminal  bar  of  velvety  black;  last  row  of  coverts  dusky  brownish, 
broadly  tipped  with  black.  Sexes  alike.  Bill  yellowish  green,  the  unguis  dusky: 
iris  dark  brown;  feet  orange  red,  the  webs  dusky.  Downy  young:  Above  oli- 
vaceous brown,  faintly  relieved  by  six  inconspicuous  markings  of  light  brownish 
buff,  situated  as  follows:  One  on  the  posterior  border  of  each  arm  wing;  one 
(small  and  sometimes  obsolete)  on  each  side  of  the  back,  behind  the  wings,  and 
one,  more  distinct,  on  each  side  of  the  rump,  near  the  base  of  the  tail.  Pileum 
and  nape  (longitudinally)  brown,  like  the  back;  rest  of  the  head  and  neck  with 
lower  parts  light  dingy  brownish  buff,  paler  on  the  abdomen;  side  of  the  head 
marked  with  a  narrow  dusky  stripe,  running  ficm  the  upper  basal  angle  of  the 
maxilla  to  the  eye,  thence  back  toward  the  occiput,  but  scarcely  confluent  with 
the-  brown  on  the  latter;  an  indistinct  spot  on  the  auricular  region,  with  a  still 
less  distinct  dusky  mark  extending  back  from  this  to  the  nape." 

Stretch  of 
Length.  vuing.  Wing.         Tail.        Tarsus.          Bill. 

Male 24.00          37.50          11.25        4.25         1.75         2/30 

Female...     22.00         36.00         10.50        4.10        1.75         2.05 

The  birds  are  very  common  on  the  Atlantic  coast,  decreasing 
in  numbers  westward.  They  appear  to  be  as  much  at  home  on 
the  salt  water  bays,  marshes  and  inlets  as  upon  the  fresh  waters. 

Their  food  consists  of  shell  fish.  Crustacea,  frogs,  and  all  forms 
of  insect  life,  also  aquatic  plants  and  grains,  but  are  not  as  much 
of  a  vegetable  eater  as  the  Mallard.  Their  flight  is  very  rapid 
and  usually  direct. 

They  breed  throughout  their  range,  but  chiefly  northward. 
I  found  them  breeding  in  Nova  Scotia,  on  the  islands  in  the  Bay 
of  Fundy,  and  upon  the  Magdalen  Islands;  at  the  latter,  espe- 
cially on  Grosse  Island,  they  were  very  abundant.  Their  nests 
are  placed  on  the  ground  in  grass  or  rushes,  usually  near  the 
water.  It  is  a  large,  compactly-arranged  structure  of  weeds  and 
grasses,  slightly  hollowed,  and  lined  with  feathers  and  down 
plucked  from  the  breast  of  the  bird.  Eggs  six  to  twelve,  usually 
seven  or  eight,  2.33x1.75;  ground  color  creamy  white,  to  pule 
greenish  buff;  in  form,  nearly  elliptical. 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  57 

Anas  fulvigula  maculosa  (SEXX.). 

MOTTLED  DUCK. 
PLATE  IV. 

Rare.     Arrive  about  the  middle  of  March. 

B.  .     E. .     C.  .     G.  ,     - — .     U.  134«. 

HABITAT.    Texas  (probably  New  Mexico),  north  to  Kansas. 

SP.  CHAR.  Top  of  head  blackish  brown,  margined  with  very  pale  buff;  chin 
and  throat  Isabella  color;  cheeks  buffy  white  with  narrow  streaks  of  dark  brown. 
Feathers  of  breast,  wings,  upper  parts  and  flanks  blackish  brown  margined  with 
pr.le  buff.  Under  parts  buffy  white,  each  feather  with  a  broad,  blackish-brown 
spot  near  the  tip,  giving  a  decided  mottled  appearance.  Under  tail  coverts 
blackish,  with  outer  margin  of  inner  web  reddish  buff,  that  of  outer  web  buffy 
white.  The  four  median  feathers  of  tail  blackish  brown;  the  others  fuscous, 
margined  with  pale  buff,  having  a  V-shaped  mark  as  in  A.  fulvigula,  but  of  a 
buffy  white.  Under  surface  of  all  tail  feathers  light  gray,  excepting  the  four 
median,  which  are  blackish  brown.  Lining  of  wing  white.  Speculum  metallic 
purple,  feathers  tipped  with  white.  Bill  has  small  black  spot  on  base  of  lower 
edge  of  upper  mandible,  as  in  A.  fulvigula;  feet  reddish  orange.  Wing  10.05; 
culmen  2.25;  tarsus  1.75;  middle  toe  and  claw,  1.50  inches.  (Bennett.) 

Female  similar  to  the  male,  except  that  the  black  spot  at  the 
base  of  the  upper  mandible  is  much  paler.  (A  specimen  de- 
scribed by  Mr.  Sennett  is  wholly  without  marking.)  Iris  dark 
brown;  webs  pale  dusky;  claws  blackish. 

Stretch  of 
Length.          iving.  Wing.          Tail.         Tarsus.          Bill. 

Male 22.50         35.50        10.50        4.15         1.70         2.15 

Female...     21.00         34.00        10.00        4.00         1.65         2.10 

In  my  Revised  Catalogue  I  entered  this  bird  as  Anas  fulvigula. 
In  The  Auk,  Vol.  6,  p.  263,  Mr.  Sennett  described  a  new  Duck 
from  Texas  as  a  species,  viz. ,  Anas  maculosa,  which  I  found  up- 
on examination  to  be  the  Kansas  bird,  instead  of  the  Florida, 
as  given.  In  the  examination,  however,  I  reached  the  conclu- 
sion that  the  difference  existing  between  the  two  birds  was  not 
sufficient  to  warrant  a  specific  separation,  but  rather  a  sub-spe- 
cific one.  I  therefore,  at  "the  annual  meeting  of  the  A.  O.  U. . 
in  1889,  called  the  attention  of  the  council  to  the  same,  and 
they  by  a  unanimous  vote  sustained  the  conclusions  reached, 
and  named  the  bird  Anas  fulvigula  maculosa,  as  now  entered. 

In  habits  the  birds  are  more  like  the  Mallard  than  the  Black 
Duck,  inasmuch  as  they  are  seldom  found  upon  the  open  salt 


58  HISTORY  OF   THE 

waters,  preferring  the  lagoons,  shallow  ponds  and  marshy  pools 
of  fresh  water. 

This  bird  is,  without  doubt,  a  summer  resident  within  the 
State.  Their  nests  are  usually  placed  on  marshy  grounds,  in  the 
old,  dead  grass,  and  are  lined  with  a  few  feathers  and  down. 
Eggs  eight  to  ten.  One  set  of  eight,  collected  near  Corpus 
Christi,  Texas,  May  27th.  1882,  are  in  dimensions  as  follows: 
2.08x1.62,  2.12x1.62,  2.10x1.58,  2.12x1.60,  2.12x1.59,  2.08 
xl.62,  2.10x1.60,  2.08x1.59;  in  color,  cream  or  pale  buff  white; 
in  form,  oval  to  ovate. 

STJBGENUS  CHAULELASMUS  BONAPARTE. 

Culmen  shorter  than  middle  toe  without  claw.  Distance  from  anterior 
border  of  nostril  to  tip  of  upper  inaudible  more  than  three  times  the  distance 
from  same  point  to  nearest  loral  feathers;  lamellae  numerous,  fine,  more  than 
thirty  being  visible  from  outside;  tail  feathers  sixteen.  (Ridgway.} 

Anas  strepera  LINN. 

GADWELL. 
PLATE  V. 

Summer  resident;  rare;  in  migration,  common.  Arrive  the 
middle  of  March  to  first  of  April.  Begin  laying  the  last  of 
May.  Leave  late  in  the  fall. 

B.  584.     R.  604.     C.  711.     G.  284,     26.     U.  135. 

HABITAT.  Northern  hemisphere  in  general;  south  in  winter 
to  Central  America;  breeding  in  temperate  regions. 

SP.  CHAR.  "Adult  male,  in  fall,  winter  and  spring:  Ground  color  of  the 
head  and  neck  pale  brown,  or  brownish  white,  thickly  speckled  with  black;  on 
the  pileum  the  brown  deeper  and  more  uniform,  and  the  specks  obsolete;  on 
the  occiput,  when  present,  they  incline  to  the  form  of  transverse  bars.  Jugulum 
marked  with  greatly  curved  bars,  or  crescents,  of  white  and  black,  the  bars  of 
the  latter  wider.  Lateral  portions  of  the  body  beneath,  back  and  scapulars 
finely  undulated,  in  curved  transverse  lines,  with  slate  color  and  white.  Many 
of  the  longer  scapulars  plain  brownish  gray,  broadly  edged  with  a  lighter,  more 
fulvous  tint.  Rump  plain  dull  slate.  Tail  coverts,  above  and  below,  intense 
opaque  velvety  black.  Tail  cinereous,  faintly  edged  with  white.  Middle  rows 
of  wing  coverts  bright  chestnut,  the  anterior  coverts  brownish  gray,  and  the 
posterior  ones  deep  black;  last  row  deep  velvety  black.  Speculum  immaculate 
pure  white,  the  lower  feathers  cinereous  (some  with  black  on  outer  webs),  nar- 
rowly tipped  with  white;  tertials  plain  pale  ash,  the  primaries  a  darker  shade 
of  the  same.  Bill  bluish  black:  iris  reddish  hazel;  feet  dull  orange  yellow; 
claws  brownish  bla^k;  webs  dusky.  Adutt  male,  in  summer:  Crown  brownish 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  59 

black,  with  a  greenish  tinge;  an  indistinct  streak  through  the  eye  dark  brown; 
rest  of  head  and  neck  dull  brownish  white,  marked  with  blackish  brown,  as  in 
the  previously-described  bird  (adult  male,  in  spring );  back,  rump  and  upper  tail 
coverts  dark  blackish  brown,  each  feather  margined  with  rusty  red;  wings  and 
tail  as  in  the  bird  above  described;  breast  dull  rusty  red,  each  feather  with  a 
central  black  spot;  flanks  dark  brown,  broadly  marked  and  margined  with  dull 
rufous;  the  rest  of  the  under  parts  dull  Avhite,  each  feather  having  a  central 
blackish  brown  drop-shaped  mark.  Adult  female:  Colors  chiefly  brownish 
dusky  and  brownish  white,  in  longitudinal  streaks  on  the  head  and  neck,  and 
in  irregular  transverse  spots  and  bars  on  other  portions.  On  the  upper  surface 
the  dusky  prevails,  and  on  the  lower  parts  the  whitish  predominates.  Wing 
nearly  as  in  the  male,  but  the  chestnut  usually  absent,  the  black  less  extended, 
and  the  gray  of  the  coverts  generally  more  or  less  barred  and  tipped  with  white. 
Abdomen  and  lower  part  of  the  breast  pure  white;  throat  finely  streaked  with 
dusky.  Downy  young:  Covered  with  soft  short  down;  head,  nape,  back  and 
rump  dark  dull  brown;  on  each  side  of  the  rump  and  back  of  each  wing  joint  a 
sulphur  yellow  spot,  the  wing  joints  being  marked  with  that  color;  forehead, 
space  around  the  eye,  throat  and  chest  pale  sulphur  yellow;  abdomen  white, 
shaded  with  sulphur  yellow,  on  the  lower  part  sooty  gray." 

Stretch  of 
Length.         ivzng.  Wing.          Tail.         Tarsus.         Bill. 

Male 20.00         35.50        10.50        3.75         1.60         1.75 

Female...     18.50         34.00        10.05        3.70         1.55         1.75 

This  species  is  not  uncommon  in  the  interior,  especially 
throughout  the  Mississippi  valley  and  westward.  I  have  never 
met  with  the  birds  upon  salt  water,  except  in  estuaries  and  along 
the  edges  of  lagoons,  nor  far  out  upon  the  open  fresh  water; 
their  natural  resorts  are  along  the  banks  of  reedy  streams  or 
ponds,  and  upon  marshy  grounds. 

The  birds  are  rather  solitary  in  their  habits  and  are  usually 
found  in  pairs  or  small  flocks.  When  approached  from  the 
shore  they  do  not  attempt  to  hide,  but  boldly  swim  out  into  the 
open  water  and  at  once  take  wing,  flying  swiftly,  making  with 
their  wings  as  they  cleave  the  air  a  whistling  sound  like  that  of 
the  Baldpate,  but  not  so  loud.  The  birds  unless  winged  rarely 
attempt  to  escape  by  diving. 

Their  food  is  procured  largely  in  shallow  water,  with  head, 
neck,  and  anterior  parts  of  the  body  immersed;  it  consists 
chiefly  of  insect  life,  snails,  tadpoles,  crawfish,  bulbous  roots, 
water  cresses,  tender  blades  of  grass,  and  also  cereals.  I  have 
occasionally  started  them  from  corn  fields,  but  never  far  from 
the  water' s  ed{f?e.  They  are  easily  domesticated,  and  their  flesh 


60  HISTORY  OF   THE 

excellent.      In  the  summer  of  1885,  I  found  young  birds  in  a 
pond,  in  Meade  county,  Kansas. 

Their  nesting  habits  are  the  same  as  those  of  the  Mallard; 
their  eggs  a  little  smaller  and  paler,  usually  eight  to  twelve. 
A  set  of  four,  taken  May  27th,  1868,  at  Horicon  Lake,  Wiscon- 
sin, are,  in  dimensions,  2.20x1.50,  2.19x1.49,  2.21x1.50,  2.19x 
1.52;  pale  buff  white;  in  form,  oval  to  ovate. 

SUBGENUS  MARECA  STEPHENS. 

"Bill  small,  shorter  than  the  head,  rather  narrow,  the  edges  parallel  to  near 
the  end,  where  they  gradually  converge  to  a  rounded  tip;  culmen  gently  con- 
cave; lamellae  of  the  maxillae  almost  concealed;  feet  small,  the  tarsus  about  as 
long  as  the  bill;  sexes  very  different  in  winter,  much  like  in  summer.  Adult 
male,  in  winter,  with  the  scapulars  and  tertials  ( in  the  North  American  species 
the  tail  coverts  and  rectrices  also)  lanceolate." 

Anas  americana  GMEL. 

BALDPATE. 
PLATE  V. 

Summer  resident;  very  rare;  in  migration,  common.  Arrive 
the  middle  of  March  to  first  of  April;  return  in  October. 

B.  585.     R.  607.     C.  713.     G.  286,     27.     U.  137. 

HABITAT.  North  America  in  general;  breeding  chiefly  north 
of  the  United  States;  south  in  winter  to  Guatemala  and  Cuba. 

SP.  CHAR.  "  Adult  male,  in  winter:  Forehead  and  middle  of  crown  (longi- 
tudinally) white,  generally  immaculate;  ground  color  of  head  and  neck  white, 
sometimes  more  or  less  soiled  with  grayish  or  brown,  and  thickly  speckled  with 
black;  a  broad  space  of  metallic  blackish  green  on  the  side  of  the  occiput,  run- 
ning forward  to  the  eye,  and  sometimes  down  the  nape,  where  the  two  spaces 
are  confluent;  jugulum  plain  pinkish  viiiaceous;  sides  and  flanks  the  same, 
delicately  undulated  with  black;  lower  tail  coverts  velvety  black;  rest  of  lower 
parts  pure  white;  back  and  scapulars  grayish  white,  more  or  less  tinged  with 
the  color  of  the  sides,  and  similarly  undulated  with  black;  wing  coverts  immacu- 
late pure  white,  the  anterior  portion  of  the  lesser  covert  region  cinereous,  and 
the  last  row  tipped  with  velvety  black;  speculum  soft  metallic  green  anteriorly, 
velvety  black  posteriorly;  tertials  velvety  black,  sharply  edged  with  white,  the 
lower  one  with  its  lower  edge  entirely  pure  white;  primaries  plain  dark  cinereous; 
rump  cinereous,  minutely  undulated  on  the  edges  of  the  feathers;  upper  tail 
coverts  velvety  black,  the  inner  webs  mostly  grayish;  tail  hoary  cinereous;  bill 
light  grayish  blue,  the  end  black;  iris  brown;  legs  and  feet  light  bluish.  Adult 
female:  Above,  dusky  grayish  brown,  with  transverse,  rather  distinct,  bars  of 
dull  white  or  light  ochraceous;  wing  coverts  dark  dull  cinereous,  broadly  tipped 
and  bordered  with  white;  speculum  dull  black;  head  and  neck  streaked  with 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  61 

blackish  upon  a  dull  whitish  ground,  the  former  color  prevailing  on  the  nape 
and  behind  the  eye;  jugulum  pale  grayish  vinaceous,  the  feathers  darker  beneath 
the  surface;  sides  and  flanks  deeper  vinaceous;  lower  tail  coverts  transversely 
spotted  with  brown;  rest  of  lower  parts  pure  white.  Young  male:  Similar  to 
the  adult  female,  but  the  colors  more  pronounced  and  the  pattern  better  denned, 
especially  on  the  wing.  Downy  young:  Above,  dark  olive,  with  a  sepia  tinge; 
a  spot  of  pale  greenish  fulvous  on  the  posterior  half  of  the  wing,  one  on  each 
side  of  the  back,  and  one  on  each  side  of  the  rump;  lower  parts,  including  head 
and  neck,  pale  fulvous;  a  distinct  blackish  olive  stripe  from  bill  to  and  back 
from  the  eye,  with  a  wide  and  continuous  superciliary  stripe  of  fulvous  above  it. 
The  chief  variation  in  the  plumage  of  adult  males  of  this  species  consists  in  the 
extent  of  the  green  patch  and  the  amount  of  black  spotting  on  the  head,  the 
pureness  of  the  white  on  the  forehead,  and  the  extent  of  the  white  patch  on 
the  wing  coverts.  The  green  patch  on  the  side  of  the  occiput  is  usually  poorly 
defined,  and  broken  up  by  lighter  spotting." 

Stretch  of 
Length.          wing.  Wing.  Tail.         Tarsus.          Bill. 

Male 21.00         34.25        10.00        5.50         1.55         1.50 

Female...     19.00         32.50          9.75        4.50         1.50         1.40 

In  the  winter  of  1883  I  saw  a  small  flock  of  this  species  upon 
Amatitlan  Lake,  Guatemala,  and  since  met  with  a  few  on  the 
Culiacan  River,  Mexico;  but  the  birds  winter  largely  upon  the 
southern  borders  of  the  United  States.  I  have  often  met  with 
them  in  quite  large  flocks  along  the  Gulf  coast  and  in  southern 
California. 

This  species,  like  most  of  the  shoal-water  Ducks,  are  to  be 
looked  for  along  the  edges  of  lagoons,  grassy  lakes  and  pools 
of  water.  The  birds  as  a  rule  are  not  shy,  and  their  note,  a  sort 
of  whew,  whew,  whew,  uttered  while  feeding  and  swimming, 
enables  the  hunter  to  locate  them  in  the  thickest  growth  of  water 
plants;  and  when  in  the  air  the  whistling  noise  made  by  their 
wings  heralds  their  approach;  and  as  they  are  good  eating,  will 
soon  become  very  rare,  if  not  wholly  exterminated. 

Their  food  and  feeding  habits,  when  thrown  upon  their  own 
resources,  are  the  same  as  the  Gad  well;  but  in  the  fall  often 
subsist  largely  upon  aquatic  plants  growing  deep  in  both  salt  and 
fresh  water  (the  Vallisneria  grass  the  favorite);  but  as  they  do 
not  dive  in  order  to  procure  the  same,  they  closely  follow  and 
watch  the  Canvas-back  and  other  deep-water  Ducks  that  feed 
upon  these  roots  and  grasses,  snatching  their  catch  from  their 


62  HISTORY  OF   THE 

bills  the  moment  their  heads  appear  above  the  water,  and  hurry- 
ing away  to  swallow  at  their  leisure  the  food  so  cleverly  stolen. 

I  have  several  times  noticed  the  birds  in  Kansas  during  the 
summer  months,  and  from  the  actions  of  a  female  that  I  saw 
June  26,  1884,  at  a  pond  near  Wallace,  I  knew  that  she  had 
young  birds  hidden  in  the  thick,  tall  rushes  growing  in  the  cen- 
ter of  the  pond;  and  they  may  occasionally  breed  within  their 
range,  but  their  natural  breeding  grounds  are  in  the  northern 
portion  of  the  United  States,  and  northward  to  the  Arctic  Ocean. 

Their  nests  are  placed  in  a  bunch  of  grass  or  under  a  bush, 
on  dry  ground,  often  quite  a  distance  from  the  water;  a  mere 
depression  lined  with  grasses,  leaves  and.  down.  A  set  of  six 
eggs,  taken  June,  1887,  at  Manitoba,  measure:  2.04x1.45,  2.05x 
1.47,  2.02x1.45,  2.07x1.44,  2.02x1.43,  2.06x1.45;  cream  or 
buff  white;  in  form,  oval  to  ovate. 

STJBGENUS  NETTION  KAUP. 

"Bill  shorter  than  the  head,  narrow,  depressed  (except  at  base),  the  edges 
parallel;  tarsus  shorter  than  the  bill  or  middle  toe;  nape  with  a  small  maue-like 
tuft;  rectrices  more  or  less  acuminated,  the  middle  pair  longest." 

Anas  carolinensis  GMELIK. 

GREEN- WINGED  TEAL. 
PLATE  V. 

Winter  sojourner;  rare;  in  migration,  abundant.  Leave  m 
April;  return  in  September. 

B.  579.     R.  612.     C.  715.     G.  290,     28.     U.  139. 

HABITAT.  North  America  in  general,  breeding  chiefly  north 
of  the  United  States;  south  in  winter  to  Central  America  and 

Cuba. 

SP.  CHAB.  "Adult  male:  Head  and  neck  rich  chestnut  rufous,  inclosing  a 
broad  patch  of  soft,  dark  metallic  green  on  each  side  of  the  occiput,  from  the  eye 
(which  it  surrounds)  down  the  sides  of  the  nape,  where  the  two  areas  of  the 
opposite  sides  touch  a  short  nuchal  crest  of  bluish  black.  The  green  patch 
bordered  anteriorly  and  beneath  by  a  yellowish  white  line,  aud  a  less  distinct 
line  of  the  same  bordering  the  base  of  the  upper  mandible,  extending  thence 
back  to,  and  indistinctly  following  for  a  short  distance,  the  upper  anterior  por- 
tion of  the  green  patch.  Chin  and  upper  part  of  the  throat  dull  black.  Front 
of  the  jugulum  deep  pinkish  cream  color,  with  roundish  and  transversely  ovate 
spots  of  black.  Collar  around  the  lower  neck,  sides  of  the  jugulum,  sides  and 
flanks  very  delicately  and  beautifully  undulated  with  black  upon  a  white  ground; 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  63 

outer  scapulars  similarly  waved.  Sides  of  the  breast  with  a  large  transverse 
bar  of  plain  white.  Crissum  rich  deep  cream  color,  bounded  anteriorly,  arid  di- 
vided medially,  with  velvety  black;  post-femoral  region  waved  like  the  flanks; 
rest  of  lower  parts  plain  white,  sometimes  tinged  with  cream  color.  Back, 
scapulars,  rump,  wing  coverts,  primaries  and  tail  plain  cinereous.  Outer  row 
of  scapulars,  with  their  outer  webs,  about  half  velvety  black,  bordered  interiorly 
with  a  white  line.  Last  row  of  coverts  broadly  tipped  with  deep  ochraceous; 
speculum  opaque  black  narrowly  tipped  with  white,  the  four  or  five  upper 
feathers  with  their  outer  webs  richly  brilliant  soft  metallic  green,  varying  from 
golden  to  violaceous,  according  to  the  light.  Bill  black;  iris  brown;  feet  light 
fleshy  (horn  color  when  dried).  Adult  female:  Wing  as  in  the  male,  but 
duller.  Above,  cinereous  dusky,  variegated  with  edgings  and  transverse  bars 
of  ochraceous  white.  Ground  color  of  the  head,  neck  and  lower  parts  dingy 
whitish,  more  or  less  tinged  with  ochraceous;  head  and  neck  speckled  with 
dusky,  the  spots  enlarged  and  aggregated  on  the  pileum,  so  as  to  form  the  pre- 
vailing color,  and  also  along  the  upper  border  of  the  ear  coverts,  producing  a 
stripe  from  the  eye  back.  Jugulum,  sides  and  flanks  more  heavily  spotted  with 
dusky.  Abdomen  sometimes  plain,  but  usually  speckled.  Bill  brownish;  iris 
brown;  feet  pale  brown  (fleshy  in  life).  Young  male:  Similar  to  the  adult  fe- 
male, but  entire  abdomen  and  sides  immaculate  white.  Downy  young:  Above, 
grayish  brown  with  a  light  grayish  buff  spot  on  each  side  of  the  back,  and  a 
similar  pair  on  the  rump;  wings  crossed  near  the  ends  by  a  light  grayish  buff 
bar.  Head,  neck  and  lower  parts  light  dull  buff;  crown  and  occiput  covered  by 
an  elongated  patch  of  grayish  brown  (darker  than  the  back),  this  scarcely 
reaching  the  forehead,  but  continued  down  the  nape  to  the  brown  of  the  back; 
a  dusky  streak  behind  the  eye,  not  reaching  to  the  occiput;  below  the  posterior 
end  of  this,  an  oblong  spot  of  grayish  brown." 

Stretch  of 
Length.          wing.  Wing.         Tail.         Tarsus.         Bill. 

Male 14.50         24.50         7.30         3.10         1.20         1.50 

Female...     13.50         22.25         6.50         3.00         1.12         1.40 

This  handsome  little  Duck  is  usually  found  in  small  flocks 
along  the  edges  of  shallow,  grassy  waters,  feeding  largely  upon 
seeds,  aquatic  plants  and  insect  life;  they  fatten  very  fast  in 
the  rice  fields,  and  are  very  fond  of  acorns;  and,  in  their  search 
for  the  same,  I  have  started  them  quite  a  distance  from  the  water. 
The  birds  walk  with  ease,  and  carry  themselves  as  gracefully 
upon  the  land  as  upon  the  water.  In  exposed  situations  they 
feed  largely  in  the  night,  resting  during  the  day  upon  bogs  or 
small  bare  spots,  closely  surrounded  and  hidden  by  reeds  and 
grasses. 

On  the  23d  of  March,  1887,  I  met  with  a  small  flock  near 
Orange  Walk,  oil  the  Belize  river,  British  Honduras,  but  they 
winter  chiefly  along  the  southern  borders  of  the  United  States. 


64  HISTORY  OF  THE 

I  have  found  them  in  numbers  along  the  Gulf  coast  and  in 
California.  They  breed  from  the  northern  United  States  to  the 
Arctic  circle;  their  nests  are  usually  placed  upon  dry  grounds, 
generally  in  tufts  of  grass,  and  often  quite  a  distance  from  the 
water.  They  are  made  of  grass,  weeds,  etc. ,  and  lined  with  down. 
Eggs  usually  eight  to  twelve.  1. 78x1. 28;  pale  buff;  in  form,  oval. 
According  to  Mr.  Dall,  the  birds  frequently  lay  sixteen  to 
eighteen  eggs;  and  Mr.  Hearn  says  that  this  species  is  far  more 
prolific  than  any  of  the  Ducks  resorting  to  Hudson's  Bay,  and 
he  has  seen  the  old  ones  swimming  at  the  head  of  seventeen 
young,  when  the  latter  were  not  much  larger  than  walnuts;* 
in  July,  1880,  I  saw,  at  Grosse  Isle,  one  of  the  Magdalen  group, 
a  female  with  ten  little  chicks. 

SUBGENUS  QUERQUEDULA  STEPHENS. 

"Bill  slightly  longer  than  the  head,  the  edges  nearly  parallel,  the  maxillary 
tomium  sinuated,  so  as  to  distinctly  expose  the  lamellae  for  the  basal  half,  and 
the  terminal  half  of  the  culmen  slightly  but  distinctly  arched.  Otherwise  much 
like  Nettion." 

Anas  discors  LINN. 

BLUE- WINGED   TEAL. 
PLATE  V. 

Summer  resident;  not  uncommon;  in  migration,  abundant. 
Arrive  the  last  of  March  to  middle  of  April;  begin  laying  the 
last  of  May;  leave  late  in  the  fall. 

B.  581.     R.  609.     C.  716..     G.  288,     29.     TJ.  140. 

HABITAT.  North  America  in  general,  but  chiefly  east  of  the 
Rocky  Mountains;  south  in  winter  to  the  West  Indies  and  north- 
ern South  America;  north  to  about  latitude  60°. 

SP.  CHAR.  "Adult  male:  Head  and  neck  dull  plumbeous,  slightly  glossed 
with  lavender  purple  on  the  side  of  the  occiput  and  nape,  and  marked  in  front 
of  the  eyes  by  a  large,  somewhat  crescentic,  patch  of  white,  extending  entirely 
across  the  anterior  portion  of  the  head;  pileum,  chin,  and  feathers  bordering 
the  white  patches,  blackish;  lower  parts  pale  reddish,  thickly  spotted  with  black, 
the  crissum  uniformly  black.  Back  and  anterior  scapulars  dusky,  marked  with 
concentric  or  U-shaped  bars  of  pale  reddish  buff;  lesser  wing  coverts  and  outer 
webs  of  some  of  the  longer  scapulars  pale  blue;  middle  coverts  white  for  the 
exposed  portion,  forming  a  bar  across  the  wing;  speculum  bronzy  green,  dusky 
terminally,  with  a  very  narrow  white  tip;  tertials  black,  with  a  central  stripe 

*  North  American  Water  Birds,  Vol.  II,  page  5. 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  65 

of  buff:  a  white  patch  at  the  base  of  the  tail  on  each  side:  axillars  immaculate 
pure  white.  Bill  uniformly  black;  iris  brown;  feet  yellowish.  Adult  female: 
Wings,  only,  as  in  the  male;  upper  parts  dusky,  the  feathers  bordered  with  dull 
buff,  the  pileum  and  nape  finely  streaked;  rest  of  head  and  neck,  and  lower 
parts  generally,  brownish  white,  the  head  and  neck  streaked  with  dusky,  except 
on  the  chin  and  upper  part  of  the  throat,  the  streaks  more  dense  immediately 
before  and  behind  the  eye,  thus  forming  an  indistinct  stripe  on  the  side  of  the 
head:  feathers  of  the  lower  parts  generally  with  dusky  grayish  brown  centers, 
forming  spots  when  exposed,  less  distinct  on  the  abdomen,  where  sometimes 
obsolete." 

Stretch  of 
Length.          wing.  Wing.  Tail.         Tarsus.         Bill. 

Male 16.00         25.25         7.50         3.20         1.30         1.65 

Female..  .'  15.00         23.25         7.20         3.00         1.25         1.60 

I  have  only  met  with  this  little  fresh-water  Duck  once  in  Cal- 
ifornia, but  have  found  it  quite  common  in  other  parts  of  the 
continent  that  I  have  visited;  and  during  the  summer  months 
it  is  abundant  throughout  the  Mississippi  valley.  The  birds 
are  very  susceptible  to  cold,  and  leave  for  the  south  on  the  ap- 
proach of  frost. 

They  inhabit  the  sloughs,  shallow  pools,  and  the  reedy  edges 
of  ponds  and  streams.  Their  food  consists  largely  of  insect 
life,  roots  and  tender  blades  of  water  plants,  and  seeds;  the 
wild  rice  a  favorite.  Their  flesh  is  tender  and  esteemed  very 
highly. 

The  birds  are  very  swift  in  flight,  and  when  under  full  head- 
way it  requires  a  quick  eye  and  a  snap  shot  to  drop  the  one 
aimed  at.  In  alighting,  they  circle  well  over  the  ground,  to 
satisfy  themselves  that  no  enemy  is  near,  but  once  down  are  not 
watchful;  and  as  they  crowd  closely  together  while  feeding,  as 
well  as  at  rest,  they  are  easily  trapped  or  slaughtered  by  the  mur- 
derous shot  gun  in  the  hands  of  the  pot  hunter. 

The  birds  occasionally  breed  throughout  their  range,  but 
chiefly  in  the  northern  United  States  and  southern  British  pos- 
sessions. Their  nests  are  placed  on  the  ground  in  coarse  grass, 
reeds  or  rushes  bordering  the  prairie  slough,  and  are  composed 
of  the  same  material  and  lined  with  down.  Eggs  eight  to 
twelve,  1.86x1.34;  cream  or  pale  buff;  in  form,  oval  to  ovate. 

A  set  of  eight  eggs,  taken  in  southern  Dakota,  June  13th, 
1883,  measure:  1.88x1.32,  1.88x1.37,  1.80x1.35,  1.79x1.35, 
1.82x1.34,  1.86x1.37,  1.87x1.37,  1.82x1.35. 


66  HISTORY  OF  THE 

Anas  cyanoptera  VIKILL. 

CINNAMON  TEAL. 
PLATE  V. 

Rare  in  eastern,  but  not  uncommon  in  middle  and  western 
Kansas;  occasionally  breed  there. 

B.  582:     R.  610.     C.  717.     G.  289,     30.     U.  141. 

HABITAT.  Western  America,  from  Washington  Territory  south 
to  Chili  and  Falkland  Islands;  in  North  America,  east  to  the 
plains  and  casual  to  Florida  and  Manitoba. 

SP.  CHAR.  "Adult  male:  Head,  neck  and  lower  parts  rich  purple  chestnut, 
duller — sometimes  quite  dusky — on  the  abdomen;  pileuni  and  crissum  black; 
scapulars  and  part  of  the  back  chestnut,  marked  with  U-shaped  bars  of  black, 
the  middle  of  the  back  more  dusky;  tertials  black,  with  a  central  stripe  of  buff; 
longer  scapulars  similar,  the  outermost  feathers  with  the  outer  webs  light  blue; 
lesser  wing  coverts  plain  light  blue;  middle  coverts  dusky,  tipped  with  white; 
speculum  uniform  green,  varying  from  metallic  grass  green  to  bronze;  primaries 
and  primary  coverts  dusky;  upper  tail  coverts  dusky,  edged  with  pale  fulvous; 
rectrices  dusky,  edged  with  brownish  white  or  pale  brownish  gray;  axillars  im- 
maculate pure  white.  Bill  deep  black;  iris  orange;  feet  orange,  joints  and  webs 
blackish.  Adult  female:  Similar  to  that  of  Q.  discors,  but  larger  and  deeper 
colored,  only  the  upper  part  of  the  throat  (sometimes  only  the  chin)  unstreaketl, 
the  abdomen  usually  distinctly  spotted;  jugulum  deeply  tinged  with  light 
brown.  Young  male:  Similar  to  the  adult  female,  but  markings  on  the  lower 
parts  all  distinctly  longitudinal  or  streak-like.  Downy  young:  Above,  dark 
olivaceous,  relieved  by  a  longitudinal,  oblong  oblique  spot  of  deep  greenish  buff 
on  each  side  of  the  back  ( behind  the  wings),  and  a  similar  spot  of  clearer  yel- 
lowish on  each  side  of  the  base  of  the  tail;  the  anterior  spots  confluent  with 
the  yellow  of  the  sides,  the  posterior  ones  isolated  by  the  extension  beneath 
them  of  the  olivaceous  of  the  tail.  Pileum  and  nape  similar  to  the  back,  but 
darker;  forehead,  broad  superciliary  stripe,  and  rest  of  the  head  and  neck,  ex- 
cept as  described,  with  the  entire  lower  parts,  deep  yellowish  buff,  the  sides  of 
the  head  marked  with  a  distinct  narrow  stripe  of  dark  brown,  extending  from 
the  upper  base  of  the  maxilla  to  the  eye,  thence  back  to  the  occiput." 

Stretch  of 
Length.         wing:          Wing.          Tail.        Tarsus.         Bill. 

Male 16.50         25.50         7.75         3.50         1.25         1.75 

Female...      14.50        23.50         7.30         3.10         1.20         1.65 

This  western  species  is  quite  common  east  of  the  plains, 
rare  beyond,  and  but  a  straggler  east  of  the  Mississippi  River. 
Their  habits,  so  far  as  they  have  come  under  my  observation, 
are  similar  to  the  Blue-wing. 

The  birds  no  doubt  occasionally  breed  throughout  their 
range,  but  chiefly  between  latitudes  40°  and  46°  north.  June 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  67 

3d,  1885,  I  shot  a  female  at  a  grassy  pond,  in  Meade  county, 
with  well-developed  eggs  in  the  ovary.  I  have  since  noticed 
the  birds  in  western  Kansas,  during  the  summer  months.  On 
the  first  of  June,  1877,  I  found  the  birds  quite  common  at 
Como  Lake,  Wyoming  Territory;  they  were  breeding  in  the 
large,  boggy  marsh  adjoining. 

Their  nests  are  made  of  grasses  and  lined  with  feathers  and 
down.  Eggs  eight  to  twelve,  1.87x1.38;  creamy  white  or 
pale  buff;  in  form,  oval. 

A  set  of  ten  eggs,  taken  in  Nevada,  June  1st,  1887,  measure: 
1.87x1.39,  1.90x1.36,  1.88x1.40,  1.88x1.41,  1.83x1.40,  1.80 
xl.39,  1.92x1.40,  1.81x1.39,  1.92x1.32,  1.88x1.35. 

GENUS  SPATULA  BOIE. 

"Bill  longer  than  the  head,  much  expanded,  or  almost  spatulate,  terminally, 
where  about  twice  as  wide  as  the  compressed  base;  maxillary  lamellae  very  thin, 
lengthened,  almost  completely  exposed  posteriorly,  where  resemble  the  teeth  of 
a  fine  comb.  Tail  short,  the  feathers  acute. 

"Of  this  very  curious  and  well-marked  genus,  in  which,  however,  there  is 
little  that  is  peculiar  except  in  the  form  of  the  bill,  about  five  species  are 
known,  one  occurring  throughout  the  northern  hemisphere,  the  others  peculiar 
to  South  America,  South  Africa,  Australia,  and  New  Zealand." 


Spatula  clypeata 

SHOVELLER. 
PLATE  V. 

Summer  resident,  rare;  in  migration,  common.  Arrive  the 
middle  of  March  to  first  of  April;  begin  laying  the  last  of  May; 
leave  late  in  the  fall. 

B.  583.     R.  60S.     C.  718.     G.  287,     31.     U.  142. 

HABITAT.  Northern  hemisphere  in  general.  In  North  Amer- 
ica, breeding  from  Texas  to  Alaska. 

SP.  CHAR.  "Adult  male,  in  winter:  Head  and  neck  dark  metallic  bluish 
green,  much  duller  than  in  Anas  boschas;  breast  and  outer  scapulars  white,  the 
former  sometimes  spotted  with  dusky;  entire  abdomen  and  sides  uniform  chest- 
nut; crissum  dark  metallic  bluish  green,  bounded  anteriorly  by  a  band  of  finely 
undulated  grayish  white.  Back  and  inner  scapulars  dusky,  the  feathers  some- 
times bordered  with  white;  longer  lanceolate  scapulars  marked  with  a  mesial 
lanceolate  stripe  of  white;  wing  coverts  light  grayish  blue,  the  last  row  tipped 
with  white,  forming  a  narrow  band  across  the  wing;  speculum  bright  metallic 
green,  very  narrowly  tipped  with  white;  teitials  dusky  black,  with  faint  green 


68  HISTORY  OF  THE 

reflections,  and  marked  toward  the  end  with  an  indistinct  mesial  stripe  of  gray- 
ish white;  primaries  and  their  coverts  dull  slate  gray;  rump  and  upper  tail 
coverts  black,  the  former  with  faint  (the  latter  with  bright)  green  reflections; 
rectrices  chiefly  grayish  white,  the  middle  ones  dark  gray  edged  with  white. 
Bill  deep  black;  iris  bright  yellow;  legs  and  feet  beautiful  orange  red.  Adult 
female:  Wings  as  in  the  male,  but  colors  rather  duller.  Other  parts  grayish 
brown  above,  varied  with  brownish  white;  brownish  white  below,  the  head  and 
neck  streaked,  the  breast,  abdomen,  etc.,  spotted,  with  grayish  brown.  Bill 
brown,  mandible  orange;  iris  yellow  and  feet  orange  red,  as  in  the  male. 
Young  male:  Similar  to  the  adult  female,  but  lower  parts  (always?)  tinged  with 
chestnut.  Young  female:  Similar  to  the  adult,  but  wing  coverts  dull  slate,  with 
little,  if  any,  blue  tinge,  the  speculum  dusky,  with  a  very  faint  green  reflection, 
and  rather  broadly  tipped  with  brownish  white.  Downy  young:  Above,  grayish 
brown,  with  a  brownish  white  spot  on  each  side  of  the  back,  and  a  correspond- 
ing pair  on  the  rump;  pileum  darker  than  the  back  and  nape;  head  (except 
pilenm)  and  entire  lower  parts  pale  grayish  fulvous,  or  dirty,  grayish  buffy 
white,  shaded  with  brownish  gray  across  the  jugulum;  a  narrow  stripe  of  dark 
brown  from  the  upper  angle  of  the  base  of  the  bill  to  the  eye,  and  continued 
posteriorly  about  half  way  to  the  occiput;  another  similar  stripe  beneath  the 
last,  beginning  a  little  behind  the  posterior  border  of  the  eye,  and  extending 
farther  back  than  the  one  above  it." 

Stretch  of 
Length.  wing.  Wing:         Tail.        Tarsus.          Bill. 

Male 20.00         32.50         9.75         3.75         1.50         2.60 

Female...     19.25         31.50         9.25         3.60         1.45         2.50 

The  birds  are  rare  upon  the  Atlantic  coast,  but  rather  com- 
mon throughout  their  range  elsewhere;  they  are  generally  found 
in  small  flocks.  I  have  occasionally  noticed  them  on  salt  water, 
and  often  resting  upon  the  open  waters  of  our  ponds  and  lakes, 
but  their  favorite  resorts  are  in  shallow  waters,  among  the 
aquatic  plants,  where  they  largely  feed,  often  with  head  and 
neek  immersed,  dabbling  at  the  muddy  botton  (like  the  Roseate 
Spoonbill),  and  straining  the  mud  from  their  catch  through 
their  fine,  sieve-like  teeth.  Their  food  consists  of  grain,  tender 
shoots  and  seeds  of  water  plants,  insects,  snails  —  in  fact  all  low 
forms  of  life.  When  fat,  are  very  good  eating. 

They  are  at  home  upon  the  land  as  well  as  upon  the  water. 
In  flight  steady  and  strong,  but  not  swift.  Their  voice  is  feeble 
and  seldom  heard. 

Their  nests  are  usually  placed  near  the  water,  upo'n  dry 
ground;  if  on  marshy  lands,  upon  a  hummock;  they  are  lined 
with  grass  and  down.  Eggs  eight  to  ten.  A  set  of  ten,  col- 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  69 

lected  May  27th,  1868,  at  Hoi-icon   Lake,  Wisconsin,  average 
2.14x1.50;  greenish  to  buff  white;  in  form,  ovate. 

GENUS  DAFILA  STEPHENS. 

"Bill  longer  than  the  head,  narrow,  the  edges  parallel,  deep  through  the 
base,  but  otherwise  much  depressed,  the  basal  portion  of  the  culmeu  much  as- 
cending. In  the  male,  the  scapulars,  tertials  and  middle  rectrices  lanceolate, 
the  latter  elongated  considerably  beyond  the  other  tail  feathers.  The  adult 
male  in  winter  plumage  very  different  from  the  adult  female,  but  the  sexes 
much  alike  in  summer." 

Dafila  acuta  (LINN*.). 

PINTAIL. 
PLATE  V. 

Migratory;  common.  Arrive  the  last  of  February  to  first  of 
March;  return  in  September;  often  remain  into  winter. 

B.  578.     K.  005.     C.  710.     G.  285,     32.     U.  143. 

HABITAT.  Northern  hemisphere  in  general;  in  North  Amer- 
ica, breeding  from  the  northern  United  States  northward  to 
Iceland,  and  south  in  winter  to  Cuba  and  Panama. 

SP.  CHAR.  "Adult  male,  in  winter:  Head  and  upper  half  of  the  neck  hair 
brown  or  grayish  umber,  the  upper  surface  darker,  often  inclining  to  deep  burnt 
umber;  all  the  feathers  (usually)  appreciably  darker  centrally,  producing  an  in- 
distinctly and  minutely-speckled  appearance;  on  each  side  of  the  occiput  the 
brown  has  a  metallic  gloss  of  dull  green,  showing  a  faint  purple  reflection  in 
some  lights.  Upper  half  of  the  nape  opaque  intense  black,  separated  from  the 
brown  by  an  upward  extension  of  the  white  of  the  lower  neck  nearly  to  the 
occiput.  Stripe  on  each  side  of  the  nape  (as  described  above);  lower  half  of  the 
neck  frontally  and  laterally,  jugulum,  breast  and  abdomen  immaculate  white. 
Lower  half  of  the  nape,  with  entire  dorsal  region  and  lateral  lower  parts,  finely 
waved  with  transverse,  rather  zigzag,  lines  of  white  and  black,  of  nearly  equal 
width.  Longer  scapulars  opaque  velvety  black  centrally,  edged  broadly  with 
grayish  white;  outer  scapulars,  with  exposed  ends  of  the  outer  webs,  entirely 
velvety  black.  Tertials  silvery  ash,  with  a  medial  stripe  of  intense  velvety 
black.  Speculum  dull  green,  varying  to  dull  bronzy  purple,  with  a  subterminal 
bar  of  velvety  black  and  a  tip  of  white.  Wing  coverts  very  uniform  brownish 
gray,  the  last  row  broadly  tipped  with  cinnamon  rufous.  Primaries  dull  slaty. 
Upper  tail  coverts  with  outer  webs  black,  the  inner  ones  grayish  white;  lower 
coverts  deep  opaque  velvety  black,  the  exterior  row  with  their  outer  webs  white; 
post-femoral  space  delicate  cream  color.  Tail  feathers  dark  cinereous  edged 
with  white,  the  elongated  middle  pair  uniform  deep  black.  Bill  plumbeous 
blue,  the  ungui,  base  and  strip  along  the  culmeu  black;  iris  brown;  feet  dusky. 
Adult  male,  in  summer:  Head,  neck  and  upper  parts  generally  as  in  the  adult 
female,  except  that  the  abdomen  is  duller  in  color  and  less  marked;  back  dull 


70  HISTORY  OF  THE 

dark  brown,  each  feather  having  one  or  two  irregular  dirty-white  bars,  and 
some  being  irregularly  vermiculated  with  that  color;  rump  washed  with  gray; 
tail  similar  in  color  to  that  of  the  bird  last  described  (i.  e.,  adult  male,  in  winter), 
but  the  two  central  feathers  are  but  slightly  elongated;  wings  also  as  in  the 
last-described  stage  of  plumage,  but  the  elongated  secondaries  and  scapulars  are 
shorter  and  blunter  and  in  color  dark  gray,  black  along  the  center,  some  of  the 
latter  being  marked  like  the  back;  flanks  grayish  brown,  every  feather  having 
broad  yellowish-white  bars;  under  tail  coverts  as  in  the  female.  Adult  fe- 
male: Above  plumbeous  dusky,  variegated  transversely  with  yellowish  white  or 
pale  ochraceous;  these  markings  sometimes  irregularly  bar-like,  but  often  of 
U-shaped  form,  one  on  the  edge  and  one  in  the  middle  portion  of  each  feather. 
Wing  much  as  in  the  male,  but  metallic  color  of  the  speculum  duller,  the  ochra- 
ceous bar  anterior  to  it  paler,  and  the  white  terminal  bar  tinged  with  buff;  wing 
coverts  narrowly  tipped  with  whitish.  Upper  tail  coverts  broadly  edged  with 
whitish,  and  more  or  less  marked  with  irregular  (usually  V-shaped)  lines  of  the 
same.  Tail  feathers  dusky,  edged  with  whitish,  and  with  more  or  less  distinct 
indications  of  distant  bars  of  the  same.  Head  and  neck  dingy  whitish,  tinged 
with  brown  on  the  superior  surface,  which  is  heavily  streaked  with  blackish; 
the  other  portions  more  finely  and  thinly  streaked,  the  throat  being  nearly  im- 
maculate. Kest  of  the  lower  parts  dingy  white,  the  feathers  more  grayish 
beneath  the  surface;  crissum  and  flanks  streaked  with  dusky,  but  abdomen,  etc., 
usually  immaculate.  .  Young  male:  Similar  to  the  female,  but  markings  on  up- 
per part  more  bar-like,  and  lower  parts  sometimes  nearly  wholly  streaked. 
Young  female:  Speculum  dilute  raw  umber,  marbled  toward  base  of  feathers 
•with  dusky.  All  the  feathers  of  the  upper  parts  conspicuously  and  broadly 
bordered  with  buffy  white;  lower  parts  elsewhere  densely  streaked  with  dusky. 
Downy  young:  Above,  grayish  raw  umber,  with  a  white  stripe  along  each  side 
of  the  back,  a  white  space  on  the  wing  and  a  white  superciliary  stripe.  Be- 
neath, grayish  white,  with  a  faint  yellowish  tinge;  an  umber-brown  stripe  be- 
hind the  eye,  and  an  indistinct  space  of  the  same  over  the  ears." 

Stretch  of 
Length.          wing.  Wing.         Tail.        Tarsus.         Bill. 

Male 28.00         30.00         11.00        8.75        1.65         2.00 

Female...     22.00         33.00  9.75        4.50        1.60         1.90 

This  widely-distributed  fresh-water  Duck  is  one  of  the  first 
arrivals.  It  haunts  the  wet  prairies,  muddy  flats  and  the  edges 
of  reedy,  grassy  waters,  feeding  largely  upon  bulbous  roots, 
tender  shoots,  insects  and  their  larvae,  worms,  snails,  etc.,  and 
on  their  return  in  the  fall,  upon  the  various  seeds  of  water 
plants  and  grain.  I  have  frequently  taken  acorns  from  their 
crops. 

The  birds  seldom  dive,  and  I  never  saw  one  do  so  while  feed- 
ing, but  in  searching  for  their  food  in  the  water  immerse  not  only 
the  head  but  a  large  share  of  the  body,  and  it  is  an  odd  sight  to 


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BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  71 

sec  a  flock  thus  tipped  up,  and  working  their  feet  in  the  air,  as 
if  trying  to  stand  upon  their  heads.  They  move  about  with  a 
graceful  motion  of  the  head,  and  with  tail  partially  erect,  and 
upon  the  land  step  off  with  a  dignity  of  carriage,  as  if  impressed 
with  the  thought  that  they  are  no  common  Duck;  in  flight  they 
are  very  swift. 

Their  nests  are  placed  on  low,  but  dry,  grassy  land,  and  not 
far  from  the  water,  usually  under  the  shelter  of  a  bush;  a  mere 
depression  in  the  ground,  lined  with  grass  and  down.  Eggs 
usually  seven  to  ten.  A  set  of  seven,  collected  May  1,  1879, 
in  Hancock  county,  Iowa,  (extreme  southern  breeding  limits 
known,)  measure:  2.10x150,  2.09x1.49,  2.09x1.50,  2.10x1.49. 
2.13x1.50,  2.09x1.48,  2.08x1.46;  pale  grayish  green  to  olive 
buff;  in  form,  oval  to  ovate. 

GENUS  AIX  BOIE. 

"Bill  small,  much  shorter  than  the  head,  all  the  lateral  outlines  gradually 
converging  toward  the  end,  the  nail  very  large,  broad  and  prominent,  forming 
the  tip  of  the  bill;  lamellse  completely  hidden.  Adult  male,  with  the  head 
crested,  the  colors  rich  and  varied,  and  the  markings  elegant;  tertials  exceedingly 
broad,  truncate." 

Aix  sponsa  (Lixx.). 

WOOD  DUCK. 

PLATE  VI. 

Summer  resident;  common.  Arrive  the  last  of  March  to 
first  of  April;  begin  laying  the  last  of  April. 

B.  587.     E.  613.     C.  719.     G.  291,     33.     U.  144. 

HABITAT.  The  whole  of  temperate  North  America;  breeding 
throughout  its  range.  (Cuba;  accidental  in  Europe.) 

SP.  CHAR.  "Adult  male:  Chin,  throat  and  foreneck  pure  white,  sending  off 
laterally  two  branches,  the  first  across  the  cheeks,  back  of,  and  nearly  to,  the 
posterior  angle  of  the  eye,  the  second  across  the  lower  part  of  the  neck,  almost 
to  the  nape;  both  bars  tapering  toward  the  end,  and  somewhat  curved  or  fal- 
cate in  shape;  a  narrow  white  line  begins  at  the  point  of  the  maxillary  angle, 
and  is  continued  back  on  each  side  of  the  crown,  widening  considerably  on  the 
side  of  the  crest;  a  second  white  line  commences  about  half  an  inch  behind  the 
eye,  and  nearly  the  same  distance  above  the  end  of  the  white  cheek  bar,  and 
follows  the  lower  edge  of  the  crest,  where  considerably  wider  than  anteriorly; 
remainder  of  the  head  silky  metallic  green,  violet  and  purple,  as  follows:  Cheeks 
and  space  behind  the  white  cheek  bar  soft  violaceous  black,  in  the  latter  region 


72  HISTORY  OF  THE 

extending  up  to  the  lower  white  stripe,  but  in  the  anterior  area  bounded  above 
and  anteriorly  by  dark  metallic  green;  the  orbital  region  and  anterior  half  of 
the  crest  between  the  white  lines  metallic  reddish  purple;  forehead,  crown  and 
posterior  portion  of  the  crest  metallic  green;  terminal  portion  of  the  crest,  above 
laterally,  and  beneath,  dark  metallic  violet;  jugulum  rich  purplish  chestnut, 
with  a  metallic  purple  gloss  laterally,  the  front  and  lower  part  marked  with 
deltoid  spots  of  white  growing  larger  toward  the  breast;  breast  and  abdomen 
immaculate  white;  sides  of  the  breast  with  a  broad  white  transverse  bar,  and  a 
wide  black  one  immediately  behind  it;  sides  and  Hanks  pale  fulvous  buff,  deli- 
cately undulated  with  black,  the  broad  feathers  forming  the  upper  border  each 
beautifully  marked  with  two  black  cresceutic  bars,  inclosing  a  white  one;  ci  1s- 
sum  dull  black,  fading  gradually  into  dull  rusty  fulvous  on  the  anal  region. 
Back,  lesser  wing  coverts  and  rnrnp  dark  slaty  brownish,  very  faintly  glossed 
with  bronze,  the  wing  coverts  more  slaty,  the  rump  much  darker,  and  gradually 
deepening  into  black  toward  the  upper  tail  coverts,  which,  with  the  tail,  are 
deep  black,  the  latter  with  bronze  green  reflections  in  certain  lights;  a  some- 
what ovate  patch  (pointed  posteriorly)  of  rich  dark  metallic  maroon  purple  on 
each  side  of  the  rump,  immediately  behind  the  flanks:  just  behind  this,  the  two 
or  three  elongated  lateral  upper  tail  coverts  are  marked  with  a  central  stripe  of 
deep  fulvous,  falling  gracefully  over  the  sides  of  the  crissum;  tertials  and  pos- 
terior scapulars  intense  black,  with  rich  velvety  reflections  of  blue,  green  and 
purple  (chiefly  the  lirst),  in  certain  lights;  the  longest  tertials  tipped  with  a 
wide  bar  of  white,  the  next  black  to  the  end,  the  third  much  shorter,  much 
narrower  than  the  rest,  pointed,  and  of  a  dull  greenish  bronze  color;  middle 
and  greater  wing  coverts  steel  blue,  narrowly  tipped  with  black;  secondaries 
('speculum')  purplish  steel  blue,  narrowly  tipped  with  white,  and  with  a  narrow 
subtenniual  black  bar;  primary  coverts  slate  color;  primaries,  with  the  exposed 
ends  of  the  inner  webs,  steel  blue,  the  ends  of  the  outer  webs  grayish  or  glau- 
cous white,  becoming  slate  color  basally;  lining  of  the  wing  spotted  with  slate 
color  and  white.  Sagittate  longitudinal  space  on  the  culmen  and  terminal 
'nail'  of  the  bill  deep  polished  black;  an  oblong  space  of  milk  white  from  the 
nostril  to  the  'nail;'  a  line  or  border  of  gamboge  yellow  following  the  basal 
outline  of  the  bill;  rest  of  bill  dark  purplish  red,  deepening  into  scarlet  just 
behind  the  nostril;  iris  bright  orange  led;  eyelids  deep  vermilion;  legs  and  feet 
dull  chrome  yellow,  the  webs  and  joints  dusky.  Adud  female:  Feathers  border- 
ing the  base  of  the  bill  all  around,  a  space  on  side  of  the  head  surrounding  the 
eyes  and  extending  back  in  a  point  toward  the  occuput,  chin  and  whole  throat 
white;  remainder  of  the  head  plumbeous  gray,  the  crown  and  slight  occipital 
crest  glossed  with  metallic  green;  jugulum  brownish,  the  feathers  marked  cen- 
trally with  fulvous  buff,  those  toward  the  breast  tipped  with  white;  remaining 
lower  parts  white,  the  crissum  freckled  with  dusky  grayish,  the  sides  and  flanks 
raw  umber  brown,  spotted  with  brownish  white;  back,  rump  and  upper  tail 
coverts  hair  brown,  glossed  in  certain  lights  with  bronze  and  reddish  purple; 
tail  brightly  glossed  with  greenish  bronze;  scapulars  and  tertials  olivaceous 
umber,  richly  glossed  with  reddish  purple  and  bronze;  wings  as  in  the  adult 
male,  but  secondaries  more  widely  tipped  with  white,  and  the  four  upper  greater 
coverts  rich  metallic  reddish  purple,  more  bluish  in  the  center,  bron/.y  toward 
the  edge  and  base,  and  narrowly  tipped  with  velvety  black:  bill  dark  plum- 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  73 

beous,  the  nail  and  longitudinal  space  on  the  cuhnen  black:  eyelids  chrome 
yellow;  iris  raw  sienna;  legs  and  feet  yellowish  brown.  Dmrny  young:  Above, 
deep  hair  brown,  darker  (or  clove  brown)  on  the  pileum  and  tail;  a  dingy 
whitish  bar  along  the  posterior  border  of  the  arm  wing,  and  a  roundish  spot  of 
the  same  on  each  side  of  the  rump.  Lores,  superciliary  stripe  extending  back 
nearly  to  the  occiput,  with  lateral  and  nuder  parts  of  the  head  generally,  bright 
sulphury  buff,  crossed  by  a  wide  stripe  of  blackish  brown  extending  from  the 
occiput  forward  to  the  eye;  remaining  lower  parts  dingy  white,  the  sides  brown- 
ish, this  crossed  on  the  flanks  by  an  indistinct  whitish  bar." 

Stretch  of 
Length.          wing.  Wing.          Tail.         Tarsus.         Bill. 

Male 19.50         30.00         9.25         4.75         1.45         1.35 

Female...      18.00         28.30         8.60         4.50         1.45         1.35 

This  elegant  Duck,  with  its  full  flowing  crest  and  rich,  varied 
attire,  is  unsurpassed  in  beauty  by  any  of  the  water  birds.  It 
is  very  common  throughout  the  United  States,  along  the  slug- 
gish streams,  ponds  and  marshy  grounds  skirted  with  trees,  or 
near  the  wooded  lands. 

In  flight  the  birds  are  very  swift,  and,  without  slacking  their 
speed,  wind  with  ease  through  the  thick  groves  and  heavily 
timbered  forests. 

Their  food  consists  chiefly  of  insect  life,  the  tender  shoots 
and  seeds  of  aquatic  plants,  grains,  wild  grapes  and  acorns, 
which  they  gather  as  well  from  the  vines  and  tree  tops  as  upon 
the  ground;  upon  the  latter  they  fatten  fast,  and  at  such  times 
their  flesh  is  tender,  juicy,  and  most  delicious  to  the  taste  when 
roasted  —  the  proper,  and  in  my  opinion  the  only,  way  a  duck 
should  be  cooked. 

Audubori  says:  l'Few  birds  are  more  interesting  to  observe 
during  the  love  season  than  Wood  Ducks.  The  great  neatness 
and  beauty  of  their  apparel,  and  the  grace  of  their  motions,  al- 
ways afford  pleasure  to  the  observer;  and,  as  I  have  had  abund- 
ant opportunities  of  studying  their  habits  at  that  period,  I  am 
enabled  to  present  you  with  a  full  account  of  their  proceedings. 
When  March  has  again  returned  and  the  dogwood  expands  its 
pure  blossoms  to  the  sun,  the  Cranes  soar  away  on  their  broad 
wings,  bidding  our  country  adieu  for  a  season,  flocks  of  water 
fowl  are  pursuing  their  early  migrations,  the  frogs  issue  from 
their  muddy  beds  to  pipe  a  few  notes  of  languid  joy,  the  Swallow 
has  just  arrived  and  the  Bluebird  has  returned  to  his  box.  The 


74  HISTORY  OF  THE 

Wood  Duck  almost  alone  remains  on  the  pool,  as  if  to  afford  ns 
an  opportunity  to  study  the  habits  of  his  tribe.  Here  they  are, 
a  whole  flock  of  beautiful  birds;  the  males  chasing  their  rivals, 
the  females  coquetting  with  their  chosen  beaux.  Observe  that 
fine  drake !  how  gracefully  he  raises  his  head  arid  curves  his 
neck.  As  he  bows  before  the  object  of  his  love  he  raises,  for 
a  moment,  his  silken  crest.  His  throat  is  swelled  and  from  it 
there  issues  a  guttural  sound,  which  to  his  beloved  is  as  sweet 
as  the  song  of  the  Wood  Thrush  to  its  gentle  mate.  The  fe- 
male, as  if  not  unwilling  to  manifest;  the  desire  to  please  which 
she  feels,  swims  close  by  his  side  and  now  and  then  caresses 
him  by  touching  his  feathers  with  her  bill,  and  shows  displeas- 
ure towards  any  other  of  her  sex  that  may  come  near.  80011 
the  happy  pair  separate  from  the  rest,  repeat  every  now  and 
then  their  caresses,  and  at  length,  having  sealed  the  conjugal 
compact,  fly  off  to  the  woods  to  search  for  a  large  Woodpeck- 
er's hole.  Occasionally  the  males  fight  with  each  other,  but 
their  combats  are  not  of  long  duration  nor  is  the  field  ever 
stained  with  blood,  the  loss  of  a  few  feathers  or  a  sharp  tug  of 
the  head  being  generally  enough  to  decide  the  contest.  Al- 
though the  Wood  Ducks  always  form  their  nests  in  the  hollow 
of  a  tree  their  caresses  are  performed  exclusively  on  the  water, 
to  which  they  resort  for  that  purpose,  even  when  their  loves 
have  been  first  proved  far  above  the  ground  on  a  branch  of 
some  tall  sycamore.  While  the  female  is  depositing  her  eggs 
the  male  is  seen  to  fly  swiftly  past  the  hole  in  which  she  is  hid- 
den, erecting  his  crest  and  sending  forth  his  love  notes,  to 
which  she  never  fails  to  respond.  'On  the  ground  the  Wood 
Duck  runs  nimbly  and  with  more  grace  than  most  other  birds 
of  its  tribe.  On  reaching  the  shore  of  a  pond  or  stream,  it  im- 
mediately shakes  its  tail  sidewise,  looks  around,  and  proceeds 
in  search  of  food.  It  moves  on  the  larger  branches  of  trees 
with  the  same  apparent  ease;  and,  while  looking  at  thirty  or 
forty  of  these  birds  perched  on  a  single  sycamore  on  the  bank 
of  a  secluded  bayou,  I  have  conceived  the  sight  as  beautiful 
as  any  that  I  ever  enjoyed.  They  always  remind  me  of  the 
Muscovy  Duck,  of  which  they  look  as  if  a  highly  finished  and 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  75 

flattering  miniature.  They  frequently  prefer  walking  on  an  in- 
clined log  or  the  fallen  trunk  of  a  tree,  one  end  of  which  lies  in 
the  water  while  the  other  rests  on  the  steep  bank,  to  betaking 
themselves  to  flight  at  the  sight  of  an  approaching  enemy.  In 
this  manner  I  have  seen  a  whole  flock  walk  from  the  water  into 
the  woods,  as  a  steamer  was  approaching  them  in  the  eddies  of 
the  Ohio  or  Mississippi.  They  swim  and  dive  well,  when 
•wounded  and  closely  pursued,  often  stopping  at  the  edge  of  the 
water  with  nothing  above  it  but  the  bill,  but  at  other  times  run- 
ning a  considerable  distance  into  the  woods  or  hiding  in  a  cane- 
brake  beside  a  log.  In  such  places  I  have  often  found  them, 
having  been  led  to  their  place  of  concealment  by  my  dog. 
When  frightened  they  rise  by  a  single  spring  from  the  water, 
and  are  as  apt  to  make  directly  for  the  woods  as  to  follow  the 
stream.  When  they  discover  an  enemy  while  under  the  cover 
of  shrubs  or  other  plants,  on  a  pond,  instead  of  taking  to  wing 
they  swim  off  in  silence  among  the  thickest  weeds,  so  as  gener- 
erally  to  elude  your  search  by  landing  and  running  over  a  nar- 
row piece  of  ground  to  another  pond.  In  autumn  a  whole 
covey  may  often  be  seen  standing  or  sitting  on  a  floating  log 
pluming  and  cleaning  themselves  for  hours.  On  such  occasions 
the  knowing  sportsman  commits  great  havoc  among  them,  kill- 
ing; half  a  dozen  or  more  at  a  shot." 

O 

The  birds  nest  in  holes  in  trees  on  or  near  the  banks  of 
streams,  usually  in  a  trough-like  cavity  of  a  large,  broken  limb, 
lined  sparingly  with  grass,  weeds  or  leaves,  and  a  few  feathers 
with  down.  Eggs  six  to  fifteen,  2.00x1.50;  cream  to  buff 
white,  smoothly  polished;  in  form,  oval  to  ovate.  A  set  of 
seven  eggs,  taken  June  4th,  1887,  in  Blackhawk  county,  Iowa, 
out  of  a  hole  in  a  stub,  seven  feet  from  the  ground,  are,  in  di. 
mensions:  2.02x1.50,  1.99x1.50,  2.02x1.54,  2.00x1.51,  1.98x 
1.52,  1.93x1.49,  1.99x1.50.  I  have  found  them  nesting  in  the 
Neosho  valley,  Kansas,  in  large  elm  and  sycamore  trees,  at  least 
seventy  feet  from  the  ground.  When  the  nests  are  too  high, 
for  the  little  ones  to  drop  in  safety,  the  mother  carries  them, 
one  at  a  time,  in  her  bill  to  the  water's  edge. 


76  HISTORY  OF  THE 

GENUS  AYTHYA  BOIE. 

Culmen  longer  than  iuuer  toe  with  claw;  bill  not  wider  near  end  than  at 
base;  head  and  neck  reddish  in  adult  males.  Bill  much  shorter  than  middle 
toe  without  claw,  its  greatest  width  nearly  half  the  length  of  the  culinen.  the 
end  moderately  depressed,  arid  the  nail  decidedly  hooked.  (Ridr/way.) 

Aythya  americana  (Evr.). 

REDHEAD. 
PLATE  VI. 

Migratory;  common.  Arrive  the  first  of  March  to  middle  of 
April;  return  in  September. 

B.  591.     R.  618.     C.  723.     G.  296,     34.     U.  146. 

HABITAT.  North  America  in  general;  breeding  from  Califor- 
nia, Wisconsin  and  Maine  northward. 

SP.  CHAR.  "Bill  much  shorter  than  the  middle  toe  without  claw,  broad,  the 
end  moderately  depressed,  and  with  the  nail  decidedly  decurved,  the  culmeii 
about  two  and  a  half  times  the  greatest  width  of  the  maxilla,  and  decidedly 
concave.  Adult  male:  Head  and  upper  half,  or  more,  of  the  neck  rich  reddish 
chestnut,  the  latter  glossed  with  reddish  purple;  lower  part  of  the  neck,  jugu- 
luin,  anterior  part  of  the  back,  lower  part  of  the  rump,  upper  tail  coverts  and 
crissum  black;  back,  scapulars,  sides  and  flanks  densely  vermiculated  with  white 
and  dusky  in  about  equal  proportion;  anal  region  similarly  (but  more  faintly) 
marked;  entire  abdomen  immaculate  white;  wing  coverts  deep  plumbeous  gray, 
faintly  and  minutely  sprinkled  with  white;  secondaries  ('speculum')  pale  bluish 
gray,  the  upper  feathers  edged  with  black,  the  others  narrowly  tipped  with  white; 
primaries  dusky,  the  inner  quills  slate  gray,  except  at  ends;  tail  dusky.  Bill 
pale  blue,  the  end  black;  iris  red;  feet  bluish  gray.  Adult  female:  Head  and 
neck  grayish  brown,  darkest  above;  the  anterior  part  of  the  head  lighter,  almost 
white  on  the  chin  and  upper  part  of  the  throat;  jugulum,  sides  and  flanks  dull 
grayish  brown,  the  feathers  tipped  with  fulvous;  wings  as  in  the  male,  but  the 
coverts  plain  elate  color;  back  and  scapular  grayish  brown,  the  feathers  with 
paler  tips;  rump,  upper  tail  coverts  and  tail  dusky  grayish  brown;  anal  region 
paler;  longer  lower  tail  coverts  whitish.  Bill  plumbeous,  the  end  black;  iris  yel- 
low; feet  plumbeous.  Downy  young:  Above,  ochraceous  olive  brown,  indistinctly 
relieved  by  an  olive-yellow  spot  back  of  eacli  wing,  one  on  the  hind  border  of 
each  arm  wing,  and  one  on  each  side  of  the  rump;  entire  head  and  neck  (except 
the  pilemn  and  nape),  with  whole  lower  parts,  deep  buff  yellow,  paler  and  less 
yellow  on  abdomen  and  anal  region.  No  dark  markings  whatever  on  side  of 
head.  Bill  and  feet  light  colored  (brownish  in  dried  skin)." 

Stretch  of 
Length.          luittg.  H'ing.  Tail.         Tarsus.          Bill. 

Male 21.00          33.50          9.25          2.75         1.60          1.90 

Female...      18.50         32.00         8.70         2.30         1.60         1.80 

This  deep-water  Duck,  though  widely  distributed,  is  not  so 
common  on  the  Pacific  slope  as  east  of  the  Rocky  Mountains. 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  77 

It  is  usually  found  in  flocks  *hpon  the  open  waters,  associating 
with  the  Canvas-back,  and  diving  with  them  for  its  food,  which 
chiefly  consists  of  small  mollusks,  Crustacea,  fishes,  frogs,  water 
newts,  and  various  kinds  of  submarine  and  fresh-water  grasses 
and  plants.  I  have  occasionally  noticed  the  birds  in  shallow 
water  dabbling  in  the  mud. 

They  are  much  sought  after  by  the  gunner,  for  they  are  a 
good  table  Duck,  and  in  the  market  are  often  sold  for  the  highly- 
prized  Canvas-back,  which  they  rather  closely  resemble.  They 
are  therefore  very  wary,  and  off  at  the  sight  of  an  intruder. 
Various  methods  are  resorted  to  in  order  to  bag  them,  tolling, 
netting,  etc.,  but  they  are  mostly  shot  on  the  wing  over  decoys, 
from  blinds,  punts,  and  points  of  land  extending  out  into  the 
water.  When  suddenly  started  they  spring  from  the  water  in 
a  wild,  confused  manner,  often  with  a  quacking  note,  but  once 
fairly  in  the  air  fly  swiftly  and  straight  as  an  arrow. 

Their  nests  are  usually  placed  on  low,  grassy  grounds  and 
near  the  water.  Eight  nests,  containing  from  one  to  five  eggs, 
were  found  by  my  brother,  May  24th,  1868,  on  a  small  island 
in  Horicon  Lake,  Wisconsin.  They  were  all  near  together, 
(Mallards  and  other  Ducks  were  nesting  beside  them,)  in  a  thick 
growth  of  grass  and  weeds,  and  not  over  twenty  feet  from  the 
water's  edge;  they  were  rather  loosely  made  of  the  grasses  and 
material  at  hand,  and  lined  with  down.  It  was  too  early  in  the 
season  for  a  full  set,  which  is  usually  seven  to  ten.  A  set  of 
eight,  taken  in  northern  Dakota,  June  2d,  1880,  from  a  nest  in 
rushes  at  the  edge  of  the  water,  are,  in  dimensions:  2.64x1.73, 
2.50x1.79,  2.42x1.76,  2.42x1.80,  2.52x1.80,  2.47x1.70,  2.54 
xl. 76,  2.64x1.79;  grayish  white  to  pale  greenish  buff;  inform, 
oval  to  ovate. 

Ay  thy  a  vallisneria  (WILS.). 

CANVAS-BACK. 
PLATE  VI. 

Migratory;  irregular;  not  uncommon.  Arrive  early  in 
March  —  my  notes  show  the  capture  of  one  February  22d;  re- 
turn in  October. 

B.  592.     R.  617.     C.  724.     G.  295,     35.     TJ.  147. 


78  HISTORY  OF  THE 

HABITAT:    North  America  in  general;  breeding  far  northward. 

SP.  CHAR.  "Bill  loug  and  narrow,  the  end  much  depressed,  with  the  nail 
scarcely  decurved,  the  base  high,  with  the  culmen  gradually  sloping  and  scarcely 
concave;  culmen  nearly  as  long  as  middle  toe  without  claw,  and  about  three 
times  the  greatest  width  of  the  maxilla.  Adult  male:  Head  and  neck  chestnut 
rufous,  the  former  brownish  dusky  (sometimes  quite  blackish)  anteriorly  and 
on  top;  jugulum  and  anterior  part  of  back,  lower  part  of  rump,  upper  tail  cov- 
erts and  posterior  part  of  crissum  black;  back,  scapulars,  flanks,  sides  and  anal 
regions  white,  finely  and  delicately  vermiculated  with  dusky;  breast  and  abdo- 
men immaculate  white.  Wing  coverts  deep  ash  gray,  finely  sprinkled  with 
white;  secondaries  (speculum)  lighter,  more  bluish  gray,  the  upper  feathers 
edged  with  black;  tertials  like  the  longer  scapulars;  primaries  slate  color,  the 
inner  quills  more  cinerous,  except  at  ends,  where  dusky;  tail  dusky.  Bill  en- 
tirely greenish  black;  iris  carmine  red;  feet  bluish  gray.  Adult  female:  Head, 
neck,  jugulum  and  anterior  part  of  back  raw-umber  brown,  a  post-ocular  space 
and  the  foreneck  whitish,  the  chin,  throat  and  cheeks  tinged  with  fulvous; 
wings  as  in  the  male,  but  coverts  almost  or  quite  uniform  gray;  back,  scapulars, 
sides  and  flanks  with  only  the  exposed  ends  of  the  feathers  vermiculated  with 
white  and  dusky,  the  remainder  being  grayish  brown.  Bill  greenish  black; 
iris  brownish  red;  feet  plumbeous." 

Stretch  of 
Length.          wing.          Wing.          Tail.        Tarsus.         Bill, 

Male 22.00         34.00         9.25         2.75         1.70         2.40 

Female...     20.00         32.00         8.50         2.55         1.65         2.30 

This  highly-esteemed  Duck  is  exclusively  a  North  American 
species;  they  have  been  found  breeding  on  the  inland  waters 
from  Oregon  and  Manitoba  to  Fort  Yukon,  Alaska,  and  south 
in  winter  to  Guatemala.  The  birds  are  quite  rare  in  the  north- 
eastern States,  increasing  in  numbers  westward  to  the  Pacific 
coast;  some  seasons  very  common.  As  they  associate  in  large 
flocks  upon  their  feeding  grounds,  are  generally  thought  to  be 
more  abundant  than  they  really  are. 

This  species,  so  highly  prized  as  a  game  bird,  is  entitled  to 
more  than  a  passing  notice;  and  I  know  that  I  cannot  please 
the  reader  better  than  to  quote  from  Wilson's  interesting  de- 
scription of  its  habits,  wherein  he  says: 

"The  Canvas-back  Duck  arrives  in  the  United  States  from 
the  north  about  the  middle  of  October;  a  few  descend  to  the 
Hudson  and  Delaware,  but  the  greater  body  of  these  birds  re- 
sort to  the  numerous  rivers  belonging  to  and  in  the  neighbor- 
hood of  the  Chesapeake  Bay,  particularly  the  Susquehanna,  the 
Patapsco,  Potomac  and  James  rivers,  which  appear  to  be  their 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  79 

general  winter  rendezvous.  Beyond  this  to  the  south,  I  can  find 
no  certain  account  of  them.  At  the  Susquehanna,  they  are  called 
Canvas-backs;  on  the  Potomac,  White-backs,  and  on  the  James 
River,  Shelldrakes.  They  are  seldom  found  a  great  distance  up 
any  of  these  rivers,  or  even  in  the  salt  water  bay;  but  in  that 
particular  part  of  the  tide  water  where  a  certain  grass-like  plant 
grows,  on  the  roots  of  which  they  feed.  This  plant,  which  is 
said  to  be  a  species  of  Vallimeria,  grows  on  fresh-water  shoals 
of  from  seven  to  nine  feet  (but  never  where  these  are  occa- 
sionally dry),  in  long,  narrow  grass-like  blades  of  four  or  five 
feet  in  length;  the  root  is  white,  and  has  some  resemblance  to 
small  celery.  This  grass  is  in  many  places  so  thick  that  a  boat 
can  with  difficulty  be  rowed  through  it,  it  so  impedes  the  oars. 
The  shores  are  lined  with  large  quantities  of  it,  torn  up  by  the 
Ducks  and  drifted  up  by  the  winds,  lying  like  hay  in  windrows. 
Wherever  this  plant  grows  in  abundance  the  Canvas-backs  may 
be  expected  either  to  pay  occasional  visits  or  to  make  it  their 
regular  residence  during  the  winter.  It  occurs  in  some  parts 
of  the  Hudson,  in  the  Delaware,  near  Gloucester,  a  few  miles 
below  Philadelphia,  and  in  most  of  the  rivers  that  fall  into  the 
Chesapeake,  to  each  of  which  particular  places  these  Ducks  re- 
sort; while  in  waters  unprovided  with  this  nutritive  plant  they 
are  altogether  unknown. 

"On  the  arrival  of  these  birds  in  the  Susquehanna,  near  Ha- 
vre de  Grace,  they  are  generally  lean,  but  such  is  the  abundance 
of  their  favorite  food,  that  towards  the  middle  of  November 
they  are  in  pretty  good  order.  They  are  excellent  divers,  and 
swim  with  great  speed  and  agility.  They  sometimes  assemble 
in  -such  multitudes  as  to  cover  several  acres  of  the  river,  and 
when  they  rise  suddenly,  produce  a  noise  resembling  thunder. 
They  float  about  the  shoals,  diving  and  tearing  up  the  grass  by 
the  roots,  which  is  the  only  part  they  eat.  They  are  extremely 
shy,  and  can  rarely  be  approached,  unless  by  strategem.  When 
wounded  in  tlie  wing,  they  dive  to  such  prodigious  distances, 
and  with  such  rapidity,  continuing  it  so  perse veringly,  and  with 
such  cunning  and  active  vigor,  as  almost  always  to  render  the 
pursuit  hopeless.  From  the  great  demand  for  these  Ducks,  and 


80  HISTORY  OF   THE 

the  high  price  they  uniformly  bring  in  market,  various  modes 
are  practiced  to  get  within  gunshot  of  them.  The  most  suc- 
cessful way  is  said  to  be  decoying  them  to  the  shore  by  means 
of  a  dog,  while  the  gunner  lies  concealed. in  a  proper  situation. 
The  dog,  if  properly  trained,  plays  back  and  forwards  along  the 
margin  of  the  water,  and  the  Ducks,  observing  his  manoeuvres, 
enticed  perhaps  by  curiosity,  gradually  approach  the  shore,  un- 
til they  are  sometimes  within  twenty  or  thirty  yards  of  the  spot 
where  the  gunner  lies  concealed,  and  from  which  he  rakes  them, 
first  on  the  water,  and  then  as  they  rise.  This  method  is  called 
"tolling  them  in."  If  the  ducks  seem  difficult  to  decoy,  any 
glaring  object,  such  as  a  red  handkerchief,  is  fixed  around  the 
dog's  middle  or  to  his1  tail,  and  this  rarely  fails  to  attract  them. 
Sometimes,  by  moonlight,  the  sportsman  directs  his  skiff  to- 
wards a  flock  whose  position  he  has  previously  ascertained, 
keeping  within  the  projecting  shadow  of  some  wood,  bank  or 
headland,  and  paddles  along  so  silently  and  imperceptibly  as 
often  to  approach  within  fifteen  or  twenty  yards  of  a  flock  of 
many  thousands,  among  whom  he  generally  makes  great  slaugh- 
ter. 

"Many  other  stratagems  are  practised,  and  indeed  every  plan 
that  the  ingenuity  of  the  experienced  sportsman  can  suggest,  to 
approach  within  gunshot  of  these  birds;  but  of  all  the  modes 
pursued,  none  intimidate  them  so  much  as  shooting  them  by 
night;  and  they  soon  abandon  the  place  where  they  have  been 
thus  repeatedly  shot  at.  During  the  day  they  are  dispersed 
about,  but  towards  evening  collect  in  large  flocks,  and  come  into 
the  mouths  of  creeks,  where  they  often  ride,  as  at  anchor,  with 
their  head  under  their  wing  asleep,  there  being  always  sentinels 
awake,  ready  to  raise  an  alarm  on  the  least  appearance  of  dan- 
ger. Even  when  feeding  and  diving  in  small  parties,  the  whole 
never  go  down  at  one  time,  but  some  are  still  left  above  on  the 
lookout. 

"When  winter  sets  in  severely,  and  the  river  is  frozen,  the 
Canvas-back  retreats  to  its  confluence  with  the  bay,  occasionally 
frequenting  air  holes  in  the  ice,  which  are  sometimes  made  for 
the  purpose,  immediately  above  their  favorite  grass,  to  entice 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  81 

them  within  gunshot  of  the  hut  or  bush  which  is  usually  fixed 
at  a  proper  distance,  and  where  the  gunner  lies  concealed,  ready 
to  take  advantage  of  their  distress.  A  Mr.  Hill,  who  lives  near 
James  River,  at  a  place  called  Herring  Creek,  informs  me  that 
one  severe  winter  he  and  another  person  broke  a  hole  in  the  ice 
about  twenty  by  forty  feet,  immediately  over  a  shoal  of  grass, 
and  took  their  stand  on  the  shore  in  a  hut  of  brush,  each  having 
three  guns  well  loaded  with  large  shot.  The  Ducks,  which 
were  flying  up  and  down  the  river  in  great  extremity,  soon 
crowded  to  this  place,  so  that  the  whole  open  space  was  not 
only  covered  with  them,  but  vast  numbers  stood  on  the  ice 
around  it.  They  had  three  rounds,  firing  both  at  once,  and 
picked  up  eighty-eight  Canvas-backs,  and  might  have  collected 
more  had  they  been  able  to  get  to  the  extremity  of  the  ice  after 
the  wounded  ones.  In  the  severe  winter  of  1779-80,  the  grass 
on  the  roots  of  which  these  birds  feed  was  almost  wholly  de- 
stroyed in  James  River.  In  the  month  of  January,  the  wind 
continued  to  blow  from  west-northwest  for  twenty-one  days, 
which  caused  such  low  tides  in  the  river  that  the  grass  froze  to 
the  ice  everywhere,  and,  a  thaw  coming  on  suddenly,  the  whole 
was  raised  by  the  roots  and  carried  off  by  the  freshet.  The  next 
winter  a  few  of  these  Ducks  were  seen,  but  they  soon  went 
away  again;  and,  for  many  years  after,  they  continued  to  be 
scarce,  and  even  to  the  present  day,  in  the  opinion  of  my  in- 
formant, have  never  been  so  plenty  as  before. 

"The  Canvas-back,  in  the  rich,  juicy  tenderness  of  its  flesh 
and  its  delicacy  of  flavor,  stands  unrivaled  by  the  whole  of  its 
tribe  in  this  or  perhaps  any  other  quarter  of  the  world.  Those 
killed  in  the  waters  of  the  Chesapeake  are  generally  esteemed 
superior  to  all  others,  doubtless  from  the  great  abundance  of 
their  favorite  food  which  these  rivers  produce.  At  our  public 
dinners,  hotels  and  particular  entertainments,  the  Canvas-backs 
are  universal  favorites.  They  not  only  grace  but  dignify  the 
table,  and  their  very  name  conveys  to  the  imagination  of  the 
eager  epicure  the  most  comfortable  and  exhilarating  ideas. 
Hence,  on  such  occasions,  it  has  not  been  uncommon  to  pay 
from  one  to  three  dollars  a  pair  for  these  Ducks;  and,  indeed, 

-6 


82  HISTORY  OF  THE 

at  such  times,  if  they  can  they  must  be  had,  whatever  may  be 
the  price. 

"The  Canvas-back  will  feed  readily  on  grain,  especially  wheat, 
and  may  be  decoyed  to  particular  places  by  baiting  them  with 
that  grain  for  several  successive  days.  Some  few  years  since,  a 
vessel  loaded  with  wheat  was  wrecked  near  the  entrance  to  Great 
Egg  Harbor,  in  the  autumn,  and  went  to  pieces.  The  wheat 
floated  out  in  vast  quantities,  and  the  whole  surface  of  the  bay 
was,  in  a  few  days,  covered  with  Ducks  of  a  kind  altogether 
unknown  to  the  people  of  that  quarter.  The  gunners  of  the 
neighborhood  collected  in  boats  in  every  direction,  shooting 
them;  and  so  successful  were  they,  that,  as  Mr.  Beasley  informs 
me,  two  hundred  and  forty  were  killed  in  one  day,  and  sold 
among  the  neighbors  at  twelve  and  a  half  cents  apiece  without 
the  feathers.  The  wounded  ones  were  generally  abandoned,  as 
being  too  difficult  to  come  up  with.  They  continued  about  for 
three  weeks,  and  during  the  greater  part  of  the  time  a  continual 
cannonading  was  heard  from  every  quarter.  The  gunners  called 
them  Sea  Ducks.  They  were  all  Canvas-backs,  at  that  time  on 
their  way  from  the  north,  when  this  floating  feast  attracted  their 
attention,  and  for  a  while  arrested  them  in  their  course.  A  pair 
of  these  very  Ducks  I  myself  bought  in  Philadelphia  market 
at  the  time,  from  an  Egg  Harbor  gunner,  and  never  met  with 
their  superior  either  in  weight  or  excellence  of  flesh.  When  it 
was  known  among  these  people  the  loss  they  had  sustained  in 
selling  for  twenty-five  cents  what  would  have  brought  them 
from  a  dollar  to  a  dollar  and  a  half  a  pair,  universal  surprise 
and  regret  were  naturally  enough  excited." 

The  nests  of  this  bird  are  usually  found  in  thick  growths  of 
grass,  reeds  and  rushes  growing  in  shallow  water.  They  are 
made  of  grasses  and  material  at  hand,  are  built  from  the  ground 
up,  and  often  quite  bulky,  and  are  lined  with  down.  Eggs 
usually  seven  or  eight,  2.50x1.76;  pale  grayish  olive  green;  in 
form,  oval  to  ovate. 

SUBGENUS  FULIGULA  STEPHENS. 

Culmen  as  long  as  outer  toe  with  claw;  bill  wider  at  end  than  at  base;  head 
and  ueck  black  in  adult  males.  (Ridyway.) 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  83 

4 

Aythya  marila  nearctica  STEJJT. 

AMERICAN  SCAUP  DUCK. 
PLATE  VI. 

Migratory;  rare.  Arrive  early  in  March  to  first  of  April; 
begin  to  return  in  October. 

B.  588.     E.  614.     C.  720.     G.  292,     36.     U.  148. 

HABITAT.    North  America  in  general;  breeding  far  northward. 

SP.  CHAR.  "Head,  neck  and  jugulum  black,  the  first  with  a  greenish  gloss; 
back  and  scapulars  white,  irregularly  undulated  with  zigzag  lines  of  black;  wing 
coverts  dusky,  finely  grizzled  with  grayish  white;  secondaries  white,  tipped,  and 
sometimes  narrowly  edged,  with  black;  tertials  black,  with  a  faint  bottle-green 
reflection;  primary  coverts  dusky  black;  primaries  similar,  but  the  inner  quills 
pale  grayish  on  outer  webs  except  at  ends,  the  gray  growing  whiter  on  the 
shorter  feathers;  rump,  upper  tail  coverts,  tail  and  crissnm  dull  black.  Lower 
parts  between  the  jugulum  and  crissum  white,  the  posterior  portion  (and  some- 
times the  sides  and  flanks)  zigzagged  with  dusky.  Bill  pale  blue  (or  bluish 
white)  in  life,  the  nail  black;  iris  bright  yellow;  legs  and  feet  pale  slate.  Adult 
female:  Head  and  neck  sepia  brown,  the  anterior  portion  of  the  former,  all 
around  the  base  of  the  bill,  white;  jugulum,  anal  region  and  crissum  pale  gray- 
ish brown,  fading  gradually  into  the  white  of  the  breast  and  abdomen;  sides 
and  flanks  deeper  brown;  above,  brownish  dusky,  the  back  and  scapulars  but 
faintly  or  not  at  all  grizzled  with  white;  wings  much  as  in  the  male." 

Stretch  of 
Length.          wing.          Wing.          Tail.         Tarsus.          Bill. 

Male 19.75         33.00        9.00         2.80         1.55         2.00 

Female...     18.25        31.50        8.50        2.50        1.55        1.80 

This  northern  species  (also  the  Lesser  Scaup)  are  generally 
known  as  the  "Blue-bill,"  'k  Broad-bill"  and  "Black-head." 
They  breed  from  Manitoba  north  into  the  Arctic  Ocean;  and 
are  reported  south,  in  winter,  to  Guatemala.  I  never  met  with 
the  birds  there,  and  think  they  seldom  go  much,  if  any,  south  of 
the  United  States.  (I  did,  however,  meet  with  the  Lesser  Scaup, 
which  is  often  taken  for  this  species,  on  the  Amatitlan  Lake, 
Guatemala,  also  in  Mexico.) 

The  birds  breed  largely  inland,  but  during  the  fall  and  winter 
frequent  the  estuaries  and  salt-water  bays.  Their  food  is  largely 
procured  by  diving;  it  consists  of  small  fishes,  mollusks,  crus- 
tacea,  etc.,  also  aquatic  plants  and  seeds.  When  fat,  are  a  very 
good  table  Duck. 

In  swimming  the  birds  have  a  habit  of  occasionally  raising 
their  crests  and  uttering  a  rather  low,  booming  note,  also  of 


84:  HISTORY  OF  THE 

huddling  together;  and  when  at  such  times  they  suddenly  spring 
into  the  air,  the  roaring  noise  made  by  their  wings  is  astounding. 
Their  nests  are  usually  placed  on  dry,  grassy  grounds,  at  or 
near  the  water's  edge;  a  mere  excavation,  with  but  little  and 
sometimes  no  material  except  down.  Eggs  usually  six  to  nine, 
2.54x1.71;  pale  buffy  olive  gray;  in  form,  oval  to  ovate.  A 
set  of  eight  eggs,  taken  June  14th,  1882,  in  Labrador,  measure: 
2.61x1.70,  2.51x1.70,  2.51x1.70,  2.58x1.70,  2.50x1.70,  2.57x 
1.71,  2.58x1.70,  2.50x1.71. 

Ay  thy  a  affinis  (EYT.). 

LESSER  SCAUP  DUCK. 
PLATE  VI. 

Migratory;  quite  common.  Arrive  early  in  March  to  first  of 
April;  return  late  in  the  fall. 

B.  589.     E.  615.     C.  721.     G.  293,     37.     U.  149. 

HABITAT.  Xorth  America  in  general;  breeding  chiefly  north 
of  the  United  States;  south  in  winter  to  Guatemala  and  the 
West  Indies. 

SP.  CHAR.  "Entirely  similar  to  A.marila  nearctica,  but  smaller.  Beyond 
the  decidedly  smaller  size,  we  can  perceive  no  difference  between  this  bird  and 
A.  marila  nearctica  which  seems  to  be  constant.  In  most  of  the  specimens  be- 
fore us,  however,  the  green  gloss  of  the  head  is  much  less  distinct  —  in  fact, 
wanting  entirely — or  in  many  replaced  by  faint  purplish;  while  the  lower  part 
of  the  neck  is  usually  dull  brownish  and  quite  lusterless,  in  many  examples 
forming  quite  a  distinct  collar,  as  in  specimens  of  A.  collaris,  though  the  color 
is  never  so  rufescent  as  in  the  latter  species.  The  zigzag  markings  on  the  back 
and  scapular  appear  to  be,  as  a  rule,  somewhat  coarser  than  in  A.  marila  nearc- 
tica. As  in  the  larger  species,  the  sides  and  flanks  may  be  either  marked  with 
dusky  or  quite  immaculate." 

Stretch  of 
Length.         -wing.          Wing.          Tail.        Tarsus.         Bill. 

Male 16.50        29.00         8.00         2.70         1.45        1.65 

Female...     15.50        28.00        7.75        2.50        1.40        1.60 

I  have  found  this  widely-distributed  species  very  common, 
from  the  Atlantic  to  the  Pacific;  usually  in  flocks  upon  the 
streams  and  ponds,  also  along  the  coast  in  brackish  waters,  but 
seldom  out  upon  the  open  bays,  where  nearctica  loves  to  resort. 
In  other  respects  their  habits  are  the  same.  Their  eggs  are 
smaller.  A  set  of  six  eggs,  taken  June  20th,  1886,  in  Alaska, 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  85 

measure:    2.26x1.52,  2.25x1.52,   2.20x1.50,  2.17x1.52,  2.25x 
1.51,  2.21x1.50. 

Aythya  collaris  (Doxov.). 

RING-NECKED  DUCK. 
PLATE  VI. 

Migratory;  common.  Arrive  very  early;  my  notes  show 
their  capture  from  February  to  May  24th:  usually  leave  in  April; 
return  late  in  the  fall. 

B.  590.     R.  616.     C.  722.     G.  294,     38.     U.  150. 

HABITAT.  North  America  in  general;  breeding  from  latitude 
42°  north  to  62°;  south  in  winter  to  Guatemala  and  the  West 
Indies. 

SP.  CHAR.  "Adult  male:  Head,  neck,  jugulum,  crissum,  and  upper  parts 
generally,  black,  the  head  and  neck  with  a  faint  violet  gloss,  the  wing  coverts 
inclining  to  slate;  secondaries  (speculum)  bluish  gray,  darker  subterniinally, 
and  very  narrowly  tipped  with  white;  primaries  slate  gray,  the  outer  quills  and 
ends  of  others  dusky.  A  triangular  spot  of  white  on  the  chin,  and  a  more  or 
less  distinct  collar  of  chestnut  around  the  lower  neck;  breast  and  abdomen 
white,  abruptly  defined  anteriorly  against  the  back  of  the  jugulum,  but  chang- 
ing insensibly  into  the  black  on  the  crissum,  through  a  graduated  barring  or 
transverse  mottling  of  white  and  dusky;  sides  white,  delicately  undulated  with 
grayish  dusky;  axillars  and  lining  of  the  wing  immaculate  white;  bill  lead  color, 
with  a  narrow  basal  and  broad  subtermiual  band  of  bluish  white,  the  end  black; 
iris  bright  yellow;  legs  and  feet  pale  slaty.  Adult  female:  Crown  and  nape  dull 
dark  brown,  becoming  gradually  lighter  below;  rest  of  the  head  paler  and 
grayer,  the  anterior  half  of  the  lores,  the  chin,  throat  and  foreneck  nearly  or 
quite  white;  jugulum,  sides  and  flanks  deep  fulvous  or  raw  umber  brown;  breast 
and  abdomen  white;  anal  region  brown;  long  feathers  of  the  crissum  whitish; 
wings  as  in  the  male;  remaining  upper  parts  dull  dark  brown,  the  feathers  of 
the  back  narrowly  tipped  with  fulvous.  Bands  on  the  bill  narrower  and  less 
distinct  than  in  the  male;  iris  yellow;  feet  slaty.  Downy  young:  Above,  gray- 
ish umber  brown,  relieved  by  seven  spots  of  light  buff,  as  follows:  A  small  and 
inconspicuous  spot  in  the  middle  of  the  back  between,  and  a  little  anterior  to, 
the  wings;  a  large  patch  on  each  side  of  the  back;  another  on  each  side  the 
rump,  at  the  base  of  the  tail,  and  a  bar  across  the  posterior  border  of  each  wing. 
Crown,  occiput  and  nape  crossed  longitudinally  by  a  wide  stripe  of  deep  grayish 
umber;  a  rounded  isolated  spot  of  light  grayish  brown  directly  over  the  ears; 
remainder  of  the  head,  including  the  forehead,  and  lower  parts  generally,  light 
dingy  buff,  the  flanks  crossed  by  a  brown  transverse  stripe  from  the  rump  to 
the  tibia.  Side  of  the  head  without  any  longitudinal  stripes. 

"The  chief  variation  in  the  plumage  of  this  species  consists  in  the  distinct- 
ness of  the  chestnut  collar  in  the  male.  In  some  examples  this  is  scarcely  more 
conspicuous  than  in  A.  affinis.  being  dull  brown  instead  of  reddish;  but  usually 
the  color  is  a  well-defined  chestnut,  particularly  in  front." 


86  HISTORY  OF  THE 

Stretch  of 
Length.          wing.          Wing.          Tail.        Tarsus.         Bill. 

Male  .....      17.75         28.50         8.00         2.70         1.30         1.90 
Female...      16.50         26.50         7.40         2.30         1.20         1.80 

The  birds  are  not  very  abundant  anywhere,  but  more  com- 
mon in  the  interior  than  upon  either  coast.  In  habits,  as  well 
as  in  distribution,  they  are  similar  to  the  Lesser  Scaup. 

May  24th,  1867,  my  brother  found  one  of  their  nests,  con- 
taining ten  eggs,  at  Pewaukee,  Wisconsin;  it  was  placed  in  a 
thick  growth  of  grass  near  the  water's  edge,  and  rather  neatly 
made  of  old  grasses  and  slightly  lined  with  feathers  and  down. 
In  the  early  settlement  of  the  State  they  were  quite  a  common 
summer  resident  there.  He  has  since  found  several  of  their 
nests  in  Minnesota;  and  the  birds  have  also  been  found  breed- 
ing at  Calais,  Maine,  in  Manitoba,  and  on  the  McKenzie  River, 
at  Fort  Simpson. 

Eggs  usually  seven  to  ten,  2.33x1.57;  in  color  and  form  the 
same  as  the  Scaup  species. 

GENUS  GLAUCIONETTA  STEJNEGER. 

"  Graduation  of  tail  much  more  than  length  of  bill  from  nostril;  distance  from 
tip  of  bill  to  loral  feathering  less  than  graduation  of  tail;  distance  from  anterior 
end  of  nostril  to  loral  feathers  equal  to  or  greater  than  width  of  bill  at  base; 
distance  from  anterior  end  of  nostril  to  tip  of  bill  much  less  than  from  same 
point  to  loral  feathers;  tail  less  than  twice  as  long  as  tarsus." 


Glaucionetta  clangula  americana 

AMERICAN  GOLDEN-EYE. 
PLATE  VII. 

Migratory;  rare.     An  occasional  winter  sojourner. 
B.  593.     K.  620.  C.  725.     G.  297,     39.     U.  151. 

HABITAT.  North  America  in  general,  north  to  the  Arctic 
coast;  south  in  winter  to  Mexico  and  Cuba. 

SP.  CHAR.  "Adult  male:  Head  and  upper  half  of  neck  black,  glossed  with 
dark  green,  varying  to  violet;  a  roundish  white  spot  between  the  rictus  and  the 
eye,  but  not  reaching  to  the  latter;  back,  inner  scapulars,  tertials,  rump  and 
upper  tail  coverts  deep  black;  lower  half  of  the  neck  (all  round),  lower  parts, 
outer  scapulars,  posterior  lesser,  middle  and  greater  wing  coverts  and  seconda- 
ries pure  white;  anterior  lesser  wing  coverts,  and  outer  edges  of  scapulars  and 
flank  feathers,  and  concealed  portion  of  greater  coverts,  deep  black;  primaries 
blackish  dusky;  tail  dull  slate;  sides  of  anal  region  behind  the  flanks  clouded 


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BIRDS  OF  A'J-V.S.l.S.  87 

I 

with  grayish;  bill  deep  black;  iris  bright  yellow;  feet  orange  yellow,  with 
dusky  webs.  Adult  female:  Similar  to  that  of  C.  islandica,  but  head  and  neck 
hair  brown  or  grayish  brown,  rather  than  purplish  sepia  or  snuff  brown,  aiid 
white  on  the  wing  usually  not  interrupted  by  a  distinct  black  bar.  Downy 
youny:  Upper  parts  generally,  including  the  whole  upper  half  of  the  head,  to 
the  rictus,  and  considerably  below  the  eyes,  the  jugulum,  sides  and  thighs,  deep 
sooty  brown,  lighter  and  more  grayish  on  the  jugulum;  the  brown  of  the  upper 
parts  relieved  by  about  eight  spots  of  grayish  white,  as  follows:  one  on  the  pos- 
terior border  (secondary  region)  of  each  wing;  One  on  each  side  the  back,  one 
on  each  side  the  rump,  at  the  base  of  the  tail,  and  one  on  each  flank  just  before 
the  brown  of  the  thighs;  chin,  throat  and  cheeks  pure  white,  in  abrupt  and 
decided  contrast  to  the  brown,  which  entirely  surrounds  it;  remaining  lower 
parts  grayish  white;  bill  brownish;  nail  yellowish." 

Stretch  of 
Length.          wing.          Wing.          Tail.         Tarsus.          Bill. 

Male 20.00         31.50         9.10         4.00         1.60         1.40 

Female...      18.00         28.50         8.25         3.60         1.50         1.30 

This  species  has  been  found  breeding  at  Lake  Umbagog, 
New  Hampshire,  Calais,  Maine,  Manitoba,  and  north  to  New- 
foundland and  the  Yukon  River,  Alaska.  I  have  met  with  the 
birds  upon  both  coasts,  and  in  the  interior,  but  nowhere  in 
abundance,  or  very  common.  They  are  at  home  on  the  water, 
and  when  approached  usually  escape  by  diving.  In  leaving 
the  water  they  run  for  some  distance  upon  its  surface,  striking 
vigorously  with  their  wings  and  feet,  making  with  their  wings 
a  whistling  noise,  that  in  flight  can  be  heard  a  long  distance. 
Their  food  is  procured  almost  wholly  by  diving;  it  consists  of 
small  bivalves,  Crustacea,  fishes,  etc.  I  have  never  found  any 
grasses  or  seeds  in  their  crops,  but  they  undoubtedly  do  occa- 
sionally feed  on  vegetable  matter. 

Their  nests  are  placed  in  holes  and  hollow  cavities  in  stumps 
and  trees,  and  lined  with  feathers  and  down;  sometimes  a  foun- 
dation is  made  of  leaves  and  grass.  Eggs  usually  nine  or  ten. 
A  set  taken  May  15th,  1882,  from  a  hole  in  a  tree,  at  Umbagog 
Lake,  New  Hampshire,  are  in  dimensions:  2.45x1.75,  2.45x 
1.78,  2.48x1.79,  2.38x1.74^2.45x1.77;  and  of  a  uniform  light 
grayish  pea  green;  in  form,  ovate. 

GENUS  CHARITONETTA  STEJNEGEB. 

Distance  from  anterior  end  of  nostril  to  tip  of  bill  much  greater  than  from 
same  point  to  loral  feathers;  tail  more  than  twice  as  long  as  tarsus.  (Ridgway.} 


88  HISTORY  OF   THE 

Charitonetta  albeola  (LINN.). 

BUFFLE-HEAB. 
PLATE  VH. 

Migratory;  irregular;  at  times  quite  common.  Arrive  the 
last  of  February  to  first  of  April;  return  late  in  the  fall. 

B.  595.     R.  621.     C.  727.     G.  298,     40.     U.  153. 

HABITAT.  North  America,  north  to  the  Arctic  coast;  south 
in  winter  to  Mexico  and  Cuba. 

SP.  CHAR.  "Adult  male:  Head  and  upper  half  of  the  neck  rich,  silky, 
metallic  green,  violet  purple  and  greenish  bronze,  the  last  prevailing  on  the  lower 
part  of  the  neck,  the  green  on  the  anterior  part  of  the  head,  the  purple  on  the 
cheeks  and  crown;  a  large  patch  of  pure  white  on  the  side  of  the  head,  extend- 
ing from  the  eye  back  to  and  around  the  occiput;  lower  half  of  the  neck,  lower 
parts  generally,  wing  coverts,  secondaries  and  outer  scapulars  pure  white,  the 
latter  narrowly,  and  the  feathers  of  the  flanks  more  widely,  edged  with  black;  pos- 
terior parts  of  the  body  beneath  tinged  with  pale  ash  gray;  upper  tail  coverts 
light  hoary  gray;  tail  slate  gray,  the  shafts  black.  Bill  bluish  plumbeous,  dusky 
on  the  nail  and  at  its  base;  iris  very  dark  brown;  legs  and  feet  pinkish  or  lilaceous 
white.  Adult  female:  Head,  neck,  and  upper  parts  generally,  dusky  grayish 
brown;  an  oblong  or  somewhat  ovate  white  longitudinal  patch  on  the  auricular 
region,  and  the  inner  secondaries  (sometimes  also  the  greater  wing  coverts,  ex- 
cept the  ends)  white;  lower  parts  white,  tinged  with  brownish  gray  posteriorly, 
anteriorly  and  laterally.  Bill  dusky,  inclining  to  plumbeous  at  the  end  and 
along  the  commissure;  iris  very  dark  brown;  tegs  and  toes  dilute  lilac  pink,  the 
webs  and  joints  darker. 

"There  is  very  little  variation  among  the  males  of  this  species.  The  females 
vary  in  the  markings  of  the  wing,  some  having  the  greater  coverts  white,  tipped 
with  dusky,  while  iu  others  only  the  inner  secondaries  are  white." 

Stretch  of 
Length.          -wing.  Wing.          Tail.         Tarsus.         Bill. 

Male 15.15         24.25         6.75         3.25         1.30         1.12 

Female...      14.25         23.00         6.50         3.20         1.25         1.08 

This  little  diving  Duck  has  been  found  breeding  at  Pewaukee 
Lake,  Wisconsin,  Calais,  Maine,  Manitoba,  and  north  to  Yukon 
River,  Alaska.  I  have  found  the  birds  rather  more  common 
than  the  Golden-eye;  their  general  distribution  and  habits  are 
the  same. 

Their  nests  are  placed  in  holes  and  trough-like  cavities  in 
trees,  and  lined  with  feathers  and  down.  Eggs  usually  nine  or 
ten,  1.98x1.46;  pale  grayish  buff;  in  form,  oval  to  ovate.  Dr. 
Coues,  in  his  "Birds  of  the  Northwest,"  gives  a  description  of  a 
set  of  fourteen  eggs,  taken  from  a  feathery  nest  in  a  dead  pop- 
lar, some  distance  from  the  ground. 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  89 

GENUS  OIDEMIA  FLEMING. 

"Feathers  at  the  base  of  the  maxilla  forming  a  nearly  straight  oblique  line 
from  the  forehead  back  to  the  rictus,  advancing  scarcely,  if  at  all,  on  the  fore- 
head; bill  very  deep  through  the  base,  where  sometimes  elevated  into  a  round- 
ish kuob.  and  much  depressed  toward  the  end.  No  white  whatever  on  the 
plumage." 

SUBGENUS  PELIONETTA  KAUP. 

"Feathers  on  the  forehead  extending  in  a  broad  strip  nearly  or  quite  as  far 
as  the  posterior  end  of  the  nostrils,  but  those  of  the  lores  not  advancing  for- 
ward of  the  rictus:  the  lateral  base  of  the  maxilla  in  the  adult  male  greatly 
swollen,  and  with  the  basal  outline  convex;  nail  very  large  and  broad,  but  nar- 
rowed terminally.  No  white  on  the  wings,  but  the  head  with  large  white 
patches  (indistinct  in  the  female  and  young)." 

Oidemia  perspicillata  (LINN.). 

SURF  SCOTER. 
PLATE  VII. 

A  rare  visitant;  captured  October  29th,  1887,  on  the  Kansas 
River,  above  the  dam  at  Lawrence,  by  Mr.  A.  L.  Bennett,  of 
Emporia. 

B.  602,     603.     E.  633.     C.  739,     740.     G. ,     — .     U.  166. 

HABITAT.  North  America  in  general;  south  in  winter  to 
Jamaica,  Florida,  Ohio  River,  Kansas,  and  Lower  California; 
accidental  in  Europe. 

SP.  CHAR.  "Adult  male:  General  color  deep  black,  very  intense  above, 
more  sooty  on  the  lower  surface;  a  white  patch  on  the  forehead,  the  anterior 
outline  semicircular  or  somewhat  angular,  and  reaching  forward  a  little  in 
advance  of  the  lateral  base  of  the  bill,  the  posterior  outline  almost  directly 
transverse,  and  extending  back  to  a  little  past  the  middle  eye;  nape  with  a 
somewhat  shield-shaped  or  cuneate  longitudinal  patch  of  pure  white,  having 
the  upper  outline  almost  directly  transverse;  bill  chiefly  orange  red,  deeper 
(intense  red  in  some  specimens)  above  the  nostrils;  swollen  base  of  the  maxilla 
with  a  large,  irregular  roundish,  somewhat  quadrate,  or  trapezoidal,  spot  of 
deep  black,  with  a  light  colored  space  (bluish  white  in  life)  in  front,  as  far  as 
•the  nostrils;  nails  duller  orange,  or  dingy  grayish;  iris  yellowish  white;  feet 
orange  red,  the  webs  greenish  dusky;  claws  black;  upper  mandible  with  a 
nearly  square  black  patch  at  the  base,  margined  with  orange,  except  in  front, 
where  there  is  a  patch  of  bluish  white  extending  to  near  the  nostrils,  prominent 
part  over  the  nostrils  deep  reddish  orange,  becoming  lighter  toward  the  ungnis. 
and  shaded  into  rich  yellow  toward  the  margins;  the  uuguis  dingy  grayish  yel- 
low; lower  mandible  flesh  colored,  unguis  darker;  iris  bright  yellowish  white; 
tarsi  and  toes  orange  red,  the  webs  dusky,  tinged  with  green;  claws  black. 
Adult  female:  Pileum  and  nape  brownish  black;  rest  of  head  ashy  brown,  with 
an  indistinct  whitish  patch  (not  always  indicated)  on  the  lower  anterior  portion 


90  HISTORY  OF  THE 

of  the  lores,  bordering  the  lateral  base  of  the  bill;  upper  parts  brownish  dusky, 
the  contour  feathers  sometimes  showing  paler  tips;  lower  parts  grayish  brown, 
becoming  nearly  white  on  the  abdomen,  the  feathers  of  the  breast  and  sides 
tipped  with  the  same,  the  anal  region  and  crissum  uniform  dusky;  bill  greeni.^h 
black,  scarcely  swollen  at  the  base,  where  the  black  spot  of  the  male  is  slightly, 
if  at  all,  indicated;  iris  yellowish  white;  feet  yellowish  orange,  webs  grayish 
dusky,  claws  black.  Young:  Similar  to  the  adult  female,  but  head  with  two 
quite  distinct  whitish  patches,  one  against  the  lateral  base  of  the  bill,  the  other 
over  the  auriculars,  behind  and  below  the  eye;  plumage  above,  more  uniform 
than  in  the  adult  female,  and  feathers  everywhere  of  a  softer  texture. 

"There  is  considerable  variation  among  individuals  of  this  species,  but  we 
find  no  constant  difference  between  specimens  from  the  Atlantic  coast  and 
those  from  the  Pacific." 

Stretch  of 
Length.          iving.          Wing.          Tail.         Tarsus.         Dill. 

Male 19.50         33.50         9.25         3.40         1.63         1.50 

Female...     17.75         31.00         8.50         3.20      "1.60         1.50 

This  species  of  the  Sea  Duck  is  abundant  upon  both  coasts, 
and  during  the  breeding  season  quite  common  upon  the  large 
northern  inland  waters;  breeding  from  Sitka,  Alaska,  and  the 
Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence,  north  into  the  Arctic  regions. 

Their  food  consists  largely  of  shellfish  (the  bivalve  a  favor- 
ite, the  shells  of  which  seem  to  digest  as  easily  as  the  mussels 
within  them);  fishes  and  various  forms  of  life  also  help  to  make 
up  the  bill  of  fare.  Their  flesh  is  coarse  and  in  flavor  rather 
rank. 

The  birds  are  at  home  as  well  in  the  surging  surf  as  upon  the 
smooth  waters,  resting  and  sleeping  at  night  out  upon  the  open 
waters;  they  rise  from  the  same  in  a  running,  laborious  manner, 
but  when  fairly  on  the  wing  fly  rapidly,  and  in  stormy  weather 
hag  closely  to  the  water.  While  feeding  are  very  active,  con- 
stantly and  rapidly  diving  one  after  the  other  —  a  continual  dis- 
appearing and  popping  up. 

From  the  following  it  appears  that  the  birds  nest  upon  both 
marshy  and  dry  grounds,  and  in  the  latter  case  with  no  ma- 
terial except  down.  Audobon  describes  a  nest  found  near 
Little  Macatina,  Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence,  well  out  upon  a  marsh, 
as  snugly  placed  amid  the  tall  leaves  of  a  bunch  of  grass,  and 
raised  fully  four  inches  above  the  roots.  It  was  composed  of 
withered  and  rotten  weeds,  the  former  being  circularly  arranged 
over  the  latter,  producing  a  well  rounded  cavity  six  inches  in 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  91 

diameter  by  two  and  a  half  in  depth.  The  borders  of  this  inner 
cup  were  lined  with  the  down  of  the  bird,  in  the  same  manner  as 
the  Eider  Duck's  nest,  and  in  it  lay  five  eggs,  2.31x1.63;  about 
equally  rounded  at  both  ends,  perfectly  smooth,  and  of  a  pale 
yellowish  or  cream  color.  ' '  The  North  American  Water  Birds ' ' 
reports  that  Mr.  MacFarlane  found  the  birds  breeding  in  con- 
siderable numbers  in  the  neighborhood  of  Fort  Anderson,  and 
describes  a  nest,  containing  eight  eggs,  found  June  25th,  as 
placed  on  a  ridge  of  ground  at  the  foot  of  a  dry,  stunted  pine, 
made  of  dark  colored  down,  being  entirely  concealed  from  view 
by  the  lower  branches  of  the  pine  tree.  All  of  the  nests  found 
appear  to  have  been  of  the  same  style  and  pattern,  and  nothing 
is  said  of  any  other  material  than  down  being  used  in  building 
them.  The  number  of  eggs  varied  from  five  to  eight,  but  the 
latter  number  was  found  in  only  a  single  instance. 

GENUS  ERISMATUEA  BOXAPARTE. 

"Bill  about  as  loiig  as  the  head  (much  longer  than  the  tarsus),  very  broad, 
widened  toward  the  end,  elevated  at  the  base,  the  nostril  very  small,  and  situa- 
ted very  near  the  culmen;  maxillary  uuguis  very  small,  narrow  and  linear,  the 
terminal  half  bent  abruptly  downward  and  backward,  so  as  to  be  invisible  from 
above;  tail  more  than  half  as  long  as  the  wings,  much  graduated,  consisting  of 
eighteen  very  stiff,  narrow  feathers,  with  the  shafts  strong  and  rigid,  and 
grooved  underneath,  toward  the  base;  the  tail  coverts  extremely  short,  scarcely 
covering  the  base  of  the  tail;  wings  very  short,  and  very  concave  beneath,  the 
primaries  scarcely  or  not  at  all  extended  beyond  the  tertials;  tarsus  very  short, 
much  less  than  one-half  as  long  as  the  longest  toe." 

Erismatura  rubida  (WILS.). 

BUDDY  DUCK. 
PLATE  VH. 

Summer  resident;  rare;  during  migration  quite  common. 
Arrive  the  last  of  March  to  last  of  April;  return  late  in  the  fall. 

B.  609.     E.  634.     C.  741.     G.  299,     41.     U.  167. 

HABITAT.  North  America  in  general;  south  to  Cuba  and 
northern  South  America;  breeding  nearly  throughout  its  range, 
but  chiefly  northward. 

SP.  CHAK.  •  "Adult  male,  full  plumage:  Pileum  and  upper  half  of  the  nape 
uniform  black;  entire  side  of  the  head,  below  the  eyes,  including  the  malar  and 
chin,  pure  white;  rest  of  neck,  entire  upper  parts,  sides  and  flanks  rich  chest- 
nut rufous  or  purplish  ferruginous;  wing  coverts  and  middle  of  the  rump  dusky 


92  HISTORY  OF  THE 

grayish  brown,  minutely  mottled  with  paler;  remiges  dull  brownish  dusky; 
rectriees  brownish  black,  the  shafts  deep  black;  lower  parts  white  on  the  sur- 
face, but  the  concealed  portion  of  the  feathers  dark  brownish  gray,  showing 
when  the  feathers  are  disarranged,  and  in  midsummer  specimens  completely 
exposed  by  abrasion  of  the  tips  of  the  feathers;  jugulum  strongly  washed  with 
fulvous  buff,  this  sometimes  invading  the  abdomen.  Lower  tail  coverts  entirely 
white,  to  the  roots  of  the  feathers;  bill  and  edges  of  the  eyelids  grayish  blue; 
iris  hazel;  feet  dull  grayish  blue,  webs  inclining  to  dusky;  claws  grayish  brown. 
Adult  female:  Top  of  the  head,  down  to  below  the  eyes,  and  upper  parts  gener- 
ally, dusky  grayish  brown,  minutely  freckled  with  pale  grayish  fulvous  (more 
reddish  on  the  head);  remainder  of  the  head  dirty  grayish  white,  crossed  longi- 
tudinally by  a  stripe  of  speckled  dusky,  running  from  the  rictus  back  across  the 
auriculars,  parallel  with  the  lower  edge  of  the  brown  of  the  top  of  the  head; 
neck  pale  brownish  gray,  fading  gradually  into  the  white  of  the  chin;  lower 
parts,  except  sides  and  flanks  (which  are  similar  to  the  abdomen,  but  darker), 
as  on  the  adult  male.  Young:  Similar  to  the  adult  female.  Dmony  young: 
Above,  dark  smoky  brown,  darker  on  the  head;  a  whitish  spot  on  each  side  the 
back;  a  brownish  white  stripe  beneath  the  eye,  from  the  bill  to  near  the  occiput; 
beneath  this,  a  narrower  dusky  brown  one,  confluent  with  the  brown  of  the 
nape,  reaching  almost  or  quite  to  the  rictus;  lower  parts  grayish  white,  strongly 
shaded  with  sooty  brown  across  the  jugulum." 

Although  the  collection  of  the  National  Museum  contains  numerous  examples 
of  this  species,  only  a  small  portion  of  them  have  the  sex  indicated,  while  on  a 
still  smaller  number  is  the  date  noted.  It  is  therefore  difficult  to  determine 
satisfactorily,  from  the  material  at  hand,  the  seasonal  and  sexual  differences  of 
plumage.  Certain  it  is,  however,  that  specimens  in  the  plumage  described 
above  as  that  of  the  adult  male  in  full  plumage  occur  both  in  summer  and  winter. 
Audubon  says  that  the  "adult  female  in  summer  presents  the  same  characters 
as  the  male";  but  although  this  may  very  likely  be  true,  the  series  under  exami- 
nation affords  no  indication  of  it.  He  describes  the  "male  one  year  old"  as 
having  "a  similar  white  patch  on  the  side  of  the  head;  upper  part  of  head  and 
hind  neck  dull  blackish  brown;  throat  and  sides  of  neck  grayish  brown,  lower 
part  of  neck  dull  reddish  brown,  waved  with  dusky;  upper  parts  as  in  the  adult, 
but  of  a  duller  tint;  lower  parts  grayish  white." 

Stretch  of 
Length,          -wing.          Wing.         Tail.        Tarsus.          Bill. 

Male 15.25         23.00         5.80         3.60         1.26         1.60 

Female...      14.50         21.50         5.50         3.50         1.26         1.55 

This  chubby  little  Duck  has  been  found  breeding  in  Gua- 
temala, southern  California,  Pewaukee  Lake,  Wisconsin,  and 
northward,  chiefly  north  of  the  United  States.  During  migra- 
tion the  birds  are  rather  common  throughout  the  States,  arriv- 
ing in  small  flocks. 

They  swim  lightly,  with  their  stiff,  spine-like  tails  erect,  or, 
at  their  pleasure,  like  the  Grebes,  can  sink  deep  beneath  the 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  93 

surface.  As  they  are  not  wary  they  are  easily  approached, 
preferring  to  escape  by  diving  rather  than  flight.  They  are 
expert  divers,  and  under  the  water  at  the  flash  of  a  gun,  but 
when  they  do  take  wing,  rise  slowly;  an  easy  mark  for  the 
poorest  of  wing  shots. 

They  feed  upon  roots,  seeds,  and  the  tender  stems  that  shoot 
up  from  the  bottom,  also  shellfish  and  the  various  forms  of  life 
found  in  both  shallow  and  deep  waters,  and  when  fat  are  a 
good  table  Duck. 

Their  nests  are  placed  in  rushes,  grasses  or  reeds,  at  the 
margin  of  the  water,  and  are  made  from  the  leaves  of  the 
plants  at  hand  and  lined  with  down.  A  set  of  six  eggs,  taken 
May  28th,  1886,  at  Santa  Cruz,  California,  are  in  dimensions: 
2.44x1.81,  2.50x1.80,  2.48x1.85,  2.48x1.80,  2.50x1.81,  2.44x 
1.82;  pale  cream  to  buff  white,  with  a  slightly  granulated  sur- 
face; in  form,  oval  or  rounded  elliptical. 

SUBFAMILY  ANSERINE.     GEESE. 

"The  chief  characters  of  the  Anserince,  as  distinguished  from  the  Cygnince 
and  AnatincB,  consists  in  the  more  elevated  body,  with  the  lengthened  legs — 
fitting  the  species  for  a  more  terrestial  life,  although  equally  able  to  swim. 
Their  necks  are  very  much  shorter  than  in  the  Swans,  and  usually  longer  than 
those  of  the  Ducks.  From  the  latter  all  the  Geese  are  distinguished  by  the  char- 
acter of  the  covering  of  the  anterior  part  of  the  tarsus,  which  consists  of  small 
hexagonal  scales,  but  in  the  Ducks  of  narrow  transverse  scutellae.  Including 
the  genus  Dendrocycna,  which,  notwithstanding  its  close  superficial  resemblance 
to  the  Ducks,  seems  to  belong  rather  to  this  subfamily." 

GENTS  CHEN  BOIE. 

"Bill  very  robust;  the  culmen  slightly,  the  lower  outline  of  the  mandible 
decidedly,  convex;  very  slightly  depressed  immediately  behind  the  thickened 
nails;  commissure  widely  gaping  (except  in  C.  rossi).  Head  and  neck  of  adult 
white;  some  species  entirely  white  in  adult  dress,  except  primaries.  Bill  and 
feet  reddish  in  the  adult." 

Chen  caerulescens  (LINN.). 

BLUE  GOOSE. 
PLATE  VIL 

Migratory;  rare. 

B.  564.     R.  590.     C.  694.     G.  276,     — .     U.  — . 

HABITAT.     Interior  of   North  America,  east  of   the    Eocky 


94  HISTORY  OF  THE 

Mountains;   south  in  winter  through   the  Mississippi  valley  to 
the  Gulf  coast;  occasional  on  the  Atlantic  coast 

SP.  CHAR.  "Adult:  Head  ami  upper  half  of  the  neck  white,  or  mostly  white, 
the  former  frequently  washed  with  orange  rufous  anteriorly;  lower  neck  and 
body  grayish  brown,  the  feathers  bordered  terminally  with  paler;  these  pale  edg- 
ings, however,  nearly  obsolete  on  the  neck,  where  the  tint  is  darker,  inclining  to 
plumbeous  umber,  which  joins  irregularly  against  the  white  above  it.  Rump 
and  wings  plain  pearl  gray  or  bluish  cinereous,  (the  former  sometimes  white. )  in 
striking  contrast  to  the  deep  grayish  brown  of  the  scapulars,  sides,  etc.;  that  of 
the  rump  fading  into  white  on  the  upper  tail  coverts,  and  that  of  the  greater 
coverts  edged  externally  with  the  same.  Primaries  black,  fading  basally  into 
hoary  gray;  secondaries  deep  black,  narrowly  skirted  with  white;  tail  deep  cine- 
reous, the  feathers  distinctly  bordered  with  white.  Bill  reddish,  the  commis- 
sural  space  black;  feet  reddish.  Young:  Very  similar,  but  the  chin  only  white, 
the  rest  of  the  head  and  neck  being  uniform  plumbeous  umber  or  brownish 
plumbeous,  like  the  breast,  only  darker  in  shade;  body  more  cinereous  than  in 
the  adult,  the  pale  tips  to  the  nearly  truncated  contour  feathers  being  obsolete. 
Rump,  wings  and  tail  as  in  the  adult.  Bill  and  feet  blackish.  Downy  young: 
Not  seen." 

Stretch  of 
Length.          -wing.          Wing.  Tail.         Tarsus.         Bill. 

Male 29.00         56.00        16.50        6.00         3.00         2.20 

Female...     27.50         53.50        15.25        5.50         2.90         2.10 

In  my  Revised  Catalogue  of  the  Birds  of  Kansas,  I  did  not  in- 
clude this  species  in  the  list,  but  said:  "This  bird  has  been 
dropped  from  the  body  of  the  A.  O.  U.  list,  and  included  in  the 
hypothetical  list,  on  account  of  the  possibility,  if  not  probability, 
that  it  is  a  colored  phase  of.  Chen  hyperborea.  The  plumage  of 
the  specimens  that  have  come  under  my  observation  in  both  the 
adult  and  young  stages  is  certainly  very  distinct  from  O.  hyper- 
borea,  and  in  my  opinion  the  bird  will  eventually  be  declared  a 
valid  species,  and  restored  to  the  list."  I  am  pleased  to  note 
that  Mr.  Robert  Ridgway,  one  of  the  members  of  the  A.  O.  U. 
committee  that  prepared  the  list,  has  since,  in  his  "Manual  of 
North  American  Birds,"  entered  it  as  a  species;  and  I  heartily 
restore  it  to  my  list*  As  the  birds  have  generally  been  consid- 
ered the  young  or  colored  phase  of  the  Snow  Goose,  which  it 
resembles  in  actions  and  habits,  but  little  is  known  with  a  cer- 
tainty in  regard  to  its  nesting  places.  Mr.  Ridgway  says  that 
it  breeds  on  the  eastern  shores  of  Hudson's  Bay. 

*  Since  writing  the  above,  the  bird  has  been  restored  as  a  valid  species,  by  the  Council  of 
the  A.  O.  U.,  and  numbered  1B9.1. 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  95 

Chen  hyperborea  (PALL,.). 

LESSER  SNOW  GOOSE. 
PLATE  VII. 

Abundant  in  migration.  A  few  occasionally  linger  into  win- 
ter. Arrive  early  in  March. 

B.  .     R.  59 la.     C.  696.     G.  277,     42.     U.  169. 

HABITAT.  Western  North  America,  east  to  the  Mississippi 
valley,  south  in  winter  to  the  Gulf  coast,  Lower  California  and 
northeastern  Asia;  breeding  in  high  northern  latitudes. 

SP.  CHAK.  "Adult:  Entire  plumage,  except  the  primaries,  snow  white: 
the  head  sometimes  stained  with  orange  rufous  anteriorly;  primaries  deep 
black,  fading  basally  into  grayish,  the  primary  coverts  and  alula  being  hoary- 
ash.  Bill  purplish  red.  the  nail  whitish,  and  the  intertomial  space  black;  iris 
dark  brown;  eyelids  whitish;  feet  purple  or  orange  red,  the  soles  dingy  yellow- 
ish. Young:  Above,  including  the  head  and  neck,  pale  cinereous,  the  feathers 
of  the  dorsal  region  more  whitish  on  the  edges;  wing  coverts  and  tertials  dark 
cinereous  centrally,  the  edges  broadly  pure  white;  secondaries  mottled  cinere- 
ous, skirted  with  white;  primaries  as  in  the  adult.  Rump,  upper  tail  coverts, 
tail  and  lower  parts  immaculate  snowy  white,  the  tail  and  breast  tinged  with 
pale  ash.  Head  usually  more  or  less  tinged  with  orange  rufous,  this  deepest 
anteriorly.  Bill  and  feet  dusky." 

Stretch  of 
Length.          iving.  Wing.          Tail.         Tarsus.         Bill. 

Male 29.00         56.00        16.25        6.25         3.00         2.40 

Female...     27.00         54.00        15.50        5.25         3.00        2.25 

These  birds  are  abundant  from  the  Pacific  to  central  Kansas; 
from,  there  eastward  decrease  rapidly  in  numbers.  They  win- 
ter, in  large  flocks,  upon  the  prairies  of  southern  California  and 
along  the  Gulf  coast  in  Texas.  In  the  fall  and  early  spring  I 
have  seen  thousands  upon  thousands  in  the  Arkansas  valley,  in 
Kansas,  feeding  upon  the  growing  winter  wheat,  doing  great 
damage  to  the  same,  plucking  the  tender  blades  with  a  sudden 
jerk  (the  same  as  our  tame  Geese  nip  the  grasses)  that  pulls  it 
up  when  not  firmly  rooted.  Its  flesh  is  dark,  and  I  do  not  con- 
sider it  a  very  good  table  bird.  In  flight  they  are  noisy,  and 
when  going  any  distance  have  a  leader  and  fly  in  the  form  of 
a  V. 

Their  nesting  habits  are  but  little  known.  All  the  descrip- 
tions that  I  can  find  were  written  before  the  more  eastern  bird, 
the  Greater  Snow  Goose,  was  separated  and  treated  as  a  vari- 
ety, and  I  am,  therefore,  unable  to  give  its  eastern  breeding 


96  HISTORY  OF  THE 

limits,  or  to  point  out  any  difference,  if  any,  in  its  nesting 
habits.  Mr.  Eidgway  says:  "Eggs  3.13x2.12;  breeding  in 
Alaska."  Mr.  MacFarlane  found  the  Snow  Goose  breeding  on 
a  small  island  in  a  lake  near  Liverpool  Bay,  Arctic  coast. 
Their  nests  were  placed  in  holes  or  depressions  in  the  sand, 
and  lined  with  down;  they  are  also  said  to  nest  in  marshy 
places.  Eggs  usually  five  to  eight;  cream  color;  in  form, 
ovate. 

GENUS  ANSER  BRISSON. 

"Bill  more  slender,  the  culmen  gently  concave,  the  lower  outline  of  the  man- 
dible slightly  concave  anteriorly;  decidedly  depressed  immediately  behind  the 
rather  thin  nails;  commissure  nearly,  or  quite,  closed  by  the  close  approximation 
of  the  tomia.  Head  and  neck  never  white,  and  no  species  entirely  white  (nor- 
mally). Bill  and  feet  light  colored,  in  the  adult." 

Anser  albifrons  gambeli  (HARTL.). 

AMERICAN  WHITE-FRONTED  GOOSE. 
PLATE  VH. 

Migratory;  common.     Arrive  in  March;  return  in  October. 
B.  565.     566.     K.  593a.     C.  693.     G.  278,     43.     TJ.  Ilia. 

HABITAT.  North  America,  breeding  far  northward;  in  win- 
ter, south  to  Mexico  and  Cuba. 

SP.  CHAR.  "Adult:  Prevailing  color  brownish  gray,  this  uniform  on  the 
head  and  neck,  and  becoming  much  darker  on  the  flanks;  feathers  of  the  mantle, 
wings,  sides  and  flanks  distinctly  bordered  terminally  with  pale  brownish  ash 
(sometimes  approaching  grayish  white);  upper  edges  of  the  upper  layer  of  flank 
feathers  pure  white,  producing  a  conspicuous  white  stripe  when  the  feathers  are 
properly  adjusted.  Breast  and  abdomen  grayish  white,  mixed  more  or  less  with 
irregular  spots  and  patches  of  black,  sometimes  scattered  and  isolated,  but 
oftener  more  or  less  confluent.  Anal  region,  crissum  and  upper  tail  coverts  im- 
maculate pure  white;  rump  brownish  slate;  greater  wing  coverts  glaucous  gray, 
tipped  with  white;  secondaries  black,  their  edges  narrowly  white;  primaries 
slaty  black,  growing  ashy  basally;  primary  coverts  glaucous  gray.  Tail  brown- 
ish slate,  broadly  tipped  with  white,  the  feathers  narrowly  skirted  with  the  same. 
Front  of  the  head,  from  the  base  of  the  bill  to  about  half  way  across  the  lores 
and  forehead,  including  the  anterior  border  of  the  chin,  white,  bordered  behind 
by  brownish  black,  which  gradually  fades  into  the  grayish  brown  of  the  head 
and  neck.  Bill  reddish  (wax  yellow,  vide  Nelson),  the  nail  white;  feet  reddish. 
Young:  Nearly  the  same  as  the  adult,  but  the  anterior  portion  of  the  head  dark 
brown  instead  of  white;  wing  coverts  less  glaucous;  black  blotches  of  the  under 
surface  absent.  Nail  of  the  bill  black.  Downy  young:  Above,  olive  green; 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  97 

* 

beneath,  clingy  greenish  yellow,  deepest  yellow  on  the  abdomen.  (Hardly  dis- 
tinguishable from  young  of  Bernida  canadensis,  but  apparently  more  deeply 
colored,  and  with  greater  contrast  between  color  of  upper  and  lower  surfaces.) 
"The  principle  variation  among  individuals  of  this  species  is  the  amount  of 
the  black  blotching  on  the  lower  parts." 

Stretch  of 
Length.          wing.  Wing.         Tail.         Tarsus.          Bill. 

Male 28.50         57.50        16.75        6.00         2.85         2.15 

Female...     27.00         56.00        16.00        5.75         2.85         1.90 

These  birds  are  rarely  met  with  on  the  Atlantic  coast,  but  are 
quite  common  in  the  Mississippi  valley  and  abundant  on  the 
Pacific  slope.  They  prefer  low,  wet  grounds  in  the  vicinity  of 
timber,  or  where  the  prairie  is  dotted  here  and  there  with 
bushes;  and,  while  they  occasionally  forage  off  the  wheat  fields 
and  other  grains  on  the  bottom  lands,  they  seldom  visit,  the 
high,  dry  prairies,  like  the  Snow  and  Canada  Geese.  Their 
food  consists  chiefly  of  vegetable  matter,  tender  aquatic  plants 
the  favorite,  but  insects,  snails,  frogs,  etc.,  help  to  make  up  their 
diet.  Their  flesh  is  highly  esteemed.  The  birds  are  shy  and 
ever  upon  the  lookout,  and  therefore  not  easily  approached. 
Their  manner  of  flight,  when  going  a  long  distance,  is  in  the 
form  of  a  Y,  like  others  of  the  family. 

They  have  been  found  breeding  abundantly  on  the  Yukon 
River,  the  Arctic  coast,  and  on  the  islands  in  the  Arctic  seas. 
Their  nest  is  a  mere  depression  in  the  sand,  worked  out  to  fit 
the  body,  and  lined  with  grasses,  feathers  and  down;  but  little 
material,  especially  of  down,  used  until  the  birds  begin  to  set. 
Eggs  usually  five  to  seven.  A  set  of  three  eggs,  taken  in  north- 
ern Alaska,  measure:  3.25x2.18,  3.22x2.20,  3.30x2.16;  dull 
cream  white;  in  form,  ovate. 

Mr.  E.  "W.  Kelson,  in  his  report  on  the  "Birds  of  Behring 
Sea  and  the  Arctic  Ocean,"  says:  "This  is  the  most  widely- 
distributed  and  abundant  Goose  throughout  northern  Alaska, 
extending  its  habitat  across  to  the  Siberian  coast  of  Behring  Sea; 
and  nesting,  as  well,  upon  Saint  Lawrence  Island.  We  found 
it  in  considerable  numbers  at  the  head  of  Kotzebue  Sound,  the 
middle  of  July,  1881;  and  found  many  of  the  adults  with  their 
wing  feathers  moulted,  and  unable  to  fly,  and  the  young  still  in 

—7 


98  HISTORY  OF   THE 

downy  plumage  at  that  time.  It  is  extremely  common  from  the 
mouth  of  the  Kuskoquine  River  to  the  head  of  Kotzebue  Sound, 
nesting  everywhere;  thence  north  to  the  extreme  Arctic  coast 
of  the  Territory.  Wherever  one  goes,  in  suitable  places,  this 
bird  is  certain  to  be  found." 


GENUS  BRANTA  SCOPOM. 

much  the  same  form  throughout  as  the  species  of  Anser,  those  belong- 
ing to  the  genus  Branta  are  distinguished  by  the  darker  plumage,  with  the  head 
and  neck  chiefly  black,  and  the  bill  and  feet  entirely  deep  black,  at  all  ages." 


Branta  canadensis  (LINN.). 

CANADA  GOOSE. 
PLATE  VHL 

Common  migrants.  A  few  remain  during  the  winter,  retir- 
ing only  when  the  extreme  cold  weather  closes  their  watery  re- 
sorts; leave  in  March. 

B.  567.     K.  594.     C.  702.     G.  279,     44.     U.  172. 

HABITAT.  Temperate  North  America,  breeding  in  the  north- 
ern United  States  and  British  provinces;  south  in  winter  to 
Mexico. 

SP.  CHAR.  "Adult:  Head  and  neck  deep  black,  the  former  with  "a  white 
patch  covering  the  throat  and  extending  up  over  the  cheeks  to  behind  the  eyes, 
growing  gradually  narrower  above,  the  upper  outline  usually  more  or  less  trun- 
cated; this  white  patch,  however,  sometimes  interrupted  on  the  throat  by  a  nar- 
row black  stripe  or  isthmus.  Very  rarely,  a  broad  white  baud  more  or  less 
distinctly  indicated,  crosses  the  forehead  between  the  eyes.  Upper  surface 
grayish  brown,  varying  from  almost  cinereous  to  umber,  each  feature  bordered 
terminally  by  a  paler  shade;  lower  parts  with  the  exposed  surface  of  about  the 
same  shade  as  the  tips  of  the  feathers  of  the  upper  parts,  the  concealed  por- 
tion of  the  feathers  of  the  shade  of  the  prevailing  color  above  —  this  much  ex- 
posed along  the  sides  and  on  the  flanks.  Primaries  and  their  coverts  plain 
dusky,  the  former  growing  nearly  black  terminally.  Anal  region,  crissum  and 
lower  tail  coverts  immaculate  pure  white.  Tail  plain  deep  black;  rump  plain 
blackish  slate.  Bill  and  feet  deep  black.  Young:  Similar  to  the  adult,  but  the 
colors  duller,  the  markings  less  sharply  defined;  black  of  the  neck  passing 
gradually  below  into  the  grayish  of  the  jugulum;  white  cheek  patches  usually 
finely  .speckled  with  dusky;  light  colored  tips  to  the  contour  feathers,  broader. 
Downy  young:  Above,  including  an  occipital  patch,  golden  olive  green;  beneath, 
pale,  greenish  ochre,  the  head  rather  deeper." 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  99 

» 

Stretch  of 
Length.         -wing.          Wing.          Tail.         Tarsus.         Bill. 

Male 39.50         65.50        19.50        7.40         3.60         2.40 

Female...      36.50         63.50        18.50        7.00         3.40         1.90 

These  birds  are  more  common  in  the  Mississippi  valley  than 
elsewhere,  though  more  evenly  distributed  throughout  their 
range  than  others  of  the  family;  breeding  from  Newfoundland 
west  to  Alaska,  and  from  about  latitude  40°  north  to  the  Arctic 
coast;  they  have  been  found  breeding  in  remote  places  farther 
south,  but  such  finds  are  rare,  and  not  within  their  natural  breed- 
ing grounds. 

Their  flight  is  steady,  strong  and  rapid,  and  when  migrating 
high  in  the  air,  following  their  leader  in  a  triangular  form,  their 
familiar  "Honk,  honk,  awonk,  honk,"  announces  their  arrival, 
and  at  such  times  the  shotguns  are  hastily  put  in  order,  and  every 
device  possible  resorted  to  in  order  to  capture  them  for  the  table, 
and  for  their  feathers,  as  well  as  to  keep  them  off  the  growing 
wheat  fields,  where  they  do  great  injury,  as  they  nip  the  blades 
off  with  a  jerk  that  largely  pulls  the  plants  up  by  the  roots. 

The  birds  mate  early  in  the  season,  and  are  true  and  ardent 
lovers,  the  males  chivalrous  and  brave.  During  incubation  and 
the  rearing  of  the  young,  the  males  are  as  attentive  as  the  fe- 
males, sharing  the  duties,  and  proudly  and  courageously  de- 
fending their  charges. 

Their  nests  are  usually  placed  in  a  rank  growth  of  grass  on 
marshy  grounds,  and  near  the  water;  are  composed  of  grass, 
weeds,  or  any  material  at  hand,  and  lined  with  down;  they  are 
quite  broad  and  bulky,  but  when  placed  on  dry  grounds,  a  mere 
depression  lined  with  down.  In  places  where  greatly  annoyed 
and  robbed  by  predatory  animals,  they  have  been  found  breed- 
ing in  trees,  on  the  nests  of  the  larger  hawks,  and  of  the  Great 
Blue  Heron,  and  from  such  places  are  said  to  carry  their  young 
to  the  ground  in  their  bills,  in  the  same  manner  as  the  Wood 
Duck.  Eggs  usually  six  or  seven;  as  high  as  nine  have  been 
found,  and  in  a  domestic  state  have  been  known  to  lay  as  high 
as  eleven.  A  set  of  four  eggs,  collected  in  northern  Dakota, 
May  6th,  1880,  from  a  nest  on  a  small  island  in  a  lake,  are,  in 
dimensions:  3.70x2.43,  3.74x2.44,  3.80x2.45,  3.80x2.50;  and 
in  color  dull  white,  with  a  faint  greenish  tint;  in  form,  ovate. 


100  HISTORY  OF  THE 

Branta  canadensis  hutchinsii  (Sw.  &  RICH.). 

HUTCHINS'   GOOSE. 
PLATE  VIII. 

Migratory;  common.  A  few  linger  into  winter;  leave  for  the 
north  in  March  to  middle  of  April;  returning  in  October. 

B.  569.     E.  584a.     C.  704.     G.  280,     45.     U.  172«. 

HABITAT.  Arctic  and  sub- Arctic  America;  south  in  winter 
chiefly  through  the  Mississippi  valley,  and  the  western  United 
States;  northern  Asia. 

SP.  CHAR.  "Exactly  like  canadensis  in  plumage,  but  averaging  slightly 
darker." 

Stretch  of 
Length,          wing.  Wing.         Tail.         Tarsus.         Bill. 

Male 30.00         54.50        15.75        5.50         2.90         1.45 

Female...     26.00         51.00        14.50        4.75        2.50         1.30 

These  birds  occur  irregularly  on  the  Atlantic  coast,  and  are 
not  common  until  the  Mississippi  valley  is  reached;  from  there 
west  to  the  Pacific,  very  common.  In  their  habits  are  similar 
to  the  Canada  Goose,  but  breed  farther  north,  chiefly  within 
the  Arctic  circle;  eggs  usually  five  or  six.  A  set  of  five  eggs, 
taken  in  July,  1864,  at  Anderson  River,  on  the  Arctic  coast, 
measure:  3.11x2.12,  3.25x2.14,  3.19x2.25,  3.26x2.12,  3.12x 
2.18;  color  dull  white;  in  form,  ovate. 

Branta  bernicla  (LINN.). 

BRANT. 
PLATE  VIII. 

A  rare,  casual  migrant. 

B.  570.     R.  595.     C.  700.     G.  281,     46.     U.  173. 

HABITAT.  Northern  parts  of  the  northern  hemisphere;  in 
North  America,  chiefly  on  the  Atlantic  coast;  very  rare  in  the 
interior,  or  away  from  salt  water;  breeding  wholly  within  the 
Arctic  circle. 

SP.  CHAR.  "Adult:  Head,  neck  and  jugulum  continuous  black,  the  anterior 
portion  of  the  head  having  a  brownish  cast;  posterior  outline  of  the  black  on 
the  jugulum  very  regular  and  sharply  defined  against  the  brownish  gray  of  the 
breast.  Middle  of  the  neck  with  a  transverse  crescentic  patch  of  white  on 
each  side,  formed  of  white  tips  and  sub-tips  of  the  feathers,  the  black  showing 
through  in  places  so  as  to  form  oblique  lines.  Above,  smoky  plumbeous,  the 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  101 

feathers  distinctly  bordered  terminally  with  a  much  paler  and  more  brownish 
shade;  wings  like  the  back,  but  with  a  somewhat  plumbeous  cast,  the  paler 
margins  nearly  obsolete.  Secondaries  blackish  brown;  primaries  brownish 
black;  tail  uniform  black,  but  almost  concealed  by  the  snow  white  lengthened 
coverts,  the  upper  of  which,  however,  are  invaded  by  a  medial  stripe  of  black- 
ish plumbeous,  brown  from  the  rump.  Breast,  abdomen,  sides  and  flanks  much 
like  the  upper  parts,  but  the  light  tips  to  the  feathers  whiter,  broader,  and  more 
conspicuous;  anal  region  and  crissum  immaculate  snow  white.  Young:  Similar 
to  the  adult,  but  the  wing  coverts  and  secondaries  broadly  tipped  with  pure 
white,  forming  very  conspicuous  bars;  lower  parts  paler  and  more  uniform; 
•white  on  middle  of  the  neck  reduced  to  small  specks." 

Stretch  of 
Length.          wing.  IVing.  Tail.         Tarsus.          Bill. 

Male 25.00         45.50        13.25        4.60         2.30         1.40 

Female...     23.50         43.00        12.00        4.00         2.20         1.25 

These  birds  are  abundant  on  the  Atlantic  coast;  south  in 
winter  to  Florida;  (two  specimens  taken  in  Kansas;)  they  have 
been  found  breeding  from  Parry's  Islands,  latitude  74°  north,  to 
the  highest  latitudes  reached.  During  winter  they  collect  in 
immense  flocks,  feeding  at  low  tide  upon  marine  plants,  Crustacea, 
etc.,  never  diving  for  the  same,  (although  they  can  do  so  when 
winged  and  hard  pressed,)  but  procure  food  in  shallow  water 
by  immersing  the  head  and  neck.  During  high  water  they  rest 
out  in  the  open  bays,  often  going  upon  remote  sand  bars  to  dust 
their  feathers;  while  feeding  and  flying  are  noisy,  keeping  up 
an  almost  continual  cackle.  Their  flight  is  rather  slow  and  very 
irregular,  often  bunching  together  and  suddenly  rising  and  fall- 
ing as  they  go;  even  when  migrating,  their  Y-shaped  form  is 
frequently  partially  broken  by  an  apparent  effort  to  gain  the 
leadership.  These  birds  are  sought  after  so  much  by  the  sports- 
man, as  well  as  the  gunners  for  the  market,  that  they  have 
become  very  wild,  and  are  ever  upon  the  lookout,  avoiding  all 
points  of  land,  blinds,  boats,  etc.,  and  it  requires  great  skill  and 
strategy  to  approach  near  enough  to  kill  with  an  ordinary  gun. 
They  commence  nesting  in  June.  Sir  John  Ross  reports  find- 
ing them  breeding  in  immense  numbers  on  the  beach  of  the 
South  Cape  Islands.  Their  nests,  which  thickly  covered  the 
ground,  were  placed  on  the  beach,  a  perfect  mass  of  down  and 
feathers,  in  which  three  or  four  eggs  were  buried.  Morris,  in 
his  "British  Birds,"  says:  "The  nest  of  the  Brant  Goose  is 


102  HISTORY  OF  THE 

formed  of  vegetable  materials  collected  together  in  swampy 
places.  The  eggs  are  white,  with  a  faint  tinge  of  brown  or 
grayish."  Eggs  2.92x2.06;  inform,  elongate  ovate. 

In  former  days,  when  the  ignorance,  credulity  and  superstition 
of  the  people  led  them  to  readily  believe  in  miraculous  and  fabu- 
lous stories,  this  species,  as  well  as  the  Barnacle  Goose,  Bi'unta 
leucopsis,  were  supposed  to  be  engendered  from  barnacles  at- 
tached to  rotten,  decaying  timbers  in  the  sea,  from  which  they 
derived  their  name;  also,  by  some,  to  grow  on  trees  by  their 
bills,  like  fruit,  or  mushrooms,  instead  of  being  hatched  like 
other  birds  from  an  egg,  until  the  exploration  of  the  Arctic 
Ocean  revealed  their  nesting  places.  In  order  that  the  reader 
may  understand  their  reasons  for  so  absurd  and  unnatural  a  pro- 
duction, I  quote  from  three  of  the  most  noted  historians  and 
naturalists  among  the  many  writers  upon  the  subject  at  the  time. 
First,  Hector  Boice,  a  Scotch  historian,  born  about  1465,  as 
translated  by  Bellenden:  "Rest  now,"  says  he,  "to  speak  of 
the  Geese  engendered  of  the  sea  named  Claiks.  Some  men  be- 
lieves that  thir  [these]  Claiks  grows  on  trees  by  the  nebbis 
[bills].  But  their  opinion  is  vain.  And  because  the  nature 
and  procreation  of  these  Claiks  is  strange,  we  have  made  no 
little  labour  and  dilligence  to  search  the  truth  and  verity  thereof, 
we  have  sailed  through  the  seas  where  thir  [these]  Claiks  are 
bred,  and  finding  by  great  experience  that  the  nature  of  the  seas 
is  more  relevant  cause  of  their  procreation  than  any  other  thing. 
And  howbeit  thir  [these]  Geese  are  bred  many  sundry  ways,  they 
are  bred  ay  allanerly  [only]  by  nature  of  the  seas.  For  all  trees 
that  are  cassin  [cast]  into  the  seas  by  process  of  time  appears 
first  worm-eaten,  and  in  the  small  bores  and  holes  thereof  grows 
small  worms.  First  they  show  their  head  and  feet,  and  last  of 
all  they  show  their  plumes  and  wings.  Finally  when  they  are 
coming  to  the  just  measure  and  quantity  of  Geese,  they  fly  in 
the  air,  as  other  fowls  do,  as  was  notably  proven  in  the  year  of 
our  God  one  thousand  iiii  hundred  Ixxx,  in  sight  of  many  peo- 
ple beside  the  castle  of  Pitslego,  one  great  tree  was  brought  by 
alluvion  and  flux  of  the  sea  to  land.  This  wonderful  tree  was 
brought  to  the  laird  of  the  ground,  quhilk  [who]  soon  after  gart 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  103 

t 
[caused]  divide  it  by  one  saw.      Appeared  then  one  multitude 

of  worms  throwing  themselves  out  of  sundry  holes  and  bores  of 
this  tree.  Some  of  them  were  rude  as  they  were  but  new  shapen. 
Some  had  both  head,  feet  and  wings,  but  they  had  no  feathers. 
Some  of  them  were  perfect-shapen  fowls.  At  last  the  people 
having  ylk  [each]  day  this  tree  in  more  admiration,  brought  it 
to  the  kirk  of  Saint  Andrews,  beside  the  town  of  Tyre,  where  it 
remains  yet  to  our  days.  And  within  two  years  after  happened 
such  one  like  tree  to  come  into  the  Frith  of  Tay  beside  Dundee, 
wormeaten  and  holed,  full  of  young  Geese  in  the  same  manner. 
Such  like  into  the  port  of  Leith  beside  Edinburgh  within  few 
years  after  happened  such  one  like  case.  One  ship  named  the 
Christopher  (after  that  she  had  lain  iii  years  at  one  anchor  in 
one  of  thir  [these]  isles)  was  brought  to  Leith.  And  because 
her  timber  (as  appeared)  failed,  she  was  broken  down.  Incon- 
tinent [immediately]  appeared  (as  before)  all  the  inward  parts 
of  her  wormeaten  and  all  the  holes  thereof  full  of  Geese,  on 
the  same  manner  as  we  have  shown.  Attour  [moreover]  if  any 
man  would  allege  by  vain  argument,  that  this  Christopher  was 
made  of  such  trees  as  grew  allanerly  [only]  in  the  Isles,  and 
that  all  the  roots  and  trees  that  grows  in  the  said  Isles,  are  of 
that  nature  to  be  finally  by  nature  of  seas  resolved  into  Geese; 
we  prove  the  contrary  thereof  by  one  notable  example,  showen 
afore  our  ene  [eyes].  Master  Alezander  Galloway,  parson  of 
Kinkell,  was  with  us  in  thir  [these]  Isles,  giving  his  mind  with 
much  earnest  business  to  search  the  verity  of  thir  [these]  obscure 
and  misty  doubts,  and  by  adventure  lifted  up  one  sea  tangle 
(Laminaria  saccharina  Lamouroux),  hanging  full  of  mussel 
shells  from  the  root  to  the  branches.  Soon  after  he  opened  one 
of  thir  [these]  mussel  shells,  but  then  he  was  more  astonished 
than  afore.  For  he  saw  no  fish  in  it  but  one  perfect  shapen 
fowl  small  and  great  ay  efferyng  [proportional]  to  the  quantity 
of  the  shell.  This  clerk  knowing  us  right  desireous  of  such  vn- 
couth  [uncommon]  things,  came  hastily  with  the  said  tangle, 
and  opened  it  to  us  with  all  circumstance  afore  rehearsed.  By 
thir  [these]  and  many  other  reasons  and  examples  we  cannot  be- 
lieve that  thir  [these]  Claiks  are  produced  by  any  nature  of  trees 


104  HISTORY  OF  THE 

or  roots  thereof,  but  allanerly  [only]  by  the  nature  of  the  ocean 
sea,  quhilk  [which]  is  the  cause  and  production  of  many  wonder- 
ful things.  And  because  the  rude  and  ignorant  people  saw 
oftimes  the  fruits  that  fell  off  the  trees  (quhilkis  [which]  stood 
near  the  sea)  converted  within  short  time  into  Geese,  they  be- 
lieved that  thir  [these]  Geese  grew  upon  the  trees  hanging  by 
their  nebbis  [bills],  such  like  as  apples  and  other  fruits  hangs  by 
their  stalks,  but  their  opinion  is  nought  to  be  sustained.  For 
as  soon  as  thir  [these]  apples  or  fruits  falls  off  the  tree  into  the 
sea  flood,  they  grow  first  wortneatin.  And  by  short  process  of 
time  are  altered  into  Geese." 

And  Wm.  Turner,  a  distinguished  English  naturalist,  born 
about  1515,  in  speaking  of  two  species  of  Geese  mentioned  by 
Aristotle,  says:  "The  first  Goose  is  now  by  us  called  Brant  or 
Bernicle,  and  is  less  than  the  Wild  Goose,  the  breast  being  of 
a  black  and  the  other  parts  of  an  ashy  color.  It  flies  in  the 
manner  of  Geese,  is  noisy,  frequents  marshes,  and  is  destructive 
to  growing  corn.  Its  flesh  is  not  very  savoury,  and  is  little  es- 
teemed by  the  wealthy.  Nobody  has  ever  seen  the  nest  or  egg 
of  the  Bernicle;  nor  is  this  marvelous,  inasmuch  as  it  is  with- 
out parients,  and  is  spontaneously  generated  in  the  following 
manner:  When  at  a  certain  time  an  old  ship,  a  plank  or  a  pine 
mast  rots  in  the  sea,  something  like  fungus  at  first  breaks  out 
thereupon,  which  at  length  puts  on  the  manifest  form  of  birds. 
Afterwards  these  are  clothed  with  feathers,  and  at  last  become 
living  and  flying  fowl.  Should  this  appear  to  anyone  to  be 
fabulus,  we  might  adduce  the  testimony  not  only  of  the  whole 
people  who  dwell  on  the  coasts  of  England,  Ireland  and  Scot- 
land, but  also  that  of  the  illustrious  histographer,  Gyraldus, 
who  has  written  so  eloquently  the  history  of  Ireland,  that  the 
Bernicles  are  produced  in  no  other  way.  But  since  it  is  not 
very  safe  to  trust  to  popular  reports,  and  as  I  was,  considering 
the  singularity  of  the  thing,  rather  sceptical  even  witli  respect 
to  the  testimony  of  Gyraldus  — while  I  was  thinking  over  the 
subject  —  I  consulted  Octavian,  an  Irish  clergyman  whose  strict 
integrity  gave  me  the  utmost  confidence  in  him,  as  to  whether 
he  considered  Gyraldus  worthy  to  be  trusted  in  what  he  had 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  105 

t 
written.      This  clergyman  then  professed  himself  ready  to  take 

his  oath  upon  the  Gospels  that  what  Gyraldus  had  recorded  of 
the  generation  of  this  bird  was  most  true;  for  he  himself  had 
seen  with  his  eyes,  and  also  handled  those  half-formed  birds; 
and  he  said  further,  that  if  I  remained  a  couple  of  months 
longer  in  London,  he  would  have  some  of  them  sent  to  me." 
And  Dr.  Jerome  Cardam,  a  celebrated  Italian  scholar  and 
physician,  born  about  1551,  after  visiting  Scotland  to  investi- 
gate the  matter,  reached  the  same  conclusion,  and  in  summing 
up,  as  if  to  remove  all  doubts,  remarks  that  the  circumstance 
that  the  Hebridian  Sea  should  engender  Geese  "is  not  a  whit 
more  marvelous  than  that  mice,  on  the  authority  of  Aristotle, 
are  generated  from  the  ground,  or  that  the  soil  of  Egypt  should 
grow  hares  and  goats,  inasmuch  as  nature  always  produces  what 
is  most  suitable  to  a  place." 

SUBFAMILY  CYGNIN^E.      SWANS. 

"Neck  extremely  long  (as  long  as,  or  longer,  than  the  body);  size  very  large; 
bill  longer  than  the  head,  the  edges  parallel,  the  nail  small;  tarsi  shorter  than 
middle  toe;  lores  naked;  tail  feathers  20  to  24;  color  chiefly,  or  entirely,  white 
(except  iu  Chenopisatrata,  the  Black  Swan  of  Australia).'1 

GENUS  OLOR  WAGLER. 

"Neck  very  long  (longer  than  the  body),  bill  longer  than  the  head  (commis- 
sure longer  than  the  tarsus),  widening  slightly  to  the  end,  the  edges  straight; 
basal  portion  of  the  bill  covered  by  a  soft  skin,  extending  over  the  lores  to  the 
eye,  the  upper  line  running  nearly  straight  back  from  the  forehead  to  the  upper 
eyelid,  the  lower  running  from  the  eye  obliquely  downward,  in  a  nearly  straight 
line,  to  the  rictus.  Nostrils  situated  a  little  posterior  to  the  middle  of  the  max- 
illa, and  quite  near  the  oilmen;  no  trace  of  a  knob  or  caruncle  at  base  of  the 
bill.  Lower  portion  of  the  tibia  bare;  tarsus  much  shorter  than  middle  toe  (but 
little  longer  than  the  inner),  much  compressed,  covered  with  hexagonal  scales, 
which  become  smaller  on  the  sides  and  behind.  Hind  toe  small,  much  elevated, 
the  lobe  narrow.  Tail  very  short,  rounded  or  graduated,  of  twenty  to  twenty- 
four  feathers.  Wings  rounded,  the  second  and  third  quills  longest;  primaries 
scarcely  reaching  beyond  the  ends  of  the  secondaries.  Color  entirely  white,  the 
sexes  alike.  Young,  pale  grayish." 

Olor  columbianus  (ORD.). 

WHISTLING  SWAN. 
PLATE  VIII. 

Migratory;  rare.  Arrive  the  middle  of  March;  begin  to  re- 
turn in  October. 

B.  561rt.     R.  588.     C.  689.     G.  274,     47.     U.  180. 


106  HISTORY  OF  THE 

HABITAT.  North  America  in  general;  breeding  far  northward; 
south  in  winter  to  California  and  the  Gulf  coast;  casual  west  to 
the  Commander  Islands,  Kamtchatka;  accidental  in  Scotland. 

SP.  CHAE.  "Tail  usually  of  twenty  feathers;  bill  not  longer  than  the  head. 
Adult:  Entire  plumage  pure  white;  the  head  (sometimes  the  neck,  or  even  en- 
tire iinder  parts)  tinged  with  rusty.  Bill,  tarsi  and  feet  deep  black,  the  bare 
loral  skin  usually  marked  by  an  oblong  spot  of  orange  or  yellow  (dull  pale  red- 
dish, yellowish  or  whitish  in  the  skin);  iris  brown.  Young:  Light  plumbeous, 
paler  beneath,  the  fore  part  and  top  of  the  head  tinged  with  reddish  brown. 
Bill  reddish  flesh  color,  dusky  at  the  tip;  feet  dull  yellowish  flesh  color  or  grayish. 

"The  principal  anatomical  character  of  this  species  is  the  disposition  of  the 
trachea  in  the  sternum,  it  making  but  one  horizontal  turn  upon  itself  at  the 
point  fartherest  from  its  entrance  in  the  front  of  the  enlarged  carina." 

Stretch  of 
Length.         wing.          Wing.         Tail.         Tarsus.        Bill. 

Male 55.00         80.00       23.00        8.75        4.30        4.20 

Female...     53.00         75.00        20.00        7.00        4.20        4.10 

This  species  is  rarely  met  with  on  the  Atlantic  coast  north  of 
Chesapeake  Bay,  but  it  is  not  uncommon  throughout  the  interior 
and  on  the  Pacific  coast.  I  have  one  in  the  "Goss  Ornitho- 
logical Collection,"  shot  March  12th,  1875,  in  the  Neosho  val- 
ley, Kansas,  out  of  a  flock  of  six,  and  I  have  occasionally  seen 
these  birds  in  the  State  during  migration;  and  I  once  saw  a  few 
in  winter,  on  Galveston  Bay,  near  the  mouth  of  Trinity  River; 
they  were  in  company  with,  or  rather  near,  a  flock  of  the  Trump- 
eters, and  readily  known  by  their  smaller  size. 

Their  food  consists  of  grasses,  leaves  and  roots  of  various 
water  plants;  also  snails,  insects  and  other  forms  of  life.  They 
cannot  dive,  but  are  able,  with  their  long  necks,  to  feed  in  quite 
deep  waters.  While  feeding,  as  well  as  in  flight,  they  are  quite 
noisy,  and  their  loud-toned  notes  are  occasionally  heard  during 
the  night. 

In  olden  times,  when  credulity  largely  prevailed  among  the 
people,  the  most  fabulous  and  absurd  stories  were  readily  be- 
lieved. The  Swans  were  supposed  to  sing  sweetly,  especially 
when  dying.  This  belief  seems  to  have  been  based  upon  the 
fable,  that  the  soul  of  Orpheus  was  transmigrated  into  a  Swan, 
and  for  this  reason  these  birds  were  held  in  great  veneration. 
The  Greek  and  Latin  poets  praised  its  song,  and  the  philoso- 
phers and  historians  recorded  it  as  a  fact.  I  quote  from  three 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  107 

I 

of  the  most  noted.  Socrates  says:  "When  Swans  perceive  ap- 
proaching death,  they  sing  more  merrily  than  before,  because 
of  the  joy  they  have  in  going  to  the  God  they  serve."  Aris- 
totle says:  "Swans  are  wont  to  sing,  particularly  when  about 
to  die."  And  Cicero  says  of  Lucius  Crassus,  that  "He  spake 
with  the  divine  voice  of  a  Swan  about  to  die."  Pliny,  one  of 
the  first  to  doubt,  says:  "Some  affirm  that  Swans  sing  lamenta- 
bly a  little  before  death,  but  untruly,  I  suppose,  for  experience 
in  many  has  shown  the  contrary." 

Their  flight  is  rapid  and  well  sustained,  and,  when  migrating, 
very  high  in  the  air,  in  a  triangular  form.  While  not  quite 
as  swift  as  the  Trumpeter,  it  is  estimated  to  fly  in  a  calm,  or 
with  a  favorable  wind,  about  one  hundred  miles  an  hour.  On 
the  ground  they  are  not  very  graceful,  but  on  the  water  a  pic- 
ture of  grace  and  ease;  when  on  the  lookout,  carry  their  necks 
erect,  but  when  they  think  they  are  unobserved,  as  well  as  dur- 
ing courtship,  bend  their  necks  in  wavy,  graceful  curves,  and, 
with  partially  raised  feathers,  arched  wings,  and  head  drawn 
down  and  back  as  if  ready  for  a  charge,  swiftly  and  stately 
glide  before  each  other,  and  in  various  ways  make  the  greatest 
display  possible,  not  only  before  their  mates,  but  to  gratify  an 
unbounded  vanity;  for  they  are  very  proud  birds  and  are  con- 
scious of  their  good  looks.  During  courtship  the  males  have 
many  a  hard  fight  for  their  lady  love,  but  once  mated,  are  true 
and  devoted  to  each  other,  the  males  sharing  in  the  duties  of 
hatching,  and  in  rearing  the  young;  and  in  the  defense  of  the 
sartfe  display  extraordinary  courage,  boldly  attacking  an  enemy, 
and,  with  furious  strokes  of  their  powerful  wings,  compel  a  hasty 
retreat.  These  birds  have  been  found  breeding  from  the  Yu- 
kon and  Anderson  rivers,  north  along  the  coast,  and  upon  the 
islands  in  the  Arctic  sea.  Their  nests  are  placed  on  marshy 
grounds  near  the  water's  edge,  are  very  large,  and  built  of  reeds, 
rushes,  bog  moss,  or  any  material  at  hand,  and  lined  with  down, 
with  which  the  eggs  are  also  covered.  Eggs  five  to  seven.  A 
set  of  two,  taken  by  Mr.  MacFarlane,  July  5th,  1864,  on  an 
island  in  Franklin  Bay,  are,  in  dimensions:  4.07x2.63, 
2.67;  dull  white,  with  a  buffy  tint;  in  form,  oval. 


108  HISTORY  OF  THE 

Olor  buccinator  (RICH.). 

TRUMPETER  SWAN. 

Migratory;  not  uncommon.     Arrive  about  the  firct  of  March. 

B.  562.     R.  589.     C.  688.     G.  275,     48.     U.  181. 

HABITAT.  Chiefly  the  interior  of  North  America,  west  to  the 
Pacific  coast,  but  rare  or  casual  on  the  Atlantic;  south  in  winter 
to  California  and  the  Gulf  coast;  breeding  from  Iowa  and 
Idaho  north,  to  within  the  Arctic  circle. 

SP.  CHAR.  "Tail  of  usually  twenty-four  feathers;  bill  longer  than  the  head. 
Adult:  Plumage  entirely  pure  white,  the  head,  sometimes  the  neck  also  or  even 
the  entire  lower  parts,  tinged  with  rusty.  Bill,  naked  lores,  legs  and  feet  uniform 
deep  black;  iris  brown.  Young:  In  winter  the  young  has  the  bill  black,  with 
the  middle  portion  of  the  ridge  to  the  length  of  an  inch  and  a  half  light  flesh 
color,  and  a  large  elongated  patch  of  light  dull  purple  on  each  side;  the  edge  of 
the  lower  mandible  and  the  tongue  dull  yellowish  flesh  color.  The  eye  is  dark 
brown.  The  feet  are  dull  yellowish  brown,  tinged. with  olive;  the  claws  brown- 
ish black;  the  webs  blackish  brown.  The  upper  part  (if  the  head  and  the 
cheeks  are  light  reddish  brown,  each  feather  having  toward  its  extremity  a 
small  oblong  whitish  spot,  narrowly  margined  with  dusky;  the  throat  nearly 
white,  as  well  as  the  edge  of  the  lower  eyelid.  The  general  color  of  the  other 
parts  is  grayish  white,  slightly  tinged  with  yellow;  the  upper  part  of  the  neck 
marked  with  spots  similar  to  those  on  the  head. 

"The  arrangement  of  the  trachea  in  this  species  is  very  different  from  that 
in  0.  columbianus,  in  having,  besides  the  horizontal  bend,  a  vertical  flexure,  oc- 
cupying a  prominent  protuberance  on  the  anterior  portion  of  the  dorsal  aspect 
of  the  sternum. 

"Total  length,  about  58.50  to  68.00  inches;  extent,  about  8.00  to  nearly  10.00 
feet;  wing,  21.00  to  27.25  inches;  culmen  (from  frontal  feathers),  4.34  to  4.70; 
tarsus,  4.54  to  4.92;  middle  toe,  6.00  to  6.50." 

This  large,  graceful  bird,  whose  loud  clarion  voice  announces 
its  presence,  is  similar  in  habits  to  the  Whistling  Swan.  It  is 
one  of  the  first  migrants  to  reach  its  breeding  grounds.  Lays 
from  five  to  seven  eggs,  of  a  dull  white  color  with  a  buff  discol- 
oration. A  set  of  two  eggs,  collected  by  Mr.  MacFariane,  at 
Franklin  Bay,  Arctic  coast,  measure:  4.43x3.06,  4.51x2.88;  in 
form,  oval. 


BIKDS  OF  KANSAS.  109 

« 


ORDER  HERODIONES. 

HERONS,    STORKS,    IBISES,   ETC. 

"Neck  and  legs  much  lengthened.  Hind  toe  much  lengthened,  and  inserted 
at  the  same  level  as  the  anterior  toes  (shorter  and  slightly  elevated  in  Cicontidce). 
Habits  altricial,  and  young  dasypsedic;  palate  desmognathous;  carotids  double." 

SUBOKDEB  IBIDES.     SPOONBILLS  AND  IBISES. 

Sides  of  upper  mandible  with  a  deep  narrow  groove  extending  uninterrupt- 
edly from  the  nostrils  to  the  tip.  (Ridyicay.) 

FAMILY  IBIDIDJE.     IBISES. 

"Wading  birds  of  medium  to  rather  large  size,  the  bill  much  elongated, 
attenuated,  more  or  less,  toward  the  end,  and  bent  downward,  more  or  less 
decidedly,  in  sickle  fashion,  like  that  of  the  curlews  (Numenius).  Nostrils  sub- 
basal,  latero-superior,  with  more  or  less  of  a  membrane  above  and  behind;  nasal 
fossae  continued  forward  to  the  very  extremity  of  the  maxilla  in  the  form  of 
a  deep,  narrow  continuous  groove.  Hallux  almost  incumbent;  claws  slender, 
projecting  far  beyoiid  the  ends  of  the  toes." 

GENUS  PLEGrADIS  KAUP. 

"Bill  shallow  through  the  base,  moderately  tapering,  and  gently  curved;  the 
base  not  truged,  and  the  basal  outlines  of  the  maxilla  deeply  concave;  bare 
portion  of  the  tibia  equal  to  or  longer  than  outer  toe;  middle  toe  about  three- 
fourths  the  tarsus;  inner  toe  reaching  past  the  subterminal  articulation  of  the 
middle  toe;  hallux  about  equal  to  the  basal  phalanx  of  the  inner  toe;  forehead 
and  orbital,  malar  and  gular  region  completely  feathered,  the  lores  only  being 
naked,  the  feathering  on  the  chin  forming  an  acute  angle  which  advances  to  as 
far  as  the  middle  of  the  nostrils;  feathers  of  the  pileum  elongated,  lanceolate, 
and  distinct,  forming,  when  erected,  a  sort  of  full,  rounded  crest;  those  of  the 
occiput  and  nape,  and  upper  half  of  the  neck  all  round,  also  distinct  and  lan- 
ceolate; plumage  chiefly  metallic  green  above;  the  adults  with  head  and  upper 
part  of  neck  chestnut,  and  lower  parts  chestnut  or  violet  blackish;  the  young 
with  head  and  upper  part  of  neck  streaked  grayish  brown  and  white,  the  lower 
parts  grayish  brown  or  violet  dusky." 

Plegadis  guarauna  (  LINX.). 

WHITE-FACED   GLOSSY  IBIS. 
PLATE  VIIL 

A  rare  visitant.  Shot  at  a  lake  near  Lawrence,  by  Mr.  W.  L. 
Bullene,  in  the  fall  of  1879,  and  reported  to  me  by  Prof.  F.  H. 
Snow,  who  has  the  specimen  in  the  State  University;  and  a 
young  female  was  captured  October  17th,  1890,  on  the  Arkan- 


110  HISTORY  OF  THE 

sas  River,  near  Wichita,  and  kindly  sent  me  for  identification, 
by  Dr.  E.  Matthews,  of  that  city. 

B.  500a.     R.  504.     C.  650.     G.  234,     49.     U.  187. 

HABITAT.  "Western  United  States,  from  Texas  to  California, 
north  to  Oregon;  accidental  to  Kansas,  south  through  tropical 
America  to  Chili. 

SP.  CHAR.  "  Adult:  Feathers  bordering  the  base  of  the  bill  all  round 
whitish,  usually  most  distinct  on  the  forehead.  Pileuin  dull  metallic  violet 
purple,  changing  to  green,  the  feathers  blackish  beneath  the  surface;  rest  of 
the  head  cinnamon  brownish,  paler  on  the  throat,  where  lightest  anteriorly; 
neck  cinnamon  chestnut,  the  feathers  blackish  beneath  the  surface,  this  show- 
ing where  the  feathers  are  disarranged,  and  quite  conspicuous  on  the  nape, 
where  the  dusky  has  in  certain  lights  a  faint  greenish  luster;  lower  neck,  entire 
lower  parts  (except  the  crissum,  anal  region,  axillars  and  flanks),  back,  anterior 
scapulars  and  lesser  wing  coverts  uniform  rich  chestnut,  darker  and  more  pur- 
plish above,  lighter  and  more  ferruginous  or  clearer  reddish  beneath.  Rest  of 
the  plumage  glossy  metallic  green,  bronze  purple  and  violet;  the  green  purest 
and  clearest  on  the  primaries;  the  secondaries  and  greater  coverts  more  bronzy, 
the  middle  coverts  and  posterior  half  of  lesser  covert  region  purplish,  changing 
to  dull  green;  the  crissum  and  rump  mixed  green  and  purple,  the  green  being 
of  a  richer  (almost  grass  green)  shade,  especially  on  the  rump;  axillars  and 
under  wing  coverts  bronze  purple;  xnicler  surface  of  remiges  and  rectrices  very 
highly  burnished;  bill  dusky,  sometimes  tinged  with  reddish;  lores,  eyelids 
and  naked  skin  of  chin  lake  red  or  pale  carmine;  iris  crimson;  legs  and  feet 
varying  from  grayish  brown  to  deep  lake  red.  Young,  second  year:  Head, 
neck  and  lower  parts  dull  grayish  brown,  the  head  and  upper  parts  of  the  neck 
streaked  with  white;  back  grayish  brown  with  green  or  purplish  reflections. 
Otherwise  as  in  the  adult,  but  metallic  colors  less  brilliant.  Young,  first  year: 
Head,  neck  and  lower  parts  as  in  the  last,  but  upper  parts  and  under  side  of 
the  wing  uniform,  continuous  bronzy  green,  with  little  (if  any)  admixture  of 
purple  or  violet  shades.  No  chestnut  on  the  lesser  wing  coverts;  bill  pale  green- 
ish horn  blue,  blackish  terminally  and  dusky  basally;  iris  hazel;  legs  and  feet 
deep  black.  Downy  young:  Bill  light  yellowish,  the  base,  end  and  baud 
around  the  middle  deep  black;  lores  blackish;  legs  and  feet  black;  forehead 
black,  bounded  posteriorly  by  a  crescentic  patch  of  dull  silvery  white,  extend- 
ing from  eye  to  eye,  across  the  posterior  portion  of  the  crown;  the  line  of  demar- 
kation  between  the  white  and  black  being  somewhat  mixed  or  suffused  with 
light  rufous;  rest  of  head,  neck  and  lower  parts  covered  with  soft  downy  feath- 
ers of  a  uniform  brownish  gray  shade,  without  any  whitish  streaks  on  head  and 
neck.  Partially  complete  plumage  of  the  upper  surface  entirely  uniform  con- 
tinuous bronze  green,  or  metallic  bottle  green,  without  the  slightest  admixture 
anywhere  of  purple,  blue  or  violet." 

Stretch  of 
Length.         -wing.         Wing.          Tail.        Tarsus.        Bill. 

Male 24.50         87.50        10.50        4.50        4.00        5.75 

Female..        22.00         35.50         9.50        4.00         3.50         4.75 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  HI 

The  plumage  of  this  elegant  wader  is  glossed  with  a  metallic 
luster  that  richly  shines  with  different  hues  in  the  varying  shades 
of  light;  a  most  beautiful  sight  to  the  close  observer,  but  at  a 
distance  its  resplendent  colors  are  not  discernable  and  it  appears 
to  be  a  plain,  blackish  bird,  and  is  generally  known  as  the  Black 
Curlew.  In  habits  they  are  gregarious,  frequenting  low,  moist 
grounds  and  the  edges  of  lakes  and  pools  of  water.  Their  food 
consists  largely  of  crawfish,  snails,  insects  and- various  low  forms 
of  life;  minnows  and  frogs  also  help  to  make  up  their  bill  of 
fare. 

In  flight  their  legs  and  necks  are  stretched  out  to  their  fullest 
extent.  They  rise  in  confusion,  but  when  going  any  distance 
quickly  form  abreast,  and  fly  in  a  wavy  line,  high,  swift  and 
strong,  occasionally  sailing  as  they  go,  and  in  alighting,  abruptly 
break  the  line  in  as  wild  confusion  as  in  forming  the  same. 

The  birds  are  quite  common  during  the  breeding  season  along 
the  Gulf  coast  of  Texas,  and  westward  to  the  Pacific  coast,  win- 
tering chiefly  in  southern  Mexico  and  northern  Central  America. 
I  found  them  wintering  in  large  flocks  on  the  marshy  and  over- 
flowed grounds  along  the  Rio  de  Santiago,  long  before  it  enters 
and  after  it  leaves  Lake  Chapala,  Mexico;  and  June  30,  1878,  I 
had  the  pleasure  of  finding  a  flock  breeding  in  company  with 
the  White,  Louisiana  and  Night  Herons,  on  a  small,  boggy  island 
in  Lake  Surprise,  on  Smith's  Point,  Galveston  Bay.  I  was  too 
late  for  their  eggs,  only  finding  here  and  \here  a  rotten  one; 
the  young  birds  were  about  two-thirds  grown,  blackish  little  fel- 
lows, that  when  closely  approached  awkwardly  scrambled  from 
their  nests,  which  were  made  of  stems  bitten  off  from  the  rushes, 
cane  and  flag  leaves,  loosely  placed  upon  the  tops  of  the  dense 
growth  of  tall  rushes  that  were  rather  ingeniously  bent  and 
woven  together  as  a  foundation.  Eggs  usually  three,  2. 10  x 
1.44;  greenish  blue;  in  form,  pointed  oval. 

SUBORDER  CICONIJE.     STORKS,  ETC. 

Sides  of  upper  mandible  without  any  groove.  Hind  toe  inserted  above  the 
level  of  the  anterior  toe;  claws  broad  and  flat,  resting  on  a  horny  pad  or  shoe, 
the  middle  one  not  pectinated.  (Ridyway.) 


112  HISTORY  OF   THE 

FAMILY  CICONIID^.      STORKS  AND  WOOD  IBISES. 

"Large,  Heron-like  birds,  with  the  bill  much  longer  than  the  head,  thick 
through  the  base,  and  more  or  less  elongate  conical;  the  nostrils  sub-basal,  more 
or  less  superior,  and  bored  into  the  bony  substance  of  the  bill,  without  overhang- 
ing or  surrounding  membrane;  maxilla  without  any  lateral  groove.  Legs 
covered  with  small  longitudinal  hexagonal  scales;  claws  short,  depressed,  their 
ends  broad  and  convex,  resting  upon  horny,  cresceutic  'shoes;'  hallux  with  its 
base  elevated  decidedly  above  the  base  of  the  anterior  toes." 

SUBFAMILY  TANTALIN^E.     WOOD  IBISES. 

"Bill  elongated,  subconical,  subcylindrical,  the  end  attenuated  and  decurved 
with  the  tip  rounded;  nostrils  decidedly  superior;  toes  long,  the  middle  one  one- 
half  or  more  the  length  of  the  tarsus;  lateral  toes  unequal,  the  outer  decidedly 
longer  than  the  inner;  claws  moderately  lengthened,  rather  narrow,  claw-like." 

GENUS  TANTALUS  LINN.EUS. 

"  Large,  Stork-like  birds,  with  long  legs,  neck  and  beak,  the  latter  attenuated 
and  decurved  terminally,  much  as  in  the  true  Ibises.  Bill  much  thickened  at 
the  base,  both  vertically  and  laterally,  much  attenuated  terminally,  where  almost 
abrupt,  but  not  greatly  decurved.  Nostrils  bored  directly  into  the  bony  sub- 
stance of  the  bill,  the  maxilla  destitute  of  any  trace  of  a  nasal  groove.  Legs 
covered  with  small  longitudinal  hexagonal  scales.  Toes  long,  very  slender,  the 
middle  one  about  or  little  more  than  half  the  length  of  the  tarsus,  the  outer 
one  reaching  to  the  middle  of  the  subterminal  phalanx  of  the  middle  toe,  the 
inner  much  shorter,  not  reaching  the  subterminal  articulation  of  the  middle  toe; 
hallux  about  equal  to  the  inner  toe  and  claw;  bare  portion  of  the  tibia  longer 
than  the  middle  toe,  the  upper  third  or  more  without  scales,  and  smooth;  web 
between  the  inner  and  middle  toes  well  developed,  but  smaller  than  the  outer 
web.  Plumage  compact  above,  loose  below;  the  feathers  of  the  neck  small, 
their  webs  somewhat  decomposed.  Remiges  well  developed,  the  tertials  reach- 
ing to  the  end  of  the  primaries,  the  latter  hard,  concave  beneath,  the  outer  four 
with  their  inner  webs  deeply  sinuated  at  or  anterior  to  the  middle  portion;  sec- 
ond, third  and  fourth  quills  nearly  equal,  or  longest.  Tail  short  (shorter  than 
bill  or  tarsus),  even,  of  twelve  broad,  stiff  feathers.  Adult  with  the  whole  head 
and  upper  half  of  the  nape  bare,  covered  with  hard,  scurfy  and  more  or  less 
corrugated  skin.  Young  with  the  whole  head  and  neck,  except  the  chin  and 
forehead,  feathered." 

Tantalus  loculator*  LINN. 
WOOD  IBIS. 
PLATE  VIII. 

Irregular  summer  visitant;  rare.  Dr.  George  Lisle  wrote  mer 
in  the  spring  of  1883,  that  he  had  noticed  the  birds  a  few  times 
on  the  flats  east  of  Chetopa,  and  that  Albert  Garrett  killed  a 
very  fine  specimen  there  about  six  years  ago;  and  Dr.  Lewis 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  113 

I 

AVatson,  of  Ellis,  informs  me  that  one  put  in  an  appearance 
March  26th,  1885,  and  stayed  about  his  premises  on  the  creek 
for  several  days. 

B.  497.     R.  500.     C.  648.     G.  233,     50.     U.  188. 

HABITAT.  The  whole  of  tropical  and  warm  temperate  Amer- 
ica; casually  northward  to  New  York,  Wisconsin,  Utah  and  Ne- 
vada. 

SP.  CHAK.  "Adult:  Head  and  upper  half  of  the  neck  naked,  and  covered 
with  hard,  scurfy  skin  of  a  dusky  color;  the  vortex  covered  by  a  somewhat 
shield-shaped  horuy  plate  of  a  lighter  color;  the  neck  with  transverse,  some- 
what ovate,  bark-like,  rugose  scales.  Plumage  in  general  uniform  white,  the 
primary  coverts,  remiges  and  rectrices  black,  with  metallic  purple,  bronze  and 
green  reflections.  Bill  dusky  yellowish  brown,  the  edges  yellow;  sides  of  the 
head  dark  bluish  purple,  upper  part  of  the  head  horn  color  or  dull  grayish  yel- 
low, the  rest  of  the  bare  skin  of  the  same  tint,  many  of  the  scales  anteriorly 
blue;  iris  deep  brown,  at  a  distance  seeming  black;  tibia  and  tarsus  indigo  blue; 
toes  above  black,  on  the  lateral  and  hind  toes,  however,  many  of  the  scutellse 
bluish  gray;  the  webs  pale  yellowish  flesh  color;  claws  black.  Young:  Head 
and  neck  covered  with  rather  scant,  somewhat  woolly,  feathers,  excepting  the 
forehead,  anterior  part  of  the  crown,  lores,  anterior  portion  of  malar  region, 
chin  and  anterior  part  of  throat,  which  are  covered  with  a  smooth  skin.  Head 
and  neck  grayish  brown,  darkest  on  the  occiput  (where  dark  sooty),  growing 
gradually  paler  below.  Eest  of  the  plumage  as  in  the  adult,  but  the  black 
feathers  of  wings  and  tail  less  metallic.  Immature:  Head  bare  and  corrugated, 
as  in  the  adult;  neck  feathered  as  in  the  young. 

"Wing,  17.60  to  19.50;  tail,  6.10  to  7.30;  culmen,  7.55  to  9.30;  depth  of  bill 
through  nostril,  1.55  to  1.90;  tarsus,  7.00  to  8.50;  middle  toe,  3.85  to  4.30;  bare 
part  of  tibia,  5.00  to  6.25;  weight,  \\%  ft»s.;  total  length,  44%  inches;  extent 
of  wing,  62  inches." 

A  male  in  the  "Goss  Ornithological  Collection"  measures: 

Stretch  of 
Length.         -wing.          Wing.          Tail.        Tarsus.         Bill. 

Male 38.50        70.50        19.00        7.10         8.00        9.00 

These  birds  are  quite  a  common  resident  in  all  the  Gulf 
States,  and  on  the  Colorado  and  Gila  Rivers,  in  the  near  vicin- 
ity of  Fort  Yuma,  and  in  suitable  locations  I  have  found  them 
abundant  in  Mexico  and  Central  America.  During  the  breed- 
ing season  they  assemble  in  large  flocks,  but  scatter  more  or 
less  after,  when  it  is  not  uncommon  to  find  a  solitary  bird  upon 
its  feeding  grounds  or  perched  upon  the  dead  limb  of  one  of 
the  tallest  trees  in  the  vicinity. 


114  HISTORY  OF  THE 

Their  food  consists  of  fishes,  crabs,  crawfishes,  frogs,  young 
alligators,  and  the  small  forms  of  life  that  inhabit  or  hide  in 
mud  at  the  bottom  of  the  shallow  lagoons,  stagnant  streams 
and  pools  of  water  upon  the  overflowed  lands,  arid  which  the 
birds  unearth  by  scratching  with  their  feet  as  they  slowly  move 
along;  and  when  the  flocks  are  large,  or  the  pools  small,  the 
water  is  soon  roiled  up  thick  and  muddy,  causing  the  fishes  to 
come  to  the  surface  for  air,  where  they  are  rapidly  killed  with 
a  stroke  of  the  bill.  At  such  times  the  slaughter  is  often 
greater  than  their  appetites  demand,  and  hundreds  are  left  float- 
ing— food  for  the  gulls  and  other  scavengers  of  the  waters. 

These  birds  rise  from  the  ground  in  a  heavy,  awkward  man- 
ner, with  head  down  and  legs  dangling,  but  once  fairly  in  the 
air,  they  are  stretched  out  in  line  with  the  body;  in  flight  they 
are  strong  and  easy,  flapping  and  sailing  as  they  go,  often 
circling  to  great  heights,  especially  during  the  extreme  heat  of 
the  day;  when,  after  satisfying  their  hunger,  they  love  to  leave 
the  hot,  low  lands  and  sail  in  a  cooler  strata  of  air,  often  a  mere 
speck  in  the  sky  and  at  times  wholly  lost  to  sight. 

Their  nests  are  placed  on  the  trees  growing  in  the  swamps 
and  low  lands;  a  platform  of  sticks  and  twigs,  loosely  arranged, 
and  lined  with  mosses  or  soft  material  at  hand.  Eggs  usually 
three,  of  a  dull  white  color,  but  often  more  or  less  soiled.  Ac- 
cording to  measurements  as  given  by  other  writers,  they  vary 
greatly  in  size.  A  set  taken  May  14th,  1876,  in  Brevard 
county,  Florida,  measure:  2.66x1.85,  2.66x1.90,  2.70x1.88; 
white,  stained  with  specks  of  dull  yellowish  brown;  in  form, 
oval.  The  nest  was  upon  a  limb  thirty  feet  from  the  ground, 
made  of  sticks  and  lined  with  leaves  and  moss. 

SUBOEDEE  HERODII.     HEEONS,  EGEETS,  BITTEENS,  ETC. 

Hind  toe  inserted  on  the  same  level  with  the  anterior  toes;  claws  narrow, 
arched,  the  under  surface  free,  the  middle  one  with  its  inner  edges  distinctly  pec- 
tinated. ( Ridgway.) 

FAMILY  ARDEIDJE,     HERONS,  BITTERNS,  ETC. 

"Altricial  waders,  having  the  bill  compressed,  pointed,  all  the  outlines 
nearly  straight;  the  lores  and  orbits  naked;  the  rest  of  the  head  (except,  some- 
times, the  malar  region,  or  part  of  the  throat)  feathered,  the  occiput  frequently 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS  115 

with  ornamental  plumes.  Lower  part  of  the  neck,  back  or  scapulars  frequently 
with  ornamental  plumes.  Plumage  generally  handsome  and  variegated.  Two 
to  three  pairs  of  powder-down  tracts.  Other  characters  variable." 

SUBFAMILY  BOTAUKIJS^E.      BITTERNS. 

"Outer  toe  decidedly  shorter  than  the  inner.  Claws  long,  slender,  slightly 
curved.  Two  pairs  only  of  powder-down  tracts.  Rectrices  very  short,  soft, 
only  ten  in  number." 

GENUS  BOTAURUS  HERMANN. 

"Medium-sized  or  rather  large  Herons,  with  the  plumage  much  mottled  or 
striped  with  different  shades  of  brown  and  ochraceous  (the  plumage  essentially 
the  same  in  both  sexes  and  at  all  seasons);  the  plumage,  particularly  of  the 
lower  neck  in  front,  exceedingly  soft  and  full,  and  destitute  of  any  ornamental 
plumes;  the  bill  comparatively  small  and  short  (shorter  than  the  middle  toe); 
the  tibia  almost  completely  feathered,  and  the  claws  very  long  and  but  slightly 
curved.  Tail  of  ten  short,  soft  feathers,  slightly  rounded  or  nearly  even. 

"Bill  gradually  tapering  from  the  base  to  the  point,  the  upper  outline  more 
convex  than  the  lower,  the  gonys  very  slightly  convex  and  gently  ascending,  the 
lower  edge  of  the  maxillary  rami  perfectly  straight;  mental  apex  extending  for- 
ward about  half  way  from  the  center  of  the  eye  to  the  point  of  the  bill,  and 
slightly  in  advance  of  the  anterior  end  of  the  nostril;  malar  apex  falling  far 
short  of  that  of  the  frontal  feathers.  Toes  very  long,  the  middle  one  consid- 
erably exceeding  the  bill  and  almost  equal  to  the  tarsus;  inner  toe  decidedly 
longer  than  the  outer;  hallux  about  half  the  middle  toe;  claws  very  long  (that 
of  the  hallux  nearly  equal  to  its  digit),  and  but  slightly  curved;  bare  portion  of 
the  tibia  shorter  than  the  hallux.  Tarsi  with  large,  regular  scutella?  in  front. 

"Only  two  American  species  are  known,  both  very  distinct." 

SUBGENTJS  BOTAURUS. 

Size  large  (wing  more  than  9.50);  sexes  alike  in  coloration,  and  young  not 
obviously  different  from  adults.  (Ridgway.') 

Botaurus  lentiginosus  (MONTAG.). 

AMERICAN  BITTERN. 
PLATE  Yin. 

Summer  resident;  common.  Arrive  the  last  of  April  to  first 
of  May;  begin  laying  about  the  20th  of  May;  remaining  occa- 
sionally until  late  in  the  fall. 

B.  492.     R.  497.     C.  666.     G.  231,     51.     U.  190. 

HABITAT.  The  whole  of  temperate  and  tropical  North 
America,  south  to  Guatemala,  West  Indies  and  Bermudas. 

SP.  CHAE.  "Adult:  Ground  color  of  the  plumage  ochraceous  buff ;  but  this 
densely  mottled  and  finely  sprinkled  above  with  reddish  brown  and  blackish, 
the  latter  color  prevailing  on  the  dorsal  and  scapular  regions,  where  the  feath- 
ers have  lighter  edges,  the  buff  prevailing  on  the  wing  coverts,  where  the  varie- 


116  HISTORY  OF   THE 

gatiou  consists  of  a  finer  and  sparser  sprinkling  of  the  dusky  and  brown;  on 
the  tertials  and  ends  of  the  secondaries,  the  reddish  (a  sort  of  cinnamon  shade) 
forms  the  ground  color,  and  is  thickly  sprinkled  with  irregular  dusky  dottings 
and  zigzags;  pectoral  tufts  nearly  uniform  dark  brown,  the  feathers  with  broad 
lateral  borders  of  clear  yellowish  ochraceous;  pileum  rusty  brown,  darker  ante- 
riorly, changing  gradually  backward  into  the  greenish  olive  gray  of  the  nape; 
sides  of  the  head  and  neck  yellowish  ochraceous;  a  malar  stripe  of  dark  ferru- 
ginous, changing  posteriorly  into  a  very  conspicuous  stripe  of  blue  black  (or  in 
some  specimens  dull  grayish)  down  each  side  of  the  neck  (the  stripes  are  almost 
obsolete  on  a  female  in  the  'Goss  Ornithological  Collection'  shot  at  Neosho 
Falls,  Kansas,  August  17th,  1875);  chin  and  throat  white,  with  a  very  narrow 
medial  dusky  streak,  suffused  with  ochraceous;  foreneck  pale  buff,  with  sharply 
defined  stripes  of  cinnamon  brown  edged  with  a  black  line;  lower  parts  pale 
buff,  with  narrower  brownish  stripes;  tibise  and  crissum  plain  light  creamy  buff, 
primary  coverts  and  primaries  dark  slate,  tipped  with  pale  reddish  ochraceous, 
finely,  but  not  densely,  sprinkled  with  dusky;"  upper  mandible  olivaceous  black, 
the  tomiuin  (broadly)  lemon  yellow;  lower  mandible  pale  lemon  yellow,  deeper 
basally,  with  a  stripe  of  dusky  brownish  along  the  posterior  part  of  the  tomium; 
lores  and  eyelids  lemon  yellow,  the  former  divided  longitudinally  by  a  medium 
stripe  of  dusky  olive',  from  the  eye  to  the  base  of  the  upper  mandible;  iris  clear 
light  sulphur  yellow  next  the  pupil,  shading  exteriorly  into  orange  brownish, 
this  encircled  narrowly  with  black;  legs  and  feet  bright  yellowish  green;  claws 
pale  brown,  dusky  toward  points.  Young:  Similar  to  the  adult,  but  more  red- 
dish, the  mottling  coarser,  and  with  a  tendency  to  form  ragged  transverse 
bars,  especially  on.  the  posterior  upper  parts." 

Stretch  of 
Length.          -wing.          Wing.          Tail.        Tarsus.         Bill. 

Male 27.00         43.50        11.25        4.00         3.60         3.00 

Female...     25.00         41.00        10.25        3.50         3.50        2.80 

This  widely-distributed  species  inhabit  the  moist  lands,  marshes 
and  bogs.  A  wild,  solitary  bird,  nocturnal  or  rather  crepuscu- 
lar in  habits,  resting  during  the  day  hidden  in  the  tall  grasses, 
reeds  and  rushes;  and  its  presence  is  not  generally  known,  save 
to  those  familiar  with  its  loud,  booming  note,  "  Pump-a-lunk, " 
occasionally  heard  during  the  early  breeding  season,  and  to  the 
hunter  or  occasional  visitant  of  its  secluded  and  uninviting 
haunts;  and  as  the  birds  skulk  and  hide,  only  taking  wing  when 
suddenly  started,  or  forced  to  do  so,  they  are  usually  thought 
to  be  rare  in  localities  where  in  fact  they  are  quite  common. 
When  frightened,  these  birds  rise  with  a  guttural  "Kawk,"  and 
at  all  times  in  a  loose,  awkward  manner,  with  dangling  legs  and 
outstretched  neck,  but  when  flying  any  distance  the  head  is 
drawn  down  close  to  the  breast,  and  the  legs  stretched  out  in 


BIRDS  OF  KANHA  >'.  117 

* 

line  with  the  body;  in  this  way  they  flap  slowly  and  easily  along. 
They  leave  their  hiding  places  at  the  approach  of  night,  and  I 
have  occasionally  found  them  searching  for  food  during  the  day, 
in  cloudy,  rainy  weather.  Their  food  consists  of  minnows, 
field  mice,  frogs,  tadpoles,  crawfish,  insects  and  other  small 
forms  of  life;  and  as  evidence  of  their  destructive  habits  I  will 
say,  that  I  found  in  the  craw  and  stomach  of  one,  shot  beside  a 
a  small  pool  of  water  upon  overflowed  land,  twenty-two  sun 
fish,  averaging  a  little  over  an  inch  in  length. 

Their  nests  are  placed  on  the  ground,  in  low,  marshy  places, 
built  upon  hummocks  in  the  thick-growing  water  grasses  or 
upon  the  tops  of  of  old,  broken-down  rushes,  quite  bulky,  com- 
posed of  small  sticks,  weeds  and  grasses,  or  of  rushes  bitten  off, 
about  fifteen  inches  in  length,  and  loosely  woven  together.  Eggs 
said  to  be  three  to  six  (I  have  never  found  over  four  in  a  nest), 
2.00x1.48;  brownish  drab;  in  form,  oval. 

SUBGENUS  ARDETTA  GRAY. 

"Extremely  small;  differing  from  the  true  Bittern  chiefly  in  their  diminutive 
size,  and  in  the  fact  that  the  sexes  differ  in  color." 

Botaurus  exilis  (GMEL.). 

LEAST  BITTERN. 
PLATE  Vni. 

Summer  resident;  common.  Arrive  the  last  of  April  to  first 
of  May;  begin  laying  the  last  of  May;  return  early  in  September. 

B.  491.     R.  498.     C.  667.     G.  232,     52.     U.  191. 

HABITAT.  The  whole  of  temperate  North  America,  and  tropi- 
cal America  to  Brazil. 

SP.  CHAR.  "Adult  male:  Pileum,  including  slight  occipital  crest,  with  en- 
tire back,  scapulars,  rump  and  tail,  glossy  greenish  black,  the  outer  webs  of  the 
outer  row  of  scapulars  edged  with  pale  buff,  forming  a  narrow  longitudinal 
stripe.  Sides  of  the  head  and  neck  bright  ochraceous,  deepening  into  reddish 
chestnut  at  the  nape;  chin,  throat  and  foreneck  paler,  the  first  sometimes  whit- 
ish, with  a  medial  series  of  dusky  and  yellowish  buff  dashes;  the  foreueck  and 
jugulum  faintly  striped  with  white  and  pale  orange  buff,  the  latter  predominat- 
ing; on  each  side  the  breast  a  patch  of  maroon  dusky,  the  feathers  tipped  with 
paler  and  suffused  with  blackish,  forming  tufts  of  large,  loose  feathers,  partly 
concealed  by  the  large  feathers  of  the  jugulum;  lower  parts  whitish,  washed 
with  pale  creamy  buff.  Carpal  region,  greater  wing  coverts,  lower  webs  of  ter- 


118  HISTORY  OF  THE 

tials  and  tips  of  primary  coverts,  secondaries  and  inner  primaries  rich  cinnamon 
rufous;  large  area  covering  middle  wing  covert  region  pale  ochraceous  or  buft'; 
remiges  and  primary  coverts  blackish  slate,  except  the  tips;  bill  dark  olive 
brown  above,  edges  of  upper  mandible  and  bare  frontal  space  yellow,  lower 
mandible  pale  yellow,  inclining  to  flesh  color;  iris  yellow;  feet  dull  greenish 
yellow;  claws  brown.  Adult  female:  Similar  to  the  adult  male,  but  the  green- 
ish black  replaced  by  brown  (varying  from  umber  drab  to  cinnamon,  the  pi- 
leum  darker  and  usually  opaque  blackish  dusky);  the  buff  stripe  along  the 
outer  border  of  scapulars  much  broader  and  more  conspicuous,  and  the  stripes 
on  the  foreueck  (usually,  but  not  always)  more  distinct.  Otherwise  exactly 
like  the  male.  Young:  Similar  to  the  adult  female,  but  the  feathers  of  the 
back  and  scapular  region  tipped  with  buff;  the  stripes  on  the  foreneck  also 
(usually)  more  distinct." 

Stretch  of 
Length.          wing.  Wing.         Tail.         Tarsus.         Bill. 

Male  .....     14.00         18.00         4.80         1.85         1.75         1.80 
Female...      13.00         17.00         4.30         1.60         1.65         1.70 

This  miniature  species  has  fully  as  wide  and  extended  a  dis- 
tribution as  the  American  Bittern;  but  being  more  strictly  a 
nocturnal  bird,  inhabiting  the  almost  inaccessible  swamps  and 
boggy  lands  that  are  covered  with  a  dense  growth  of  canes, 
reeds  and  rushes,  it  is  seldom  met  with.  When  startled  it  ut- 
ters a  low  "Gua,"  and  in  daylight  flies  but  a  short  distance,  in 
a  weak,  uncertain  manner,  but  at  dusk  it  flaps  along  direct, 
easy  and  strong,  with  neck  drawn  in  and  legs  extended.  It 
subsists  upon  the  various  forms  of  insect  life,  snails,  small  frogs, 
tadpoles,  minnows,  etc. 

Their  nests  are  placed  in  rushes  and  coarse,  tall,  cane-like 
water  grass  —  a  platform  about  eighteen  inches  from  the  ground,. 
or  water,  made  of  the  stems  and  leaves  woven  in  and  around 
the  standing,  growing  stalks.  Eggs  usually  four,  1.25x.98; 
white,  with  a  faint  greenish-blue  tinge;  in  form,  rounded  oval. 

SUBFAMILY  AKDEIN^E.     HERONS  AND  EGKETS. 

"Outer  toe  equal  to,  or  decidedly  longer  than,  the  inner.  Claws  usually 
short,  generally  strongly  curved.  Three  pairs  of  powder-down  tracts.  Eec- 
trices  lengthened,  stiffish,  twelve  in  number." 


GENUS  ARDEA 

"Herons  of  largest  size  (of  Stork-like  nature),  the  adults  distinguished  by 
lengthened,  narrowly  lanceolate,  acute  jugular  and  scapular  plumes  (the  former 
rather  rigid,  the  latter  overhaugiug  the  wings  and  rump);  a  tuft  of  broad  feath- 
ers on  each  side  the  breast  (  having  a  different  color  from  adjacent  parts),  and, 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  119 

I 

in  the  breeding  season,  by  the  presence  of  two  extremely  lengthened,  narrow, 
pendent,  occipital  plumes;  culmen  almost  straight;  gonys  ascending,  more  or 
less  convex,  about  equal  in  length  to  the  maudibular  rami:  upper  and  lower  out- 
lines of  the  bill  parallel  for  the  basal  half.  Mental  apex  anterior  to  half  way 
between  point  of  bill  and  anterior  angle  of  the  eye;  frontal  apex  a  little  poste- 
rior to  the  nostrils  and  slightly  anterior  to  the  malar  apex;*  middle  toe  more 
than  half  the  tarsus,  and  about  equal  to  bare  portion  of  the  tibia;  outer  toe 
reaching  to  about  the  middle  of  the  penultimate  phalanx  of  the  middle  toe;  inner 
toe  decidedly  shorter,  reaching  only  to  the  second  articulation  of  the  middle  toe; 
hallux  a  little  longer  thaiithe  basal  phalanx  of  the  outer  toe;  claws  rather  short, 
strongly  curved;  front  of  tarsus  with  broad,  transverse  scutellse,  in  single  series, 
for  upper  half;  pileum  crested,  the  middle  feathers  of  the  crown  and  occiput 
being  elongated,  lanceolate,  and  decurved;  primaries  reaching  decidedly  beyond 
the  tertials;  second,  third  and  fourth  quills  nearly  equal,  and  longest  —  first 
longer  than  fifth;  inner  webs  of  outer  three  slightly  sinuated  near  ends." 

SUBGENUS  ARDEA. 

Culmen  decidedly  shorter  than  tarsus,  the  latter  more  than  one  and  a  half 
times  as  long  as  the  middle  toe  without  claw;  wing  more  than  17.00.  Adult 
with  sepular  plumes  narrowly  lanceolate,  with  compact  webs;  head  crested,  the 
occiput  during  pairing  season  with  two  or  more  long,  slender,  compactly-webbed 
plumes;  plumes  of  lower  neck  stiffened,  narrowly  lanceolate,  or  acicular. 
(Ridgicay.) 

Ardea  herodias 


GREAT  BLUE  HERON. 
PLATE  IX. 

Summer  resident;  quite  common  along  the  streams.  Arrive 
early  in  March;  begin  laying  the  last  of  March. 

B.  487.     R.  487.     C.  655.     G.  224,     53.     U.  194. 

HABITAT.  North  America,  from  the  Arctic  regions  south- 
ward into  northern  South  America,  Bermudas,  West  Indies  and 
Galapagos. 

SP.  CHAR.  "Adult:  Length  about  42.00  to  50.00;  extent  72.00;  weight  5  to 
8  pounds.  Forehead  and  central  feathers  of  the  crown  pure  white;  sides  of 
crown  and  whole  of  the  occiput,  including  the  long  plumes,  blue  black.  Chin, 
throat  and  malar  region  pure  white.  Xeck  lavender  gray,  fading  gradually  above 
into  the  white  of  cheeks  and  throat.  Foreneck  with  a  narrow  medial  series  of 
black  and  ferruginous  dashes  mixed  with  white;  lower  neck  plumes  pale  laven- 
der gray.  Lateral  jugular  tufts  uniform  blue  black;  breast  and  abdomen  black, 
almost  uniformly  laterally,  but  the  middle  feathers  with  broad  medial  stripes  of 
white.  Crissutn  white,  the  feathers  sometimes  edged  with  rufous.  Tibial 
feathers  deep  chestnut  rufous,  not  growing  conspicuously  paler  toward  the  body. 
Upper  parts  tine  slate  blue,  the  dorsal  and  scapular  plumes  paler,  more  pearl 

*The  terras  "mental  apex,"  "malar  apex,"  and  "frontal  apex"  are  here  employed  to  de- 
note the  apices,  or  points,  of  the  feathering  of  the  head  at  the  base  of  the  bill. 


120  HISTORY  OF  THE 

gray,  the  lightness  of  the  tint  proportionate  to  the  length  of  the  plume;  remiges 
black,  the  inner  secondaries  growing  gradually  more  slaty,  so  that  the  inner- 
most are  scarcely  darker  than  the  tertials.  Tail  deep  slate  blue,  a  shade  darker 
than  the  tertials.  Entire  border  of  the  wing,  from  the  armpit  to  the  metacarpo- 
phalangeal  joint,  rich  purplish  rufous,  scarcely  mixed  anywhere  with  white,  and 
much  the  widest  at  the  bend.  Bill  olive  above,  the  culineu  blackish;  lower 
mandible  wax  yellow,  brighter  terminally  (sometimes  wholly  yellow);  iris  bright 
yellow;  bare  loral  space  cobalt  blue  in  spring,  olive  green  or  yellowish  after 
breeding  season.  Legs  and  feet  dusky  black  throughout.  Young:  Above  slate 
gray  (less  bluish  than  in  the  adult),  destitute  of  any  pencillate  plumes;  anterior 
lesser  wing  coverts  bordered  terminally  with  light  rufous;  border  of  the  wing 
( broadly)  white,  more  or  less  tinged  with  rufous,  especially  at  and  near  the  bend, 
where  this  color  prevails.  Entire  pileum,  including  all  the  occipital  feathers, 
blackish  slate,  with  a  narrow  median  crest  of  more  elongated,  dark-colored  feath- 
ers with  pale  fulvous  shaft  streaks.  Cheeks  dark  grayish;  malar  region,  chin 
and  throat  only,  pure  white.  Neck  dull  gray,  sometimes  tinged  with  rufous, 
some  of  the  feathers  with  indistinctly  lighter  shaft  streaks;  foreneck  with  a  nar- 
row longitudinal  series  of  black,  rufous  and  whitish  dashes,  much  as  in  the  adult. 
Breast  and  abdomen  broadly  striped  with  dark  cinereous  white,  in  nearly  equal 
amount  (sometimes  suffused  with  rufous).  Tibire  very  pale  rufous,  sometimes 
almost  white;  crissum  white.  Upper  mandible  black,  paler  or  horn  color  along 
the  tomiurn,  lower  pale  pea  green,  deepening  into  clear  horn  yellow  on  terminal 
half;  eyelids  and  horizontal  space  on  lore  light  apple  green;  iris  gamboge  yel- 
low;  tibiae  and  soles  of  toes  apple  green;  rest  of  legs  and  feet  black.  Seasonal 
variations:  Although  the  plumage  of  this  species  is  essentially  the  same  through- 
out the  year,  there  are  certain  differences  depending  on  the  season,  which  are 
worthy  of  note.  In  the  spring,  or  at  the  commencement  of  the  breeding  season, 
the  bill,  except  on  the  culmen,  is  almost  entirely  yellow  (generally  a  wax  yellow 
brighter  on  the  lower  mandible),  and  the  bare  orbital  space  cobalt  blue,  while 
from  the  occiput  grow  two  long,  slender,  pendent  black  plumes.  After  the 
young  are  hatched,  these  plumes  are  dropped,  the  bare  skin  around  the  eye  has 
changed  to  a  yellowish  green  hue,  and  the  upper  mandible  become  almost  wholly 
dusky  blackish  olive,  with  only  the  tomia  and  lower  mandible  yellowish." 

Stretch  of 
Length.          wing.          Wing.  Tail.        Tarsus.         Bill. 

Male 45.00         71.50        19.25        7.50         7.25         6.00 

Female...      43.00         69.00        18.25        7.00         6.75         5.50 

These  birds  are  quite  common  in  suitable  localities,  and  breed 
nearly  throughout  their  range;  a  hardy  species,  that  only 
leave  their  northern  resorts  as  the  ice  closes  their  natural  feed- 
ing grounds.  They  are  solitary  and  silent  except  during  the 
breeding  season,  and  even  then  are  not  social,  though  often 
nesting  in  communities  and  with  others  of  the  family;  they 
seem  to  have  no  interest  in  common,  only  coming  together  be- 
cause the  location  suits  them,  and  at  such  times  fight  fiercely 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  121 

I 
for  a  favorite  branch  or  place  for  a  nest;  while  mated,  however. 

the  pairs  are  true  to  each  other,  and  share  alike  in  the  duties  of 
nest  building,  hatching  and  rearing  the  young.  The  latter  is  a 
laborious  work,  and  requires  constant  labor  during  the  day  and 
way  into  the  night,  even  where  food  is  abundant,  for  their 
growth  is  rapid  and  digestive  organs  great;  but  when  they  have 
only  their  own  appetites  to  satisfy  they  generally  feed  at  morn 
and  eve,  resting  during  the  day  in  swampy  lands  and  treetops 
skirting  the  waters. 

Their  food  consists  chiefly  of  fishes,  which  they  usually  se- 
cure by  standing  motionless  in  the  water,  with  bill  poised,  pa- 
tiently awaiting  their  near  approach,  when  they  are  pierced  with 
a  rapid  stroke  of  the  bill,  and  quickly  swallowed,  head  fore- 
most. They  also  feed  on  frogs,  meadow  mice  —  in  fact  upon  all 
small  forms  of  digestible  life. 

These  birds  have  great  strength  of  wing,  and  their  flight  in 
migration  is  high  and  protracted;  at  other  times,  unless  going  a 
great  distance,  they  flop  leisurely  along  near  the  water  or  land. 
In  flight  the  head  is  drawn  back  upon  the  breast,  with  legs  ex- 
tended rudder-like,  in  line  with  the  body. 

Their  nests  are  placed  on  the  branches  of  high  trees,  growing 
upon  swampy  lands  and  along  the  streams;  in  localities  desti- 
tute of  trees,  upon  bushes,  rocks  and  the  ground;  in  all  cases 
a  flat,  bulky  structure  of  sticks,  lined  sparingly  with  grasses. 
Eggs  three  to  six,  usually  four;  pale  greenish  blue;  varying 
somewhat  in  size;  in  form,  rather  elliptical  oval.  A  set  of  four, 
taken  April  12th,  1881,  on  an  island  in  Nueces  Bay,  measure: 
2.40x1.75,  2.60x1.86,  2.65x1.80,  2.65x1.86. 

SUBGENUS  HERODIAS  BOIE. 

"White  Herons  of  large  size,  and  without  plumes,  except  in  the  breeding 
season,  when  ornamented  simply  (in  most  species)  by  a  long  train  of  straight 
feathers,  with  thick  shafts,  and  long,  sparse,  decomposed,  slender  barbs,  which 
grow  from  the  dorsal  region  and  overhang  the  tail.  Bill  moderately  slender, 
the  upper  and  lower  outlines  almost  parallel  to  near  the  end,  where  gently 
curved,  the  culmen  more  abruptly  so  than  the  gonys,  though  the  curve  is  quite 
gradual.  Mental  apex  reaching  a  point  about  midway  between  the  tip  of  the 
bill  and  the  eye;  malar  apex  decidedly  anterior  to  the  frontal  apex,  and  extend- 
ing to  beneath  the  posterior  end  of  the  nostrils.  Toes  very  long,  the  middle 
one  about  two-thirds  the  tarsus,  the  hallux  much  less  than  one-half  the  former. 


122  HISTORY  OF   THE 

Tibiae  bare  for  about  half  their  length,  or  for  about  the  leugth  of  the  middle  toe 
Anterior  scut€ll<je  of  tarsus  large,  distinct  and  nearly  quadrate.  Nuptial  plumes, 
confined  to  the  anterior  part  of  the  back,  whence  spring  numerous  long,  straight 
and  thick  shafts,  reaching,  when  fully  developed,  to  considerably  beyond  the 
end  of  the  tail;  each  stem  having  along  each  side  very  long,  slender  and  distant 
fibrillae.  Tail  even,  of  twelve  broad  feathers.  Lower  nape  well  feathered. 
Plumage  entirely  pure  white  at  all  stages  and  seasons." 

Ardea  egretta  GMET,. 

AMERICAN  EGRET. 
PLATE  IX. 

Summer  visitant;  not  uncommon.  Arrive  from  the  south 
in  July  and  August;  return  in  September. 

B.  486,     486a.     R.  489.     C.  658.     G.  225,     54.     TJ.  196. 

HABITAT.  Nearly  the  whole  of  America;  north  casually  to  the 
British  Provinces,  south  to  Chili  and  Patagonia;  West  Indies. 

SP.  CHAB.  "Color  entirely  pure  white  at  all  seasons  and  at  all  ages.  Bill 
and  lores  rich  chrome  yellow,  the  latter  sometimes  tinged  with  light  green;  the 
culmen  usually  black  near  the  tip,  sometimes  nearly  the  entire  maxilla  black; 
iris  Naples  yellow;  legs  and  feet  entirely  deep  black." 

Stretch  of 
Length.          wing.  Wing.         Tail.        Tarsus.         Bill. 

Male 39.50         57.00         14.75        6.25        6.50         4.50 

Female...     38.00         55.00         14.00        6.00        5.75         4.25 

This  delicate  wader,  though  quite  a  summer  wanderer,  prefers 
a  warm  climate  and  the  seaboard  for  its  home.  They  breed  in 
suitable  localities  throughout  the  Gulf  States,  and  on  the  Pacific 
slope  north  into  Oregon.  The  stragglers  north  of  their  breed- 
ing grounds  are  chiefly  young  birds,  that  soon  realize  their  mis- 
take and  hasten  south  on  the  first  approach  of  cold  weather. 

These  birds,  as  far  as  my  observation  goes,  appear  to  be 
strictly  diurnal,  and  appear  to  have  their  favo.rite  resting  places, 
which  they  leave  at  early  daylight  for  their  feeding  grounds, 
where  they  feed  and  rest  alternately  during  the  day. 

Their  food,  manner  of  flight,  and  habits  generally,  are  similar 
to  the  Great  Blue  Heron,  though  not  as  solitary  and  quarrelsome; 
and,  while  I  have  found  them  nesting  in  tall  trees  and  upon 
broken-down  reeds  and  rushes,  they  seem  to  prefer  low  bushes 
and  dry  spots  of  ground,  in  retired  and  almost  inaccessible 
places. 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  123 

I 

Their  nests  are  usually  made  of  sticks  and  slightly  lined  with 
grasses.  Eggs  two  to  four;  pale  bluish  green;  in  form,  oval  to 
elliptical  oval.  The  dimensions  of  two  sets  of  eggs,  of  four 
each,  collected  April  5th,  1881,  on  a  small  island  in  Nuec'es  Bay, 
Texas,  are  as  follows:  2.30x1.66,  2.12x1.58,  2.20x1.68,  2.24x 
1.70;  and  2.29x1.61,  2.30x1.70,  2.34x1.70,  2.34x1.68.  The 
nests  were  upon  the  ground,  and  partially  hidden  by  straggling 
weeds  and  grass.  Other  Herons,  also  Terns,  were  nesting  upon 
the  island. 

SUBGENUS  GARZETTA  KAUP. 

"Adult  wJth  occipital,  jugular  and  scapular  plumes  greatly  developed,  with 
much  decomposed  webs,  the  scapular  plumes  extending  to  or  beyond  the  tail  and 
recurved  tips;  color  always  entirely  pure  white." 

^  Ardea  candidissima  GMEL. 

SNOWY  HERON. 
PLATE  IX. 

Summer  visitant;  not  uncommon.  Arrive  from  the  south  in 
July  and  August;  return  in  September. 

B.  485.     R.  490.     C.  659.     G.  220,     55.     U.  197. 

HABITAT.  The  whole  of  temperate  and  tropical  America, 
from  the  northern  United  States  to  Chili;  West  Indies.  A 
summer  or  autumnal  visitant  at  the  northern  and  southern  ex- 
tremes of  its  range. 

SP.  CHAR.  "Color  entirely  pure  white  at  all  ages  and  seasons.  Bill  black, 
the  basal  portion  of  the  lower  mandible  (sometimes  one-half)  yellow  or  light 
colored;  lores,  iris  and  eyelids  yellow;  tibiae  and  tarsi  black,  the  lower  posterior 
portion  of  the  latter,  with  the  toes,  yellow;  claws  blackish.  Nuptial  plumes 
slender,  shafted,  and  loose  fibered,  those  of  the  back  reaching  to  or  slightly  be- 
yond the  end  of  the  tail,  and,  normally,  recurved  terminally;  those  of  the  occiput 
sometimes  exceeding  the  bill  in  length;  those  of  the  jugulum  slightly  less  de- 
veloped. In  the  young  these  are  all  absent,  except  on  the  occiput,  where  they 
are  but  slightly  developed;  in  the  adults  the  occipital  plumes  appear  to  be  per- 
manent, the  others  assumed  only  during  the  breeding  season." 

Stretch  of 
Length.          wing.          Wing.          Tail.         Tarsus.          Bill. 

Male 25.00         39.00        10.25        4.00         4.00         3.35 

Female...     22.50         37.00          9.50        3.50         3.80         3.20 

This  beautiful  diurnal  species  is  quite  social,  and  can  be  seen 
at  all  seasons  of  the  year  in  flocks,  that  scatter  more  or  less 


124  HISTORY  OF  THE 

during  the  day  but  assemble  in  large  numbers  at  their  roosting 
places  and  breeding  grounds.  They  are  more  restless  than  the 
larger  species,  rise  lighter,  strike  quicker  on  the  wing,  and  are  a 
less  patient  watcher  for  their  prey,  preferring  in  shallow  water 
to  give  chase,  partially  raising  their  wings  as  they  run,  and  a 
flock  so  engaged,  darting  here  and  there  after  a  school  of  small 
fishes,  is  a  lively  and  exciting  sight.  Eggs  usually  four;  pale 
greenish  blue;  in  form,  oval  to  elliptical  oval.  A  set  col- 
lected April  27th,  1882,  near  Corpus  Christi,  Texas,  from  a  nest 
built  of  weeds  and  grass  on  the  top  of  a  low,  flat  cactus,  are  in 
dimensions:  1.68x1.27,  1.70x1.26,  1.71x1.28,  1.73x1.30. 

SUBGEXUS  FLORIDA  BAIKD. 

"Small  Herons,  dark  plumbeous,  with  maroon-colored  necks;  bluish  white, 
with  bluish  tips  to  some  of  the  primaries;  or  with  the  plumage  variously  iuta:- 
mediate  between  these  extremes.  Bill  slender,  acute,  appreciably  curved  toward 
the  tip,  the  culmen  somewhat  depressed  just  above  the  anterior  end  of  the  nos- 
tril; lower  edge  of  the  mandibular  rami  slightly  concave,  the  gonys  nearly 
straight,  but  ascending;  anterior  point  of  the  malar  feathers  reaching  just  about 
as  far  forward  as  that  of  the  frontal  feathers,  and  very  far  posterior  to  the  pos- 
terior end  of  the  nostril;  anterior  point  of  chin  feathers  almost  directly  beneath 
the  anterior  end  of  the  nostril  and  a  little  over  two-thirds  the  distance  from  the 
middle  of  the  eye  to  the  point  of  the  bill.  Toes  long,  the  middle  one  two-thirds 
or  more  as  long  as  the  tarsus,  the  hallux  a  little  less  than  half  its  length;  bare 
portion  of  the  tibia  considerably  less  than  the  middle  toe.  Tarsal  scutellaa  as 
in  Garzetta  and  Herodias, 

"Nuptial  plumes  (occipital,  jugular  and  scapular)  long,  slenderly  lanceolate, 
the  webs  rather  compact,  especially  those  of  the  dorsal  region;  those  of  the  back 
reaching,  when  fully  developed,  far  beyond  the  tail." 

Ardea  coerulea  Lixx. 

LITTLE  BLUE  HERON. 
PLATE  IX. 

Summer  visitant;  rare.  Arrive  from  the  south  in  July  and 
August;  return  in  September. 

B.  490.     R.  493.     C.  662.     G.  227,     56.     U.  200. 

HABITAT.  The  whole  of  tropical  and  warm  temperate  Korth 
America,  except  western  United  States;  casually  north  to  Mas- 
sachusetts, Illinois,  Kansas,  etc. ;  south  throughout  the  West  In- 
dies to  Colombia  and  Guiana. 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  125 

White  Phase. 

SP.  CHAR.  "Adult:  Prevailing  color  white,  with  the  ends  of  several  outer 
primaries  plumbeous,  the  plumage  tinged  here  and  there  (in  quantity  varying 
with  the  individual)  with  delicate  pale  bluish  pearl  gray.  Colors  of  the  soft 
parts  as  in  the  blue  adult.  Young:  Similar  to  the  adult,  but  with  the  plumes 
absent  or  but  slightly  developed.  Bill  pale  lilaceous,  becoming  gradually  black 
on  terminal  third;  legs  and  feet  uniform  pea  green,  lighter  and  brighter  than  in 
the  blue  phase;  iris  Naples  yellow." 

Slue  Phase. 

"Adult:  Head  and  neck  rich  purplish  maroon,  with  a  glaucous  cast,  the 
feathers  more  chestnut  beneath  the  surface;  rest  of  the  plumage  uniform  dark 
bluish  plumbeous,  the  plumes  with  a  glaucous  cast,  the  maroon  and  plumbeous 
gradually  blended.  In  breeding  season,  bill  ultramarine  blue  at  the  base,  the 
end  black;  lores  and  eyelids  ultramarine  blue;  iris  pale  yellow;  tibiae,  tarsi  and 
toes  black.  In  autumn,  bill  light  plumbeous  on  the  basal  half,  the  terminal  half 
black;  lores  and  eyelids  very  pale  dull  greenish;  iris  sulphur  yellow;  legs  and 
feet  uniform  pea  green,  darker  at  the  joints.  Young:  Similar  in  color  to  the 
adult,  with  less-developed  plumes  or  with  none  at  all;  the  head  and  neck  more 

plumbeous." 

Pied  (or  Intermediate)  Phase. 

"The  plumage  mixed  white  and  plumbeous,  in  proportion  varying  with  the 
individual,  forming  a  series  connecting  unbrokeuly  the  two  extremes  described 
above." 

(The  above  description  of  the  adult  "white"  and  "blue 
phases"  is  the  present  accepted  one,  but  from  my  observation 
I  have  been  led  to  think  that  the  white  phase,  and  those  un- 
dergoing the  changes  in  color,  are  young  birds  that,  when 
fully  matured,  will  be  found  invariably  dressed  in  the  blue  at- 
tire. I  know  that  the  birds  occasionally  breed  in  their  various 
stages  of  color,  and  so  do  quite  a  number  of  land  and  water 
birds,  before  they  assume  their  final  dress.  If  a  mere  phase  in 
color,  we  ought  to  find  young  birds  blue  as  well  as  white,  and 
they  may  have  been  so  found,  but  not  among  the  hundreds  that 
I  have  met  with,  both  in  and  out  of  their  nests,  and  I  do  not 
know  of  a  naturalist  that  claims  to  have  seen  one  in  the  blue 
dress.  It  is  therefore  my  opinion  that  the  description  under 
the  heads  of  "white  phase"  and  "pied  or  intermediate  phase, " 
should  only  be  accepted  as  descriptive  of  the  young  and  imma- 
ture, or  not  fully  developed  birds.) 

Stretch  of 
Length.         wing.          Wing.          Tail.        Tarsus.         Bill. 

Male......     23.00         40.00        10.20        4.25         8.75         8.00 

Female..       21.50        37.00         9.50       4.10        3.50        2.80 


126  HISTORY  OF  THE 

These  birds  are  quite  numerous  in  Florida  and  the  adjacent 
isles,  and  not  uncommon  west  along  the  Gulf  coast  and  in  Cen- 
tral America,  where  I  have  occasionally  met  with  them  upon 
both  coasts,  and  far  inland  along  the  streams  that  I  visited. 
They  are  quite  social  and  diurnal  in  their  habits,  collecting  to- 
gether in  large  flocks  at  their  roosting  and  breeding  places. 
For  feeding  grounds  they  seem  to  prefer  the  margins  of  inland 
streams  and  ponds  of  shallow  water,  where  they  patiently  watch 
for  hours,  or  slowly  move  along  with  a  dignified  tread,  striking 
swiftly  and  with  unerring  aim  at  their  prey,  occasionally  giving 
chase,  but  in  this  respect  they  are  not  as  much  of  a  success  as 
the  Snowy.  These  birds  rise  into  the*  air  with  a  bound,  and 
from  the  start  flap  swiftly  and  easily  away. 

Their  nests  are  placed  on  trees,  bushes  and  cactus;  a  flat, 
loose  structure  built  of  small  sticks,  with  a  mixture  of  leaves, 
moss  and  grass.  Eggs  usually  three  or  four;  dark  bluish  green; 
in  form,  rather  elongated  oval.  A  set  collected  April  29th, 
1874,  on  the  south  coast  of  Florida,  from  a  nest  on  the  branches 
of  a  low  tree,  are  in  dimensions:  1.65x1.32,  1.68x1.32,  l.T2x 
1.30,  1.72x1.34. 

SUBGENUS  BUTORIDES  BLYTH. 

Adult  with  scapular  plumes  and  feathers  of  top  of  head  moderately  length- 
ened, lanceolate,  soft,  and  with  compact  webs;  jugular  plumes  broad,  soft  and 
blended;  color  never  white.  (Ridgway.) 

Ardea  virescens  LINN. 

GREEN  HERON. 
PLATE  IX. 

Summer  resident;  abundant.  Arrive  about  the  middle  of 
April;  begin  laying  about  the  first  of  May;  remain  until  late 
in  the  fall. 

B.  493.     R.  494.     C.  663.     G.  228,     57.     U.  201. 

HABITAT.  The  whole  of  temperate  North  America,  West  In- 
dies, Bermudas;  north  into  Maine,  Dakota  and  Oregon;  south 
into  Venezuela  and  Colombia,  South  America. 

SP.  CHAB.  "Adult:  Entire  pileum,  including  occipital  crest,  glossy  dark 
metallic  bottle  green;  rest  of  the  head  and  neck,  except  throat  and  foreneck, 
rich  chestnut,  varying  from  a  cinnamon  shade  to  a  fine  purplish  maroon;  bare 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  127 

orbital  space  bordered  posteriorly  wifh  greenish  black,  from  the  lower  part  of 
which  projects  backward  from  the  rictus  a  short  stripe  of  the  same;  below  this, 
along  the  upper  edge  of  the  malar  region,  a  narrow  stripe  of  white,  the  lower 
malar  feathers  being  mixed  black  and  rufous,  forming  another  stripe;  throat 
and  foreneck,  from  chin  to  jugulum,  white,  marked  with  broad  longitudinal 
dashes  of  dusky.  Lower  parts  ash  gray,  the  lining  of  the  wing  somewhat  spot- 
ted, and  distinctly  bordered,  outwardly,  with  creamy  white.  Scapular  plumes 
glaucous  plumbeous,  with  a  green  reflection  in  certain  lights,  the  shafts  white. 
Wing  coverts  and  rectrices  brilliant  metallic  bottle  green,  the  former  distinctly 
bordered  narrowly  with  fulvous  white;  these  borders  on  the  lesser  coverts  more 
rusty  or  fulvous;  rectrices  immaculate  bottle  green;  remiges  and  primary  cov- 
erts plumbeous,  with  a  green  reflection,  the  inner  primaries  and  adjoining  sec- 
ondaries with  narrow  crescentic  tips  of  white,  the  coverts  with  terminal  deltoid 
spots  of  the  same.  Bill  deep  black,  the  lower  mandible  sometimes  partly  yel- 
lowish or  greenish;  lores  and  orbits  varying  from  olive  green  to  bright  yellow; 
iris  gamboge  yellow;  legs  and  feet  olive  green  or  olive  yellow,  the  scutellse  more 
greenish;  claws  horn  color.  Young:  Pileum,  including  crest,  as  in  the  adult, 
but  usually  streaked  with  dark  rusty  anteriorly;  sides  of  the  head  and  neck 
dull  dark  rusty,  indistinctly  streaked  with  light  ochraceous  or  buff;  lower  parts 
white,  tinged  with  buff  and  striped  with  dusky.  Back  scapulars  and  rump  uni- 
form dull  dusky  green,  some  of  the  feathers  indistinctly  bordered  with  rusty; 
wings  and  tail  as  in  the  adult,  but  light  borders  to  larger  wing  coverts  more 
ochraceous,  and  the  two  or  three  middle  rows  marked  with  medial  wedge-shaped 
dashes  of  the  same.  Bill  lighter  colored  than  in  the  adult,  dull  greenish  pre- 
vailing, only  the  culmen  dusky,  the  lower  mandible  mostly  pale  yellowish;  legs 
and  feet  dull  greenish  yellow  or  olivaceous." 

Stretch  of 
Length.          wing.  Wing.  Tail.         Tarsus.          Bill. 

Male 19.00        28.00         7.50         3.00         2.10         2.55 

Female...     18.00        26.00         7.00         2.80         1.85         2.40 

This  widely-distributed  and  common  species  is  a  summer  resi- 
dent, in  suitable  localities,  throughout  the  northern  portion  of 
the  Union;  wintering  in  the  Southern  States  and  southward, 
where  it  also  breeds.  A  graceful  little  beauty,  but  for  some 
unknown  reason  is  in  bad  repute,  hooted  at  and  stoned  by  the 
boys  and  called  bad  names;  it  may  be  because  it  destroys  daily 
many  of  the  finny  tribe,  but  in  this  respect  does  not  differ  from 
the  family  of  which  it  is  one  of  the  least,  and  not  near  as  de- 
structive at  the  artificial  fish  ponds  as  the  Night  Heron,  that 
during  the  night  visits  with  noiseless  wing  the  ponds  and  foun- 
tains in  the  very  heart  of  the  city,  where  it  feeds  undisturbed, 
and  as  silently  wings  itself  away. 

These  birds  are  not  shy,  and,  where  not  persecuted,  very  easily 
approached.     Their  feeding  habits  are  similar  to  those  of  the 


128  HISTORY  OF   THE 

Great  Blue,  but  more  strictly  a  nocturnal  bird;  seldom  found  in 
large  flocks,  and,  though  found  breeding  in  rookeries,  the  mated 
pair  as  a  rule  prefer  to  nest  alone. 

Their  nests  are  placed  on  the  branches  of  trees  and  bushes 
skirting  the  streams  and  ponds,  and  are  loosely  made  of  sticks, 
and  lined  with  twigs  in  leaf.  Eggs  four  or  five;  average  di- 
mensions of  three  sets,  two  of  four  and  one  of  five,  1.52x1.10; 
light  greenish  blue;  in  form,  oval  to  elliptical  oval. 

GENUS  NYCTICORAX  STEPHENS. 

"Medium-sized  Herons,  of  very  short,  thick  build,  large,  thick  heads,  and 
short  tarsi.  The  plumage  exceeding  different  in  the  adult  and  young,  but  the 
sexes  similar.  Adults  with  two  or  three  exceedingly  long,  thread-like,  white 
occipital  plumes. 

"Bill  very  stout,  the  depth  through  the  base  being  more  than  one-fourth  the 
culmen;  the  latter  nearly  straight  for  the  basal  two-thirds,  then  gently  decurved 
to  the  tip;  lower  edge  of  the  maudibular  rauii  nearly  straight;  gouys  nearly 
straight,  very  slightly  ascending;  maxillary  tomium  decidedly  concave,  with  a 
convex  outline  just  forward  of  the  rictus.  Frontal  apex  reaching  more  than 
half  way  from  the  center  of  the  eye  to  the  point  of  the  bill  and  to  beyond  the 
anterior  end  of  the  nostril;  malar  apex  falling  a  little  short  of  the  frontal  apex. 
Tarsi  a  little  longer  than  the  middle  toe,  its  scutellse  hexagonal  in  front;  lateral 
toes  nearly  equal,  but  the  outer  the  longer;  hallux  less  than  half  the  middle  toe; 
bare  portion  of  tibia  shorter  than  the  hallux.  Inner  webs  of  two  outer  prima- 
ries distinctly  emarginated  near  the  end.  Tail  of  twelve  broad,  moderately- 
hard  feathers,  as  in  the  typical  Herons." 

SUBGENUS  NYCTICORAX. 

Culmen  about  as  long  as  the  tarsus;  gonys  nearly  straight,  and  lateral  out- 
lines of  bill  slightly  concave;  tarsus  but  little  longer  than  middle  toe;  scapulars 
broad,  blended.  (Ridgway.) 

Nycticorax  nycticorax  naevius  (BODD.). 

BLACK-CROWNED  NIGHT  HERON. 
PLATE  IX. 

Summer  resident;  not  uncommon.  Arrive  from  the  first  to 
the  middle  of  April;  begin  laying  about  the  middle  of  May; 
return  by  the  first  of  November. 

B.  495.     R.  495.     C.  664.     G.  229,     58.     U.  202. 

HABITAT.  Nearly  the  whole  of  America  except  the  Arctic 
regions. 

SP.  CHAK.  "Adult:  Pileum,  scapulars  and  interscapulars  glossy  blackish 
bottle  green;  forehead,  postocular,  malar  and  gular  regions  and  medial  lower 
parts  white;  lateral  lower  parts  and  neck,  except  in  front,  pale  ash  gray,  with  a 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  129 

slight  lilaccous  tinge;  wings,  rump,  upper  tail  coverts  and  tail  deeper  ash  gray. 
Occipital  plumes  pure  white.  Bill  black;  lores  and  orbit  yellowish  green;  iris 
bright  red;  legs  and  feet  yellow;  claws  brown.  Young,  second  year:  Similar  to 
the  adult,  but  scapulars  and  interscapulars  cinereous  like  the  wings,  and  the 
white  of  the  forehead  obscured  by  the  blackish  of  the  crown;  the  colors  gen- 
erally more  somber,  with  neck  and  lower  parts  more  decidedly  ashy.  Young, 
first  year:  Above,  grayish  brown,  with  more  or  less  of  a  cinnamon  cast,  espe- 
cially on  the  remiges,  each  feather  marked  with  a  medial  tear-shaped  or  wedge- 
shaped  stripe  of  white,  the  remiges  with  small  white  terminal  spots;  rectrices 
plain  ash  gray.  Sides  of  the  head  and  neck  and  entire  lower  parts  striped 
longitudinally  with  grayish  brown  and  dull  white;  chin  and  throat  plain  white 
medially.  Bill  light  apple  green,  the  upper  half  of  the  maxilla  blackish,  the 
mandible  with  a  tinge  of  the  same  near  the  end;  lores  light  apple  green;  eyelids 
similar,  but  brighter,  more  yellowish,  their  inner  edge  -black;  iris  dark  chrome 
yellow  or  dull  orange;  legs  and  feet  light  yellowish  apple  green;  claws  grayish 
horn  color." 

Stretch  of 
Length.          wing.  Wing:  Tail.         Tarsus.         Bill. 

Male 26.00         46.50        12.25        5.25         8.20         3.00 

Female...     25.00         45.00        11.50        4.75        3.00        2.90 

This  species  has  the  most  extended  distribution  of  any  of  the 
family;  breeding  south  of  the  northern  regions  into  southern 
South  America.  These  birds  live  together  in  societies,  and  as- 
semble in  large  numbers  at  their  breeding  grounds  and  roosting 
places,  where  they  sleep  and  rest  during  the  day,  sallying  forth 
at  dusk  for  their  feeding  grounds,  uttering  as  they  go  an  occa- 
sional hollow,  guttural  "Qua,"  and,  for  this  habit,  are  generally 
known  as  the  "Qua-bird."  They  seldom  feed  by  daylight,  ex- 
cept while  rearing  their  young,  when  the  clamor  for  food  de- 
mands their  almost  constant  attention. 

Their  food  consists  of  fishes,  frogs,  Crustacea,  and  most  small 
forms  of  life  in  the  shallow  waters,  swamps  and  marshy  ground. 
While  feeding  these  birds  move  with  a  slow,  stately  tread,  with 
body  bent  and  head  drawn  back,  ready  for  a  quick  and  unerring 
stroke  at  their  prey. 

Their  manner  of  flight  is  similar  to  that  of  the  family,  but  flap 
of  wings  is  at  all  times  noiseless. 

Their  nests  are  placed  on  trees,  bushes,  broken-down  reeds 
and  rushes.  I  found,  April  12th,  1881,  a  small  flock  nesting 
on  the  dry,  hard  ground,  under  a  few  low  bushes  and  weeds, 
upon  a  small  island  in  Nueces  Bay,  Texas;  no  nests,  only  a 
slight  lining  of  grasses.  In  trees  and  bushes,  they  build  on  the 


130  HISTORY  OF  THE 

branches  a  loose,  flat  structure  of  sticks.      Eggs  usually  four; 
2.00x1.50;  pale  greenish  blue;  in  form,  oval  to  elliptical  oval. 

SUBGENUS  NYCTHERODIUS  EEICHENBACII. 

Culmen  much  shorter  than  tarsus  (only  a  little  longer  than  middle  toe); 
gouys  convex,  and  lateral  outlines  of  bill  straight,  or  sometimes  perceptibly  con- 
vex; tarsus  much  longer  than  middle  toe;  scapulars  lengthened,  narrow  (but 
not  pointed),  somewhat  loosely  webbed.  (Ridgway.) 

Nycticorax  violaceous  (LINX.). 

YELLOW-CROWNED  NIGHT  HERON. 
PLATE  IX. 

Summer  resident;  rare.  Arrive  the  first  to  middle  of  April; 
begin  laying  about  the  middle  of  May. 

B.  496.     R.  496.     C.  665.     G.  230,     59.     U.  203. 

HABITAT.  The  whole  of  tropical  and  subtropical  America, 
including  the  West  Indies;  breeding  regularly  north  into  Kan- 
sas, Missouri,  Illinois,  Indiana  and  North  Carolina;  and  wander 
casually  to  Massachusetts,  Pennsylvania  and  Colorado.  (I  can 
find  no  mention  of  these  birds  in  California,  but  as  they  are 
found  along  the  Pacific  coast,  as  well  as  eastward  in  Central 
America  and  Mexico,  I  am  inclined  to  think  they  may  have 
been  overlooked,  or  at  least  that  they  will  be  occasionally  found 
along  the  Colorado  River,  in  the  vicinity  of  Fort  Yuma.) 

SP.  CHAR.  "Adult:  Forehead,  middle  of  crown  and  long  occipital  plumes, 
with  a  large  longitudinal  patch  from  the  rictus  to  the  ears,  pure  white;  rest  of 
the  head  deep  black.  Plumage  in  general,  clear  plumbeous  blue,  or  cinereous, 
lighter  beneath  ( the  degree  of  blueness  probably  depending  on  the  age  of  the 
bird);  all  the  feathers  of  the  upper  surface  marked  with  a  medial  stripe  of 
black;  the  secondaries  and  rectrices  dark  plumbeous,  bordered  with  a  lighter 
shade  of  the  same;  primaries  plain  bluish  plumbeous.  Bill  deep  black,  the 
lower  basal  portion  of  the  mandible,  in  some  specimens,  greenish  yellow;  lores 
and  eyelids  greenish  yellow;  iris  pale  orange;  legs  dull  yellowish  green;  the 
large  scutellse  and  the  claws  dusky.  Young:  Above,  dark  sooty  grayish  brown, 
sometimes  of  a  slightly  olive  cast,  the  feathers  of  the  pileum  and  wings  (in 
youngest  individuals  the  entire  upper  surface?)  marked  with  medial  streaks  of 
white  or  pale  buff,  these  streaks  assuming  on  the  wing  coverts  a  narrow  cuneate 
form.  Lower  parts  soiled  whitish,  striped  with  brownish  gray.  Bill  greenish 
black,  the  lower  and  basal  part  of  the  lower  mandible  greenish  yellow,  as  are 
the  eyelids  and  bare  space  before  the  eye.  Iris  pale  orange.  Legs  and  feet 
dull  yellowish  green,  the  scutellse  and  scales  in  front,  as  well  as  the  claws, 
dusky." 

Stretch  of 
Length.         -wing.  Wing.  Tail.         Tarsus.         Bill. 

Male 24.00         44.00         12.25        4.75         3.80         2.90 

Female..       22.00         42.00        11.75       4.30         3.60         2.50 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  131 

This  southern  form  does  not  appear  to  be  nearly  as  common 
within  its  range  as  the  Black-crowned,  which  it  closely  resem- 
bles in  habits,  though  more  diurnal,  slower  in  flight,  and  less 
easy  to  approach. 

Their  nests  are  placed  on  trees  and  bushes,  a  loose  flat  struc- 
ture of  sticks.  Eggs  three  to  five,  1.95x1.42;  pale  yellowish 
to  greenish  blue;  in  form,  oval  to  elliptical  oval.  A  set  of  three, 
taken  June  12th,  1884,  near  the  mouth  of  the  Colorado  River, 
Texas,  from  a  nest  composed  of  sticks  and  grasses,  in  a  small 
tree,  about  ten  feet  from  the  ground,  are  in  dimensions,  small, 
viz.:  1.94x1.39,  1.94x1.38,  1.94x1.39. 


ORDER  PALUDICOL^. 

CRANES,  RAILS,  ETC. 

"Hind  toe  small  and  elevated  (but  neck  much  lengthened  and  bill  strong 
and  hard)  in  Gruidce;  lengthened  and  incumbent  inArmida  and  JRallidce.  Wings 
comparatively  short  and  rounded,  and  body  compressed  (except  in  Gruidce). 
Habits  prsecocial,  and  young  dasypsedic.  Palate  schizognathous.  Carotids 
double." 

SUBOEDER  GRUES.     CRASHES. 

"Size  large;  head  partly  naked  (except  in  young)  or  with  ornamental  plumes; 
middle  toe  less  than  half  the  tarsus;  hallux  small,  much  elevated." 

FAMILY  GRUID-3J1.     CRANES. 
"Characters  same  as  those  given  for  suborder." 

GENUS  GRUS  PALLAS. 

"Bill  lengthened,  straight,  tne  upper  mandible  only  slightly  decurved  at  the 
extreme  tip;  the  commissure  and  other  outlines  straight.  Nasal  groove  very 
large  and  open,  extending  over  the  basal  two-thirds  of  the  bill.  Nostrils  broadly 
open,  pervious;  the  anterior  extremity  half  -way  from  the  tip  of  the  bill  to  eye. 
The  upper  half  of  the  head  naked,  warty,  but  with  short  hairs. 

"Legs  much  lengthened;  toes  short,  hardly  more  than  one-third  the  tarsus. 
Inner  toe  rather  longer,  its  claw  much  larger  than  the  outer.  Hind  toe  elevated, 
short.  Toes  connected  at  base  by  membrane.  Tarsi  broadly  scutellate  ante- 
riorly. Tertials  longer  than  primaries,  decurved;  first  quill  not  much  shorter 
than  second.  Tail  of  twelve  feathers." 


132  HISTORY  OF  THE 

Grus  americana  (LINN.). 

WHOOPING  CRANE. 

Migratory;  rare.  Arrive  about  the  middle  of  March  to  first 
of  April;  return  in  October,  a  few  remaining  until  about  the 
middle  of  November. 

B.  478.     R.  582.     C.  668.     G.  272,     60.     U.  204. 

HABITAT.  Interior  of  North  America,  north  into  the  British 
possessions,  south  to  Florida  and  Central  Mexico. 

SP.  CHAR.  " Adult:  Whole  crown  and  occiput  covered  with  a  warty  or  gran- 
ulated skin,  almost  bare  on  the  occiput,  but  covered  anteriorly  by  black,  hair- 
like  bristles;  the  color  of  this  skin  reddish,  in  life.  Lores  and  malar  region, 
including  a  narrow  angular  strip  extending  from  the  latter  down  each  side  of 
the  throat,  also  naked  and  similarly  bristled,  the  bristles  denser  anteriorly. 
Color  entirely  pure  white,  excepting  the  primaries  and  their  coverts,  which  are 
uniform  slate  black,  and  a  patch  of  plumbeous  on  the  upper  part  of  the  nape, 
adjoining  the  bare  skin  of  the  occiput  and  extending  downward  for  the  distance 
of  about  two  inches.  Bill  wax  yellow;  iris  gamboge  yellow;  bare  skin  of  head 
dull  orange  color;  legs  blue  black.  Young:  Head  completely  feathered.  Gen- 
eral color  white,  with  large  patches  here  and  there,  especially  above,  of  light 
cinnamon,  the  head  and  neck  almost  continuously  of  this  color.  The  primaries 
and  their  coverts  uniform  dull  black,  as  in  the  adult.  Bill  dull  wax  yellow,  the 
terminal  portion  blackish;  legs  and  feet  blackish.  Immature:  Bare  portion  of 
the  head  indicated  by  feathers  of  a  harsher  texture  and  darker  color  than  else- 
where, occupying  the  areas  which  are  naked  in  the  fully  adult.  Plumage  much 
stained  with  pale  cinnamon,  as  in  the  first  plumage." 

Stretch  of 
Length.         wing.          Wing:          Tail.        Tarsus.        Bill. 

Male 52.00         92.00        23.50        9.50        12.00        6.05 

Female...     49.00         89.00        22.00        8.50        11.25        5.50 

These  birds  breed  in  suitable  locations,  from  central  Illinois, 
north  into  the  fur  regions,  chiefly  along  our  northern  borders, 
in  Iowa,  Minnesota  and  Dakota,  to  Slave  Lake.  They  do  not 
inhabit  the  Pacific  coast,  and  I  can  find  no  mention  of  their 
presence  west  of  the  Rocky  Mountains. 

These  birds  are  very  wary  and  ever  upon  the  lookout,  rising 
over  every  suspicious  spot  when  on  the  wing,  and  when  on  the 
ground  spring  into  the  air  at  the  first  sight  or  appearance  of 
danger,  with  a  warning  note  to  others.  In  flight,  their  long 
necks  and  stilt-like  legs  are  stretched  out  in  line  with  the  body 
to  their  full  extent,  moving  strongly,  with  slowly-beating  wings, 
but  not  swiftly;  I  say  strongly  because  they  are  able  to  face  a 
strong  wind,  and  to  sustain  themselves  for  a  long  time  in  the 
air,  often  circling  spiral-like  to  a  great  height.  They  occasion- 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  133 

ally  bunch  up,  and  I  have  seen  them  in  a  triangular  form,  but, 
as  a  rule,  they  travel  in  single  file,  following  their  leader  in  a 
wavy  line,  croaking  as  they  go,  like  hounds  upon  a  cold  trail. 

In  their  habits  are  very  social,  and  I  have  often  noticed  them 
playfully  hopping  about,  but  never  had  the  pleasure  of  witness- 
ing their  mating  or  amorous  dance,  but  presume  it  does  not  dif- 
fer much,  if  any,  from  that  of  the  Sandhill,  which  I  have  watched 
with  interest  on  several  occasions.  When  asleep  or  at  rest  usu- 
ally stand  on  one  leg,  with  the  other  drawn  up  close  to  the  body 
and  the  head  back  upon  the  breast. 

In  their  food  habits  omnivorous,  feeding  freely  upon  the  vari- 
ous kinds  of  grains,  vegetables,  plants,  bulbous  roots,  worms, 
reptiles,  mice,  grasshoppers,  etc. 

Eggs  two,  light  brownish  drab,  sparsely  marked,  except  about 
the  larger  end,  with  irregular  spots  and  blotches  of  pale  choco- 
late brown,  and  obscure  shell  stains  of  sepia;  the  shell  is  rough, 
with  numerous  little  wart-like  elevations;  in  form,  oval  to  ellip- 
tical oval.  A  set  taken  May  2d,  1882,  in  Franklin  county,  Iowa, 
from  a  nest  placed  in  a  swail,  and  made  of  flags  and  rushes,  a 
platform  raised  a  little  above  the  water,  are,  in  dimensions:  4.01 

x2.60,  4.08x2.66. 

Grus  canadensis  (LINN.). 

LITTLE  BROWN  CRANE. 

Migratory;  not  uncommon.  Arrive  in  March;  return  the 
last  of  October.  Omitted  from,  catalogues  by  oversight. 

B.  480.     R.  584.     C.  669.     G. ,     .     U.  205. 

HABITAT.  ^Northern  North  America;  breeding  from  Hudson's 
Bay  and  Alaska  north  to  the  Arctic  coast;  migrating  south 
through  western  United  States,  east  of  the  Rocky  Mountains, 
into  Mexico. 

SP.  CHAR.  "Adult:  Entire  pileum,  including  lores,  covered  with  a  bare  granu- 
lated skin  (reddish  in  life),  interspersed  with  scattered,  fine,  blackish  hairs;  the 
posterior  margin  of  this  bare  skin  divided  medially  on  the  occiput  by  an  angular 
projection  of  the  feathers  on  the  upper  part  of  the  nape.  General  color  of  the 
plumage  continuous  and  nearly  uniform  plumbeous  gray,  this  frequently  stained 
or  overlain  in  places  by  a  rusty  wash;  the  primaries  slate  colored,  with  whitish 
shafts.  Cheeks  and  throat  sometimes  distinctly  whitish.  Legs  and  feet  black- 
ish; bill  blackish,  paler  at  tip;  iris  crimson.  Young:  Head  entirely  feathered. 
Plumage  much  as  in  the  adult,  but  of  a  lighter  and  more  brownish  gray,  and  al- 
ways conspicuously  stained,  especially  on  upper  parts,  with  tawny  cinnamon  or 
ferruginous. " 


134:  HISTORY  OF  THE 

Stretch  of 
Length.  wing.  Wing.         Tail.         Tarsus.         Bill. 

Male 41.50          75.00         19.50         7.75          8.50          4.40 

Female...     37.50         72.50        18.00        6.50*      7.50         3.80 

This  small  species  has  until  of  late  been  classed  with  G.  mex- 
icana,  and  supposed  to  be  an  immature  bird;  but  its  smaller  size, 
and  the  failure  to  find  any  indications  of  intergraclations,  to- 
gether with  its  marked  difference  in  distribution,  entitle  it  to  rank 
as  a  valid  species.  In  habits  it  is  not  noticeably  different. 

Mr.  Nelson,  in  his  report,  "Natural  Historical  Collections  in 
Alaska,"  between  the  years  1877  and  1881,  says  the  birds  ar- 
rive in  the  Territory,  as  a  rule,  from  the  10th  to  the  15th  of  May; 
mate  and  commence  laying  the  last  of  the  month.  Eggs  two; 
and  describes  their  nests  and  eggs  as  follows:  "The  site  for 
the  nest  is  usually  on  the  grassy  flats,  where  the  dryer  portions, 
or  the  slight  knolls,  afford  them  suitable  places.  The  spot 
usually  has  an  unobstructed  view  on  all  sides,  and  it  is  common 
to  see  the  female' s  long  neck  raised  suspiciously  at  the  appear- 
ance in  the  distance  of  anything  unusual.  .  .  .  The  nest 
is  frequently  a  mere  hollow  in  the  ground  and  is  commonly 
lined  with  more  or  less  coarse  grass  stems  and  straws.  In  one 
instance  a  nest  was  found  on  a  bare  flat,  and  was  lined  with  a 
layer  of  straws  an  inch  deep,  all  of  which  must  have  been 
brought  for  some  yards;  this  is  unusual,  however.  The  eggs 
vary  in  ground  color  from  pale  greenish  clay  color  to  buffy 
brown  or  warm  brownish,  and  the  entire  surface  is  irregularly 
marked  with  spots  and  blotches  of  chocolate  brown,  rather 
sparsely  distributed  at  the  small  end,  but  numerous  about  the 
large  end  of  the  egg,  chiefly  at  the  very  apex.  The  size  varies 
from  3.70  by  2.40,  3.72  by  2.40,  3.71  by  2.41,  representing 
the  maximum,  to  3.26  by  2.28,  3.40  by  2.35,  3.33  by  2.21, 

representing  the  minimum,  in  a  series  of  twenty-five  specimens. ' ' 

• 
Grus  mexicana  (MULT,.). 

SANDHILL  CRANE. 

Migratory;  common.  Arrive  about  the  middle  of  March  to 
first  of  April;  return  early  in  October;  a  few  occasionally  re- 
main as  late  as  November  20th. 

B.  479.     R.  583.     C.  669.     G.  273,     61.     U.  206. 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  135 

HABITAT.  North  in  the  British  possessions  to  Manitoba,  but 
chiefly  within  the  United  States,  and  west  from  the  Mississippi 
valley  to  the  Pacific  coast,  south  into  central  Mexico,  and  east- 
ward along  the  Gulf  coast  to  Florida  and  Georgia,  breeding  in 
suitable  localities  nearly  throughout  its  range. 

SP.  CHAK.  "Exactly  like  O.  canadensis  in  plumage,  but  much  larger  in 
size." 

Length,  40.00  to  48.00;  wing,  21.00  to  22.50  (21.83);  culmeu,  5.15  to  6.00 
(5.47);  depth  of  bill  at  base,  .95  to  1.10  (1.01);  tarsus,  9.90  to  10.65  (10.25); 
middle  toe,  3.40  to  3.60  (3.50);  bare  part  of  tarsus,  4.60  to  5.00  (4.78).  (Ridgway.) 

These  birds,  in  their  habits,  are  similar  to  the  Whooping,  but 
much  more  numerous.  Their  loud,  modulating,  sonorous  croak 
announces  their  presence,  and  is  often  heard  during  the  night 
as  well  as  by  day. 

During  courtship  and  the  early  breeding  season,  their  actions 
and  antics  at  times  are  ludicrous  in  the  extreme,  bowing  and 
leaping  high  in  the  air,  hopping,  skipping  and  circling  about 
with  drooping  wings  and  croaking  whoop,  an  almost  indescrib- 
able dance  and  din,  in  which  the  females  (an  exception  to  the 
rule)  join,  all  working  themselves  up  into  a  fever  of  excitement, 
only  equaled  by  an  Indian  war  dance,  and,  like  the  same,  it  only 
stops  when  the  last  one. is  exhausted. 

Eggs  two.  A  set  collected  May  25th,  1880,  near  Jamestown, 
Dakota,  from  a  nest  on  a  marsh  in  a  tall  growth  of  rushes,  a 
level  platform  about  three  feet  in  diameter,  made  of  flags,  leaves 
and  rushes,  are,  in  dimensions:  3.68x2.25,  3.82x2.40;  ground 
color  pale  olive  buff,  spotted  and  splashed  with  sepia  brown  and 
purple  shell  stains,  thickest  at  larger  end;  in  form,  elliptical  oval. 

SUBORDER  RALLI.     RAILS,  GALLINULES,  COOTS,  ETC. 

"  Size  small  or  medium;  head  normally  feathered  or  with  a  frontal  shield; 
middle  toe  nearly  as  long  as  the  tarsus;  hallux  well  developed  (nearly  as  long  as 
the  first  joint  of  the  middle  toe),  nearly  incumbent." 

FAMILY  RALLIDJE.     RAILS,  GALLINULES  AND  COOTS. 

"Small  or  medium  sized  wading  or  swimming  birds,  with  compressed  body, 
very  long  toes,  which  are  sometimes  (in  the  Coots)  lobed  along  the  edges,  short, 
rounded,  concave  wings,  and  very  muscular  thighs. 

"The  brief  diagnosis  given  above  is  sufficient  to  distinguish  the  Rails,  of 
whatever  subfamily,  fram  the  Courlans  and  Cranes,  their  only  near  allies.  The 


136  HISTORY  OF  THE 

typical  Rails  (Rattinm)  are  of  very  small  to  medium  size,  the  typical  genus  (Ral- 
lus)  being  characterized  particularly  by  a  lengthened,  slender  bill,  while  other 
genera,  Porzana  and  Crex,  have  this  member  comparatively  short  and  thick. 
The  Coots  and  Gallinules  have  the  base  of  the  culmen  continued  upon  the  fore- 
head, where,  it  widens  out  into  a  more  or  less  gibbous  or  expanded  plate  or 
frontal  shield.  The  Coots,  however,  are  peculiar  in  having  the  toes  fringed 
with  scalloped  flaps  or  lateral  lobes." 

SUBFAMILY  RALLINJE.      KAILS. 

"No  frontal  process;  toes  without  lateral  lobes;  size  variable;  bill  sometimes 
much  elongated." 

GENUS  EALLUS  LINN^US. 

"Bill  longer  than  the  head,  rather  slender,  compressed;  upper  mandible 
slightly  curved;  nostrils  in  a  long  groove,  and  with  a  large  membrane;  wings 
short;  tertiary  quills  long,  frequently  longer  than  primaries;  tail  very  short, 
legs  moderate;  tarsus  shorter  than  middle  toe,  aud  covered  on  all  sides  with 
transverse  scales;  toes  long  and  rather  slender;  inner  toe  rather  shorter  than 
the  outer;  hind  toe  short  and  weak. 

"This  genus  contains  numerous  species,  inhabiting  all  the  temperate  coun- 
'tries  of  the  world,  and  very  similar  in  their  habits,  and  frequently  in  appear- 
ance. Their  long  toes  enable  them  to  run  over  and  climb  among  aquatic  plants 
with  great  facility." 

Rallus  elegans  AUD. 

KING  RAIL. 
PLATE  X. 

Summer  resident;  common  in  suitable  localities  throughout 
the  State.  Arrive  the  first  to  middle  of  April;  begin  laying 
about  the  middle  of  May;  return  by  the  last  of  October. 

B.  542.     R.  569.     C.  676.     G.  267,     62.     U.  208. 

HABITAT.  Fresh  water  marshes  of  the  eastern,  southern  and 
middle  United  States,  west  into  Colorado,  north  casually  to 
Maine,  Canada  West,  Wisconsin,  Minnesota  and  Dakota. 

SP.  CHAR.  "Adult:  Above,  yellowish  olive  or  ochraceous  drab,  very  con- 
spicuously and  sharply  striped  with  black;  crown  dark  brown;  a  supraloral 
streak  of  brownish  white  continued  to  the  occiput  in  a  broader  stripe  of  brown- 
ish gray;  lores  and  suborbital  region  brownish  gray,  or  dull  brownish;  chin  and 
throat  white;  remainder  of  head  and  neck,  including  jugulum  and  breast,  light 
cinnamon;  flanks  and  sides  dark  brownish  or  blackish  dusky  barred  with  white, 
the  white  bars  averaging  about  .10  to  .15  of  an  inch  in  width,  the  interspaces 
more  than  twice  as  wide;  crissum  mixed  dusky  and  white,  the  lateral  feathers 
almost  immaculate  white;  middle  of  the  abdomen  considerably  lighter  than  the 
breast,  sometimes  quite  white;  axillars  and  lining  of  the  wiug  similar  to  the 
flanks,  but  white  bars  narrower  aud  less  distinct.  Wing  coverts  rusty  brown- 
ish, sometimes  inclining  to  chestnut,  and  not  infrequently  more  or  less  barred 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  137 

with  reddish  white;  tertials  widely  striped,  like  the  scapulars;  remiges  plain 
umber  brown;  rectrices  raw  umber,  with  a  dusky,  medial  stripe.  Lower  man- 
dible and  edges  of  upper  brownish  yellow,  ridge  of  upper  and  tips  of  both 
deep  brown;  iris  bright  red;  feet  yellowish  brown,  tinged  with  olive;  claws  of 
the  same  color.  Downy  young:  Uniform  glossy  black;  bill  dusky,  the  end,  and 
incomplete  wide  baud  near  the  base  (enclosing  nostril),  pale  yellowish  or  whit- 
ish (in  the  skin);  legs  and  feet  brownish  (in  skin)." 

Stretch  of 
Length.          -wing.  Wing.          Tail.         Tarsus.          Bill. 

Male 17.00         23.25         6.75         3.00         2.35         2.35      . 

Female...     15.00         21.25         6.00         2.75         2.10         2.25 

This  bright  colored  Rail  breeds  throughout  its  range,  and  is 
abundant  in  the  Mississippi  valley.  Its  call  note,  ' '  Creek,  creek, 
creek,  creek,"  and  of  flight,  "Cark,  cark,  cark,  "  can  often 
be  heard  both  night  and  day,  and  at  times  during  the  early 
breeding  season  they  are  almost  as  noisy  as  the  Guinea-hens. 
If  it  were  not  for  its  voice  its  presence  would  seldom  be 
known,  as  it  skulks  and  hides  from  its  pursuers,  and  when  hard 
pressed  runs  into  the  deeper  waters  within  the  reeds  and  rushes, 
preferring  to  swim  (and  can  also  dive)  to  taking  wing,  know- 
ing well  that  it  is  safer  within  its  watery,  grassy  cover,  for  which 
it  is  so  well  adapted. 

Its  flights,  when  not  suddenly  started,  are  at  dusk  and  during 
the  night.  It  springs  into  the  air  with  dangling  legs  and  rapid 
strokes  of  its  short  wings;  but  if  going  any  distance,  its  legs, 
like  its  neck,  are  soon  stretched  out  to  their  full  extent,  flying 
rather  slowly  and  near  the  ground. 

Its  food  consists  of  insects,  worms,  tadpoles,  small  snails, 
etc. ;  seeds  of  the  various  kinds  of  water  grasses  also  help  to 
make  up  the  bill  of  fare.  Its  nest  is  pla.ced  on  the  ground,  in 
marshy  places,  at  or  near  the  edge  of  water,  generally  upon  a 
hummock,  in  a  thick,  heavy  growth  of  grass,  or  under  a  bush, 
and  made  of  coarse  grasses,  weeds  and  rushes;  is  quite  bulky, 
and  so  woven  together  as  to  often  form  a  partial  cover  over- 
head. Eggs  six  to  twelve,  1.63x1.25;  pale  bluish  to  cream 
white,  sparingly  speckled  and  spotted  with  various  shades  of 
reddish  brown,  and  shell  stains  of  purple  and  lilac,  the  spots 
thickest  and  often  running  together  around  larger  end;  in  form, 
oval. 


138  HISTORY  OF   THE 

Rallus  virginianus  LINN. 

VIRGINIA  BAIL. 
PLATE  X. 

Summer  resident;  rare;  during  migration,  common.  Arrive 
the  middle  of  April  to  first  of  May;  begin  laying  about  the 
middle  of  May;  return  in  September  to  October. 

B.  554.     R.  572.     C.  677.     G.  268,     63.     U.  212. 

HABITAT.  The  whole  of  temperate  North  America,  north  to 
British  Columbia  and  Hudson' s  Bay,  south  to  Guatemala  and 
Cuba. 

Sp.  CHAK.  "Adult:  A  miniature  of  R.  elegans,  but  more  deeply  colored. 
Above,  olivaceous,  heavily  striped  with  black;  wing  coverts  chestnut  rufous; 
remiges  plain  dusky;  crown  and  nape  dusky,  sometimes  uniform,  usually  indis- 
tinctly streaked  with  olive;  a  brownish  white  supraloral  line;  side  of  head 
uniform  plumbeous  (sometimes  obscured  with  a  brownish  wash);  malar  region, 
foreneck,  jugulum,  breast,  sides  and  abdomen,  sometimes  throat  also,  cinnamon, 
the  middle  of  the  belly  lighter  (sometimes  whitish);  flanks  (not  sides)  and  axillars 
dusky,  barred  with  white;  lining  of  wing  dusky,  the  feathers  tipped  and  bordered 
with  white.  Downy  young:  Glossy  black;  bill  scarlet  or  orange  red  in  life  (whit- 
ish or  pale  yellowish  in  the  skin),  slightly  marked  with  blackish  in  front  of  the 
nostril  and  on  base  of  mandible.  Young,  first  plumage:  Top  and  sides  of  head, 
neck  behind,  back  anteriorly,  rump,  breast  and  sides,  dull  dead  black;  inter- 
scapular  region  black,  with  a  few  of  the  feathers  margined  with  brownish  olive; 
wing  coverts  and  wings  nearly  as  in  adult,  a  little  duller  and  darker,  perhaps; 
superciliary  line  obscure  ashy.  Throat  ashy  white,  finely  spotted  with  black; 
central  region  of  lower  breast  and  abdomen,  with  a  few  of  the  feathers  on  the 
sides,  tinged  with  white;  anal  region  and  crissum  dull  reddish  chestnut." 

Stretch  of 
Length.          wing.          Wing.  Tail.        Tarsus.         Bill. 

Male 10.00          14.25          4.20          2.00          1.35          1.50 

Female...       9.25         13.70         3.90         1.80         1.30         1.40 

During  the  breeding  and  warm  season,  this  little  red  breast 
is  found  throughout  the  United  States;  wintering  chiefly  in  the 
Southern  States  and  Mexico;  casually  into  Central  America. 
It  is  similar  in  habits  to  its  larger  cousin,  the  King  Rail,  which 
it  closely  resembles  in  both  structure  and  color,  but  it  has  a 
much  more  extended  range,  and  is  at  home  in  salt  as  well  as 
fresh  water  swails  and  marshes.  Its  nest  is  placed  in  thick 
growths  of  grass,  on  low,  boggy  grounds,  quite  bulky,  made 
of  grass,  weeds,  etc.  Eggs  six  to  ten;  they  are  said  to  average 
1.25x. 95;  measurement  of  a  set  collected  May  21st,  1878,  at 
Pewaukee,  Wisconsin:  1.26x.90,  1.27x.90,  1.27x.90,  1.32x.90, 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  139 

1.28x.91,  1.30x.92,  1.32x.92,  1.35x.92,  1.30x.93,  1.29x.95; 
cream  white,  thinly  spotted  with  reddish  brown,  and  faint  mark- 
ings of  lilac;  thickest  around  larger  end;  in  form,  oval  to  ovate. 

GENUS  PORZANA  VIEIIXOT. 

"Bill  shorter  than  the  head,  compressed,  straight;  nostrils  in  a  wide  groove, 
with  a  large  membrane;  wings  moderate;  primaries  longer  than  tertials;  tail 
short;  legs  rather  robust,  the  tarsus  about  the  length  of  the  middle  toe;  toes 
long,  the  inner  one  slightly  shorter  than  the  outer.  General  form  compressed 
and  slender." 

SUBGENUS  PORZANA. 

Secondaries  without  white.  Wings  more  than  4.00;  above,  olive  brownish, 
striped  with  black.  (Ridgway.) 

Porzana  Carolina  (LINN.). 
SORA. 

PLATE  X. 

Summer  resident;  rare;  in  migration,  abundant.  Arrive  the 
middle  of  April  to  first  of  May;  begin  laying  about  the  middle 
of  May;  return  in  September  to  October. 

B.  555.     R.  574.     C.  679.     G.  269,     64.     U.  214. 

HABITAT.  The  whole  of  temperate  North  America;  breeding 
chiefly  northward;  south  to  the  West  Indies  and  northern  South 
America. 

SP.  CHAR.  "Adult:  Above,  bright  olive  brown,  with  longitudinal  spots  of 
black,  some  of  the  feathers  edged  with  white;  top  of  head  with  a  broad  longi- 
tudinal stripe  of  black;  anterior  portion  of  head,  with  chin  and  throat,  black; 
sides  of  head  and  neck  (except  as  described),  jugulum  and  breast  light  plumbe- 
ous; abdomen  white;  anal  region  and  crissum  creamy  white  or  pale  buff;  flanks 
sharply  barred  with  white  and  slate  color.  Young:  Similar,  but  lores  and  su- 
perciliary stripe  brownish,  the  chin  and  throat  whitish;  rest  of  neck,  with 
jugulum  and  breast,  light  brownish;  bill  greenish  yellow  (more  orange,  especi- 
ally at  base,  in  summer  adults);  iris  brown;  legs  and  feet  greenish.  Downy  stage 
—  chick  a  few  days  old:  Bill  short,  exceedingly  compressed,  high  at  base,  rap- 
idly tapering,  the  tip  deflected;  the  whole  body  densely  covered  with  dull  black 
down,  beyond  which  are  produced  abundant  long,  glossy  black,  hair-like  fila- 
ments. Upon  the  throat  is  a  tuft  of  stiff,  coarse,  bristle-like  feathers  of  a  bright 
orange  color;  these  are  directed  forward,  and  give  the  bird  a  most  singular 
appearance." 

Stretch  of 
Length.          wing.          Wing.          Tail.         Tarsus.          Bill. 

Male 8.75          14.00         4.20         2.00         1.30  .85 

Female...      8.25          13.00        4.00         1.90         1.30  .80 

This  species  is  more  abundant  throughout  the  United  States 
than  any  other  of  the  family,  and,  as  it  occasionally  visits  the 


140  HISTORY  OF  THE 

cultivated  bottom  and  meadow  lands,  its  habits  and  actions  are 
more  generally  known;  its  natural  haunts,  however,  are  on 
marshy,  reedy,  boggy  grounds,  bordering  sluggish  streams  and 
ponds  of  water.  These  birds  are  timid,  and  keep  well  out  of 
sight,  and,  if  they  think  they  are  observed,  run  swiftly  into  the 
thickest  growths  of  reeds  and  rushes;  but  their  curiosity  is  great, 
and  if  the  intruder  will  stand  motionless,  or  hide,  the  birds  as  a 
rule  will  cautiously  come  back,  with  head  well  forward  on  the 
lookout,  bowing  gracefully  at  each  step,  but  showing  their  intense 
excitement  by  the  quick,  nervous  jerk  of  their  short,  upright  tails; 
they,  however,  soon  forget  their  fright,  and  I  have  had  them 
feed  within  ten  feet  of  me,  but  off  like  a  flash  at  the  first  mo- 
tion. Where  the  birds  are  often  hunted,  fear  overcomes  their 
curiosity,  but  by  thumping  loudly  with  a  paddle  on  the  boat,  or 
making  a  sudden  noise  in  their  haunts  (which  is  usually  answered 
by  their  startled  "Kuk,  kuk,  kuk,  kuk"),  I  have  often  been 
able  to  catch  a  glimpse  of  one  here  and  there  peeking  out  of 
their  cover;  but  in  this  case  it  requires  both  time  and  patience. 
Their  long,  slender  toes  enable  them  to  run  upon  the  surface 
water  plants  and  to  climb  to  the  tops  of  reeds  and  rushes  for 
snails,  insects,  etc.,  and  in  the  same  way  to  follow  the  stems  be- 
neath the  water  to  their  roots;  and,  while  their  feet  are  not 
adapted  to  swimming,  they  readily  cross  short  openings,  can 
dive,  and  have  the  faculty  of  slowly  sinking  out  of  sight  in  the 
water. 

Their  flight  when  startled  is  tremulous  and  slow,  with  dang- 
ling legs  just  clearing  the  growth  beneath,  into  which  they 
quickly  drop  (an  easy  mark  for  the  poorest  of  wing  shots). 
They  are,  however,  capable  of  sustaining  themselves  for  a  long 
time  in  the  air,  flying  directly,  with  head  and  feet  stretched  out 
in  a  line  with  the  body. 

Their  nests  are  placed  on  marshy  grounds,  at  the  border  of 
ponds  and  old  channels  of  streams,  in  elevated  tussocks  of  grass, 
a  shallow  or  platform  nest,  made  loosely  of  grass,  weeds  and 
rushes.  Eggs  six  to  ten,  1.20x.90;  grayish  to  olive  drab, 
specked  and  spotted  with  purple  and  reddish  brown;  in  form, 
oblong  oval.  A  set  of  nine  eggs,  collected  June  4th,  1876,  at 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS. 

Horicon  Lake,  Wisconsin,  are,  in  dimensions:  1.25x.  88,  1.19x 
.90,  1.20x.89,  1.18x.92,  1.19x.90,  1.20x.92,  1.22x.90,  1.19x 
.89,  1.19x.89. 

SUBGENUS  COTURNICOPS  BONAPARTE. 

"Above,  ochraceous,  with  broad  black  tips  and  narrow  transverse  white  bars; 
secondaries  white,  forming  a  conspicuous  patch  on  the  extended  wing." 

Porzana  novefcoracensis  (GMEL.). 

YELLOW  BAIL. 

Summer  resident;  rare.  Arrive  the  first  to  middle  of  April; 
return  in  October. 

B.  557.     K.  575.     C.  680.     G.  ,     65.     U.  215. 

HABITAT.  North  America,  north  to  Nova  Scotia,  Hudson's 
Bay,  Manitoba  and  Minnesota;  west  to  Nevada  and  California; 
south  to  Cuba. 

SP.  CHAR.  "Adult:  Yellowish  ochraceous,  very  glossy  above,  where  broadly 
striped  with  black,  the  black  intersected  by  narrow  bars  of  white;  belly  whit- 
ish; flanks  dusky,  narrowly  barred  with  white;  crissum  light  cinnamon;  axillars, 
lining  of  wing  and  exposed  portions  of  secondaries  white.  Bill  greenish  black, 
with  the  base  dull  yellowish  orange;  iris  hazel;  feet  and  claws  light  flesh  color." 

There  is  a  considerable  range  of  individual  variation,  both  in 
size  and  markings,  even  among  specimens  from  the  same  local- 
itj- 

Stretch  of 
Length.          wing.         Wing.          Tail.        Tarsus.         Bill. 

Male 6.75          12.50         3.55        1.30          .85  .55 

Female...      6.50         11.75        8.45        1.00         .82          .54 

The  habits  and  distribution  of  this  species  are  imperfectly 
known.  I  am  inclined  to  believe  that  it  ranges  north  on  the 
Pacific  slope  into  British  Columbia,  and  south  to  central  Mexico. 

These  birds  are  seldom  met  with,  but  this  is  not  strange,  as 
they  are  crepuscular  in  habits,  and  rest  hidden  during  the  day 
in  their  marshy  haunts,  where,  at  the  least  alarm,  they  run,  skulk 
and  hide  like  mice,  and  it  is  next  to  impossible  to  force  them  to 
take  wing. 

Their  nests  are  placed  on  the  ground  in  marshy  places,  and 
are  said  to  be  loosely  constructed  of  grasses,  etc.  Eggs  six  to 
ten,  creamy  buff,  finely  speckled  and  spotted  with  rusty  brown; 
in  form,  oval.  Their  average  measurement,  as  given  by  Mr. 
Ridgway,  is  1.12x.  83.  A  single  egg,  taken  by  Dr.  Hoy  from  a 


142  HISTORY  OF  THE 

nest  on  a  marsh  in  northern  Illinois,  is  buff  white,  sparingly 
marked  with  fine  brownish  dots  and  obscure  shell  stains;  very 
small,  only  .99x.76. 

SUBGENUS  CRECISCUS  CABANIS. 
"Above,  blackish  brown,  speckled  with  white." 

Porzana  jamaicensis  (GMEL.). 

BLACK  RAIL. 
PLATE  X. 

Summer  resident;  rare.  Arrive  about  the  middle  of  March 
to  first  of  April;  begin  laying  about  the  middle  of  May;  return 
in  October. 

B.  556.     R.  576.     C.  681.     G.  270,     66.     U.  216. 

HABITAT.  Temperate  North  America,  north  to  Massachusetts, 
Nebraska  and  Oregon,  south  through  the  greater  part  of  South 
America  to  Chili;  West  Indies. 

SP.  CHAB.  ' '  Smaller  than  P.  noveboracensis,  and  the  smallest  of  North  Ameri- 
can Rattidce.  Adult:  Head,  neck  and  lower  parts  dark  plumbeous  or  slate 
color,  darkest,  and  often  nearly  black,  on  the  pilenm;  abdomen  and  crissum 
brownish  black,  marked  with  transverse  bars  of  white;  nape  and  back  dark 
chestnut  or  reddish  sepia  brown,  the  other  upper  parts  brownish  black,  with 
small  dots  and  irregular  transverse  bars  of  white;  primaries  immaculate  dusky, 
or  with  small  spots  of  white.  Young:  Similar,  but  lower  parts  dull  ashy,  the 
throat  inclining  to  white,  and  the  crown  tinged  with  reddish  brown.  Downy 
young:  Entirely  bluish  black.  Bill  black;  iris  red;  feet  bright  yellowish  green." 

Stretch  of 
Length.         •wing.          Wing.          Tail.        Tarsus.         Bill. 

Male 6.00         11.50         3.25         1.35  .90  .50 

Female...       5.50        10.50        3.00        1.30          .85          .50 

This  little  species  does  not  appear  to  be  common  anywhere 
within  its  wide  and  extended  range.  Its  habits  are  similar  to 
those  of  the  family,  though  it  seems  to  prefer  for  its  haunts  the 
swails  and  moist  lands  where  the  grasses  are  short. 

Its  nest  is  placed  in  a  depression  on  marshy  ground,  and 
composed  of  grass  blades;  in  form,  round  and  deep.  Eggs  six 
to  ten,  1.02x.80;  creamy  white,  thickly  sprinkled  with  small 
dots  of  reddish  brown;  in  form,  oval.  Two  eggs — the  remains 
of  a  set  of  eight,  collected  near  Manhattan,  Kansas,  and  loaned 
to  me  for  examination  by  Dr.  0.  P.  Blachly  —  measure:  l.OSx 
.75,  1.05x.78. 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  143 

SUBFAMILY  GALLINULINJE.      GALLINULES. 
"A  frontal  process,  as  in  Fulicince;  toes  without  lateral  lobes;  size  large." 

GENUS  GALLINULA  BRISSOX. 

"Bill  shorter  than  head,  compressed,  its  vertical  outlines  convex  terminally, 
straight  or  slightly  concave  opposite  the  nostrils;  nostril  elongated,  longitudi- 
nal, slit-like;  forehead  covered  by  an  extension  of  the  horny  covering  of  the 
bill  (rudimentary  in  the  young).  Middle  toe  longer  than  the  tarsus;  toes  with 
a  slight  lateral  membrane  or  margin." 

Gallinula  galeata  (LIGHT.). 

FLORIDA  GALLINULE. 
PLATE  X. 

Summer  resident;  rare.  Arrive  the  last  of  April  to  first  of 
May;  begin  laying  about  the  middle  of  May;  return  in  October. 

B.  560.     R.  579.     C.  684.     G.  ,     67.     U.  219. 

HABITAT.  The  whole  of  tropical  America  and  temperate 
North  America,  north  to  the  British  Provinces. 

SP.  CHAR.  "Adult:  Frontal  plate  large,  obovate,  truncated  or  slightly  con- 
vex posteriorly,  flat  and  smooth,  or  tumid  and  corrugated;  bill  shorter  than  the 
head,  rather  thick,  compressed;  head,  neck  and  entire  lower  parts  dark  pJumbe- 
ous,  with  a  bluish  cinereous  cast,  frequently  nearly  black  on  the  head  and  neck, 
and  generally  lighter  (in  autumnal  and  winter  specimens  quite  white)  on  the 
abdomen;  crissum  white,  the  middle  feathers  black;  feathers  of  the  flanks 
widely  edged  with  white,  producing  broad  stripes;  edge  of  the  wing  and  edge  of 
outer  primary  white;  upper  parts  dark  russet  or  sepia  brown,  darker  on  the  rump; 
bill  and  frontal  shield  bright  scarlet  in  life,  the  end  of  the  former  greenish  yel- 
low or  bright  yellow;  iris  brown;  legs  and  feet  yellowish  green,  the  joints  ashy 
blue;  upper  part  of  the  naked  tibise  scarlet.  Young:  Similar,  but  frontal  shield 
rudimentary;  the  bill  brownish,  paler  at  the  tip;  the  whole  lower  parts  suffused 
with  whitish,  and  the  head  mixed  with  the  same,  particularly  the  throat,  which 
is  sometimes  wholly  white;  stripes  on  the  flanks  less  distinct,  or  nearly  obsolete. 
Downy  young:  Glossy  black,  the  medial  lower  parts  fuliginous;  throat  and 
cheeks  interspersed  with  silvery  white  hairs;  bill  yellowish  (red  in  life?) 
crossed  about  the  middle  by  a  dusky  bar." 

Stretch  of  Frontal 

Length.  wing.          Wing.          Tail.        Tarsus.         Bill.  shield. 

Male 14.00         22.25         6.80         3.00         2.20         1.10  .65 

Female...     13.00         21.75         6.50        2.90         2.10         1.00  .60 

The  Gallinules  in  general  habits  do  not  differ  much  from  the 
Kails.  This  species  is  a  common  resident  from  the  Carolinas 
to  California,  and  south;  a  summer  resident  north,  rare  in  the 
Eastern  States,  increasing  in  numbers  westward  into  the  Missis- 
sippi valley,  where  they  breed  chiefly  north  of  40°. 


144  BISTORT  OF   THE 

In  the  early  settlement  of  Wisconsin,  I  had  a  good  opportu- 
nity to  observe  their  habits  on  Pewaukee  Lake  (where  they  breed 
in  abundance),  a  famous  resort  for  water  fowls,  and  where  my 
brother  and  I  have  spent  many  and  many  a  pleasant  day  in  our 
log  canoe.  The  settlements  and  summer  tourists  have  fright- 
ened most  of  the  birds  away,  but  this  species,  also  the  Sora  and 
Virginia  Rail,  still  breed  there  in  considerable  numbers.  I  have 
also  met  with  these  birds  in  Mexico  and  Central  America. 

They  inhabit  the  grassy,  reedy  edges  of  shallow  ponds  and 
fresh  water  streams.  I  have  met  with  them  in  brackish  water 
bayous,  but  never  on  the  salt  water  marshes,  but  they  no  doubt 
do  occasionally  visit  or  stop  there  to  rest;  their  natural  haunts 
are  inland.  They  occasionally  wander  quite  a  distance  from  the 
water,  but,  as  a  rule,  are  to  be  looked  for  swimming,  or  running 
through  the  rushes,  over  the  lily  pads  and  other  surface  water 
plants.  They  ride  the  water  lightly,  with  tails  erect  and  heads 
gracefully  bobbing  at  every  stroke  of  the  feet.  They  also  dive 
readily,  and  can  rise  from  the  water  in  a  running,  flapping  man- 
ner, and,  like  the  Kail,  fly  with  dangling  legs,  and  drop  into  the 
first  cover;  but  they  are  much  more  easily  flushed  again.  In 
migration,  or  when  obliged  to  fly  any  distance,  their  legs  as  well 
as  necks  are  stretched  out  to  their  fullest  extent.  Their  gut- 
tural sonorous  "Kra,  kra,  kra,  kra,"  is  often  uttered  at  morn 
and  eve,  and  during  the  day,  when  startled. 

The  young  leave  the  nest  as  soon  as  hatched,  and  run  and 
dive  as  readily  as  the  parents;  chasing  insects  here  and  there  in 
their  watery  haunts,  for  which  they  are  so  perfectly  adapted; 
hiding,  quick  as  thought,  at  the  least  alarm;  in  fact,  they  seem  to 
have  from  the  start  a  full  knowledge  of  their  surroundings,  and 
the  many  enemies  they  have  to  guard  against,  in  as  well  as  out 
of  the  water. 

Their  food  consists  of  snails,  insects,  worms,  seeds  of  water 
plants,  etc. 

Their  nests  are  placed  in  rushes  and  reeds  growing  in  shallow 
water,  or  on  swampy  lands;  built  on  the  tops  of  old,  broken- 
down  stalks,  and  are  composed  of  the  same  material,  weeds  and 
grasses  —  also  the  leaves  of  the  cat-tail  flag,  when  growing  in  the 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS. 

vicinity;  it  is  a  circular  structure,  and,  m  some  cases,  quite  deep 
and  bulky.  Eggs  usually  eight  to  ten,  1.73x1.24;  buff  white, 
thinly  spotted  and  splashed  with  varying  shades  of  reddish 
brown;  in  form,  oval.  One  set  of  thirteen,  collected  May  25th, 
1878,  on  a  bog  in  Pewaukee  Lake,  Wisconsin,  measure  as  fol- 
lows: 1.63x1.18,  1.84x1.27,  1.67x1.18,  1.60x1.16,  1.67x1.18, 
1.78x1.30,  1.81x1.29,  1.79x1.29,  1.88x1.27,  1.70x1.16,  1.80 
xl.30,  1.75x1.18,  1.80x1.28. 

SUBFAMILY  FULICINJE.      COOTS. 

"A  frontal  process,  as  in  Gallinulince;  toes  with  a  lateral  lobecl  margin;  size 
large." 

GENUS  FULICA  LINXJEUS. 

"Very  similar  to  Gallinula,  but  the  toes  margined  by  a  broad,  deeply-scal- 
loped, lateral  membrane.  Bill  shorter  than  the  head,  straight,  strong,  compressed, 
and  advancing  into  the  feathers  of  the  forehead,  where  it  frequently  forms  a 
wide  and  somewhat  projecting  frontal  plate;  nostrils  in  a  groove,  with  a  large 
membrane  near  the  middle  of  the  bill.  Wings  rather  short,  second  and  third 
quills  usually  longest;  tail  very  short;  tarsus  robust,  shorter  than  the  middle  toe, 
with  very  distinct  transverse  scales;  toes  long,  each  having  semicircular  lobes, 
larger  on  the  inner  side;  hind  toe  rather  long,  lobed." 

Fulica  americana  GMEL. 

AMERICAN  COOT. 
PLATE  X. 

Summer  resident;  not  uncommon;  during  migration,  abund- 
ant. Arrive  the  middle  of  March  to  the  middle  of  April; 
begin  laying  the  last  of  May;  a  few  linger  late  into  November. 

B.  559.     R.  580.     C.  686.     G.  271,     68.     U.  221. 

HABITAT.  The  whole  of  North  America,  from  Greenland  and 
Alaska  southward  to  northern  South  America,  Bermudas,  West 
Indies  (and  Trinidad?). 

SP.  CHAR.  "Adult:  General  color  uniform  slate  color  or  slaty  plumbeous, 
the  head  and  neck  and  anterior  central  portion  of  the  crissum  black;  lateral  and 
posterior  portions  of  the  crissum,  edge  of  wing  and  tips  of  secondaries  white. 
(In  winter,  the  belly  suffused  with  whitish.)  Bill  milk  white,  more  bluish 
terminally,  each  mandible  with  a  spot  of  dark  brown  near  the  end,  bordered  an- 
teriorly with  a  more  or  less  distinct  bar  of  reddish  chestnut;  frontal  shield 
dark  chestnut  or  liver  brown,  the  culmen  just  in  front  of  this  tinged  with  green- 
ish yellow;  iris  bright  crimson;  legs  bright  yellowish  green.  The  tibise  tinged 
behind  and  above  with  orange  red;  toes  light  bluish  gray,  tinged  with  yellowish 
green  on  scutellse  of  basal  phalanges.  Young:  Similar,  but  lower  parts  more 
gray,  and  much  suffused  with  whitish,  especially  on  the  throat  and  belly;  bill 
—10 


146  HISTORY  OF   THE 

dull  flesh  color,  tinged  with  olive  greenish,  the  frontal  shield  rudimentary;  iris 
brown.  Downy  young:  Prevailing  color  blackish,  plumbeous;  head,  neck  and 
upper  parts  relieved  by  numerous  crisp,  elongated,  somewhat  filamentous  bristles, 
these  sparse,  light  orange  buff  and  white  on  the  upper  parts,  but  dense  and  deep 
salmon  orange  on  the  head  and  neck,  where  the  dark  plumbeous  down  is  almost 
or  quite  concealed;  these  colored  filaments  entirely  absent  from  the  whole  pileum, 
which  is  mostly  bald  toward  the  occiput,  elsewhere  covered  with  closely-appressed 
black  bristles;  lores  densely  covered  with  short,  stamen-like,  orange  red  papillae. 
Bill  orange  red,  the  tip  of  the  maxilla  black;  feet  dusky  (in  skin)." 

Stretch  of 
Length.          wing.  Wing.          Tail.        Tarsus.         Bill* 

Male 15.50         25.50         7.50         2.80         2.10         1.30 

Female...      14.00         24.50         7.10         2.25         2.00         1.30 

This  species  is  not  very  common  on  the  Atlantic  coast,  north 
of  the  more  Southern  States,  but  abundant  westward.  It  breeds 
occasionally  throughout  its  range,  but  chiefly  from  latitude  43° 
to  55°;  wintering  in  large  flocks  in  the  Southern  States  and 
Mexico,  decreasing  in  numbers  southward. 

These  birds  are  in  many  respects  like  their  cousins,  the  Galli- 
nules,  which  they  so  closely  resemble;  inhabiting  the  edges  of 
swampy,  boggy  ponds,  where  covered  with  a  rank  growth  of 
reeds  and  rushes.  They  differ,  however,  in  being  social,  going 
in  flocks,  and  in  preferring  the  open  water  in  which  to  sport  and 
rest,  or  muskrat  houses  and  bare  places  of  land  to  rest  and  dress 
their  feathers  upon;  keeping,  during  the  breeding  season,  near 
their  reedy  cover,  into  which  they  quickly  swim  and  hide,  in 
case  of  danger;  but  in  the  fall  of  the  year,  preparatory  to  migra- 
tion, they  often  assemble  out  upon  the  open  waters. 

They  swim  and  walk  with  a.  nodding  motion  of  the  head.  I 
have  noticed  them  occasionally  dive  for  food,  but  they  are  not 
expert  divers,  and  seldom  do  so  except  when  closely  pressed 
and  unable  to  fly. 

Its  flesh  is  dark  and  not  good  eating,  and  its  feathers  not  soft 
and  downy,  therefore  not  sought  after  by  the  pot  hunter,  nor 
considered  a  game  bird  by  the  sportsman;  and  for  these  reasons 
the  birds  are  not  shy,  and  are  easily  approached.  They  rise  from 
the  water  in  a  laborious,  running,  flapping  manner,  but,  when 
fairly  in  the  air,  fly  quite  steadily,  with  neck  and  feet  well 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  147 

stretched  out,  the  head  usually  inclining  downward  and  the  feet 
a  little  upward.  At  times,  before  mating,  they  are  quite  noisy. 

Their  food  consists  of  aquatic  insects,  snails,  tender  water 
plants,  buds,  blossoms  and  seeds  of  different  plants,  etc. 

Their  nests  are  placed  in  tall  weeds  and  -rushes  growing  in 
shallow,  muddy  places,  in  ponds  and  sloughs;  built  on  the  tops 
of  the  broken-down  old  growth  that  forms  a  platform  just  above 
the  water;  quite  a  deep,  hollow  nest,  composed  of  short,  bitten- 
off  stems  of  the  weeds  and  rushes.  Eggs  usually  eight  or  nine 
—  I  have  seen  eleven  in  a  nest,  1.92x1.32;  cream  white,  in 
some  cases  pale  olive  drab,  thickly  and  evenly  speckled  with 
dark  brown;  in  form,  oval  to  ovate.  A  set  of  six  eggs,  taken 
from  a  nest  on  a  marsh,  near  Horicon,  Wisconsin,  are,  in  dimen- 
sions: 1.90x1.29,  1.92x1.33,  1.92x1. 32,. 1.90x1.30,  1.92x1.29, 
1.92x1.33. 


ORDER  LIMICOL^E. 

SHORE  BIRDS. 

"Neck  and  legs  usually  elongated  (the  latter  sometimes  excessively  so),  the 
tibiae  usually  more  or  less  naked  below.  Hind  toe  short  or  rudimentary,  some- 
times absent,  and  inserted  above  the  level  of  the  anterior  toes.  Habits  prseco- 
cial,  and  young  dasypsedic.  Palate  schizoguathous.  Carotids  double." 

FAMILY  PHALAROPODID^E.     PHALAKOPES. 

"Small  birds,  with  Sandpiper-like  appearance,  but  with  very  full,  compact 
plumage,  like  that  of  the  Coots,  Gulls  and  Petrels;  the  tarsus  greatly  compressed, 
and  the  toes  partly  webbed,  as  well  as  fringed,  by  a  lateral  (sometimes  scalloped) 
margin." 

GENUS  PHALAROPUS  BKISSON. 

Bill  slender,  nearly  cylindrical,  not  perceptibly  widened  toward  the  end;  nos- 
trils separated  from  loral  feathers  by  a  space  equal  to  much  less  than  the  depth 
of  the  upper  mandible  at  the  base.  (Ridgway.) 

SUBGENUS  PHALAEOPUS. 

Wing  less  than  4.50;  tarsus  less  than  1.00;  web  between  outer  and  middle 
toes  extending  to  or  beyond  second  joint  of  the  latter;  lateral  membrane  of  all 
the  toes  broad  and  distinctly  scalloped.  (Ridgway.) 


148  HISTORY  OF  THE 

Phalaropus  lobatus  (LINN.). 

NORTHERN  PHALAROPE.. 
PLATE  X. 

Migratory;  rare.     Arrive  about  the  middle  to  last  of  May. 

B.  520.     K.  564.     C.  603.     G.  264,     69.     U.  223. 

HABITAT.  Northern  portion  of  the  northern  hemisphere; 
south  in  winter  to  Guatemala;  breeding  from  Labrador  and 
Alaska  north  to  Iceland  and  Greenland.  (Northern  Asia  and 
Europe.) 

SP.  CHAK.  "Adult  female,  in  summer:  Above,  dark  plumbeous,  the  back 
striped  with  ochraceous  or  buff;  wings  dusky,  the  greater  coverts  broadly  tipped 
with  white;  lower  parts  white;  chest  and  sides  of  neck  rufous.  Adult  male,  in 
summer:  Similar  to  the  female,  but  colors  duller,  the  rufous  almost  confined  to 
sides  of  neck,  and  less  distinct,  the  chest  chiefly  mixed  white  and  grayish.  Win- 
ter plumage:  Forehead,  superciliary  stripe,  sides  of  head  and  neck,  with  lower 
parts  generally,  pure  white;  top  of  head  grayish,  the  feathers  with  dusky  shaft 
streaks  and  whitish  borders;  a  blackish  spot  in  front  of  eye,  and  side  of  head, 
from  beneath  eye  across  ear  coverts,  mixed  dusky  and  grayish  white;  upper 
parts  chiefly  grayish;  sides  of  chest  washed  or  clouded  with  grayish.  Young: 
Top  of  head  dusky,  with  or  without  streaks;  back  and  scapulars  blackish,  dis- 
tinctly bordered  with  buff  or  ochraceous;  middle  wing  coverts  bordered  with 
buff  or  whitish;  forehead,  supra-auricular  stripe,  lores  and  lower  parts  white, 
the  chest  and  sides  of  breast  sometimes  suffused  with  dull  brownish;  ear  coverts 
dusky.  Downy  young:  Above,  bright  tawny,  the  rump  with  three  parallel  stripes 
of  black,  enclosing  two  of  paler  fulvous  than  the  ground  color;  a  triangular 
patch  of  brown  on  crown,  bounded  irregularly  with  blackish;  a  black  line  over 
ears;  throat  and  rest  of  head  pale  tawny;  rest  of  lower  parts  white,  becoming 
grayish  posteriorly." 

Stretch  of 
Length,          -wing.          Wing.          Tail.        Tarsus.        Bill. 

Male 7.50          13.50         4.20        2.10          .80  .85 

Female...      7.90         14.25        4.50        2.25         .82          .90 

Iris  dark  brown;  bill  and  claws  black;  legs,  feet  and  webs 
slate  blue. 

These  birds  are  quite  common,  during  migration,  along  both 
coasts,  but  rare  inland.  Their  flight  is  very  strong  and  easy, 
and  while  feeding  often  rise,  flying  circling  and  low,  dropping 
here  and  there  upon  the  floating  seaweeds  and  debris  that  col- 
lect so  abundantly  in  the  "tide  streaks."  They  ride  the  waters 
lightly,  drifting  upon  its  surface  like  a  feather,  gracefully  pick- 
ing to  the  right  and  left  as  they  go;  in  actions  much  like  the 
true  Brant,  Branta  bernida,  and  for  this  reason  are  known  by 
the  sailors  as  "Sea  Geese." 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  149 

May  25th,  1883,  I  saw,  at  Fort  "Wallace,  Kansas,  on  a  pond 
made  by  damming  the  south  fork  of  the  Smoky  Hill  River,  a  pair 
of  little  birds  swimming  near  the  center  with  a  small  flock  of 
American  Eared  Grebes.  From  their  motions  and  position  on 
the  water  I  knew  they  were  Phalaropes,  but  saw  they  were  too 
small  for  Wilson's,  which  is  a  common  migrant  through  Kansas; 
I  had  never  noticed  the  latter  birds  resting  out  upon  the  water, 
or  swimming,  except  short  distances  on  their  feeding  grounds, 
or  when  winged  by  a  shot;  but  I  could  not  make  out  with  cer- 
tainty whether  they  were  the  Northern  or  the  Red  Phalarope. 
So  I  laid  down  in  a  hollow  at  the  edge  of  the  bank  and  watched 
them  for  a  long  time,  hoping  the  wind,  which  was  strong  and 
favorable,  would  drift  them  within  shot,  but  they  kept  in  the 
center  of  the  pond,  and  when  they  did  rise  circled  spirally  to  a 
height  of  about  one  hundred  feet,  then  struck  north.  Gone^  and 
my  disappointment  was  great!  As  I  lay  there  estimating  the 
distance,  and  blaming  myself  for  not  venturing  a  shot,  my  hopes 
were  revived  by  the  sight  of  a  flock  of  fifteen  or  sixteen  wing- 
ing their  way  down  the  pond  and  alighting  with  the  Grebes  at 
the  place  where  the  others  were  seen.  Instead  of  quietly  rest- 
ing, like  the  mated  pair,  they  began  chasing  each  other  with 
tremulous  wings  and  bobbing  of  heads.  The  males  (the  plain- 
est bird,  an  exception  to  the  rule)  were  doing  their  best  to 
appear  brave  and  attractive.  Their  actions  during  courtship 
are  peculiar  and  ludicrous,  much  like  those  of  Wilson's  Phala- 
rope, which  I  have  watched  on  their  love  (or  mating)  grounds. 
The  birds  only  remained  a  short  time,  arising  in  a  body  from 
the  water  and  circling  like  the  first.  I  quickly  slipped  into  my 
gun  a  couple  of  shells  loaded  with  No.  6  shot,  and  dropped  five 
of  the  birds,  which  the  wind  soon  brought  to  the  shore;  on 
picking  them  up  they  proved  to  be  the  Northern  Phalarope, 
(Lobipes  hyperbor&us),  two  males,  and  three  females.  I  meas- 
ured the  birds,  but  only  mounted  one,  as  I  have  a  pair  in  the 
uGoss  Ornithological  Collection,"  shot  in  the  Bay  of  Fundy 
on  the  "ripplings,"  where  the  birds  gather  to  feed  upon  the 
minute  snails  and  other  forms  of  life  on  the  drift  —  the  shrimps 
feeding  upon  the  same,  herrings  feeding  upon  the  shrimps,  pol- 


150  HISTORY  OF  THE 

lock,  like  hungry  hogs,  often  leaping  out  of  the  water  in  their 
eager  haste  to  catch  the  herrings,  and  the  gulls  screaming  and 
swooping  down  for  their  share,  make  up  a  wild  and  exciting 
scene  in  the  never-ending  struggle  for  life,  the  strong  preying 
upon  the  weak.  And  late  in  May,  1882,  while  out  in  a  sealing 
schooner  off  Cape  Flattery,  I  saw  several  small  flocks,  two  of 
which  were  over  one  hundred  miles  from  the  shore.  Their  nests 
are  placed  in  depressions  in  the  ground  (usually  near  the  water), 
and  occasionally  sparingly  lined  with  grasses.  Eggs  l.lOx.80; 
usually  four,  varying  in  color  from  olive  green  to  buffy  olive 
brown,  rather  thickly  but  irregularly  spotted  and  blotched  with 
sepia  to  blackish  brown;  in  shape,  rather  pyriform.  A  set  of 
three  eggs,  taken  July  2d,  1884,  by  Mr.  Robert  MacFarlane,  at 
Anderson  River,  Arctic  America,  measure:  1.09x.  79,  l.lOx.78, 
1.12x.80. 

SUBGENUS  STEGANOPUS  VLEILLOT. 

"Bill  slender  and  subulate,  with  strictly  basal  nostrils,  as  in  Lobipes;  web 
between  outer  and  middle  toes  not  reaching  to  second  joint,  the  lateral  mem- 
brane of  all  the  toes  narrow  and  scarcely  scalloped." 

Phalaropus  tricolor  (VIEILL.). 

WILSON'S  PHALAROPB. 
PLATE  X. 

Summer  resident;  rare;  in  migration,  common.  Arrive  the 
last  of  April  to  first  of  May;  begin  laying  the  last  of  May  to 
first  of  June;  return  usually  in  September.  June  8th,  1886,  I 
found  three  pairs  of  these  birds  breeding  on  marshy  grounds, 
bordering  a  slough  or  pond  of  Crooked  Creek,  Meade  county. 

B.  519.     R.  565.     C.  602.     G.  265,     70.     U.  224. 

HABITAT.  Temperate  North  America,  but  chiefly  in  the  inte- 
rior; north  to  Nova  Scotia,  Maine,  Saskatchewan  and  Oregon; 
south  during  migration  to  Brazil  and  Patagonia;  breeding  from 
Kansas  northward,  chiefly  north  of  40°. 

SP.  CHAK.  "Adult  female,  in  summer.  Forehead  and  crown  pale  pearl  gray, 
the  former  with  a  blackish  line  on  each  side;  occiput  and  nape  white,  changing 
to  plumbeous  gray  on  the  back  and  scapulars.  Stripe  on  the  side  of  the  head 
(chiefly  back  of  the  eye),  and  continued  clown  the  side  of  the  neck,  deep  black, 
changing  on  the  lower  part  of  the  neck  into  rich  dark  chestnut — this  extending 
backward  more  interruptedly  on  each  side  of  the  interscapular  region;  outer 
scapulars  marked  with  a  similar  stripe.  A  short  stripe  above  the  lores  and  eyes 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  151 

(not  reaching  the  bill),  cheeks,  chin  and  throat  pure  white;  foreneck  and  jugu- 
luni  soft  buffy  cinnamon,  deepest  laterally  and  posteriorly,  and  fading  gradually 
into  creamy  buff  on  the  breast;  remaining  lower  parts  white.  Wings  brownish 
gray,  the  coverts  and  tertials  bordered  with  paler;  rump  brownish  gray,  upper 
tail  coverts  pure  white.  Adult  male,  in  summer:  Smaller  and  much  duller  than 
the  female,  with  the  beautiful  markings  of  the  latter  but  faintly  indicated. 
Adult  and  young,  in  idnter:  Above,  continuous  light  ash  gray;  upper  tail  cov- 
erts, superciliary  stripe  and  lower  parts  white,  the  jugulum  and  sides  of  breast 
tinged  faintly  with  pale  ashy.  Young,  first  plumage:  Crown,  back  and  scapu- 
lars blackish  dusky,  the  feathers  bordered  conspicuously  with  buff.  Upper  tail 
coverts,  superciliary  stripe  and  lower  parts  white,  the  ueck  tinged  with  buff. 
Downy  young:  Prevailing  color  bright  tawny  fulvous,  paler  beneath,  the  abdo- 
men nearly  white;  occiput  and  nape  with  a  distinct  median  streak  of  black,  on 
the  former  branching  laterally  into  two  narrower,  somewhat  zigzag  lines;  lower 
back  and  rump  with  three  broad  black  stripes;  flanks  with  a  black  spot,  and 
caudal  region  crossed  by  a  wide  subtenninal  bar  of  the  same.  Iris  dark  brown; 
bill,  legs,  feet,  webs  and  claws  black. " 

Stretch  of 
Length.  iving.  Wing.         Tail.         Tarsus.         Bill. 

Male .       8.50          15.50         4.80         2.00         1.20         1.20 

Female...      9.50          16.75         5.25         2.30         1.25         1.35 

These  birds  are  rare  in  the  Eastern  States,  abundant  in  the 
Mississippi  valley  and  quite  common  westward  within  their 
range.  They  inhabit  the  marshes,  swails  and  edges  of  shallow 
ponds,  feeding  upon  minute  snails  and  other  small  forms  of  life 
that  abound  in  their  aquatic  haunts;  procuring  the  same  chiefly 
by  running  over  the  moist  ground  or  wading  in  the  short  growths 
of  water  grasses.  They  swim  buoyantly,  but  seldom  long  at  a 
time  or  far  from  the  shore,  and  I  never  saw  one  dive  or  make 
an  attempt  to  do  so,  but  when  frightened,  prefer  to  escape  by 
flight,  which  is  strong,  but  at  such  times  in  a  zigzag  and  wavy 
manner,  dropping  back  as  soon  as  out  of  danger.  As  a  rule, 
they  are  not  timid  and  are  easily  approached.  Their  motions, 
whether  upon  the  land  or  water,  are  easy  and  pleasing,  grace- 
fully nodding  the  head,  or  picking  from  side  to  side  as  they  go. 

The  actions  of  a  pair  of  these  birds  while  mating  are  not  very 
demonstrative,  but  a  flock  so  engaged  in  their  rivalries  often  as- 
sume positions  both  amusing  and  ludicrous,  as  they  bow,  circle 
around  and  chase  each  other.  The  female  is  larger  and  brighter 
in  color  than  the  male,  but  from  observations  I  am  led  to  think 
certain  writers  are  mistaken  in  reporting  that  the  females  arrive 
first  and  do  all  the  courting,  but  leave  the  work  of  nestrnaking, 


152  HISTORY  OF  THE 

incubation  and  the  rearing  of  the  young  to  the  males.  I  have 
never  been  so  fortunate  as  to  find  either  of  the  birds  upon  the 
nest;  but  certainly  both  appear  equally  watchful  and  solicitous, 
circling  around  and  croaking  as  one  approaches  their  nests,  or 
near  their  young,  (grayish  little  fellows,  that  leave  the  nest  as 
soon  as  hatched.)  In  the  earliest  arrival  noticed,  the  sexes  ap- 
pear to  be  about  equally  divided,  and  I  am  inclined  to  think 
further  examination  will  prove  the  birds  to  be  joint  workers  in 
the  hatching  and  rearing  of  their  young. 

Their  nests  are  placed  on  the  ground,  usually  on  hummocks, 
quite  deeply  excavated,  and  lined  with  a  thin  layer  of  grasses. 
Eggs  three  or  four,  usually  four;  ground  color  cream  to  brown- 
ish drab,  rather  thickly  but  irregularily  blotched  with  varying 
shades  of  brown,  to  black  or  deep  blackish  brown;  in  shape, 
pyriform.  A  sot  of  four  eggs,  taken  June  1st,  1883,  at  Pewau- 
kee,  Wisconsin,  from  a  nest  on  a  marsh,  are,  in  dimensions: 
1.22x.90,  1.23x.88,  1.23x.88,  1.25x.90. 

FAMILY  RECURVIROSTEID-32.     AVOCETS  AND  STILTS. 

"Tarsi  and  bill  very  long;  toes  partially  webbed  and  without  scalloped  mar- 
gin." 

GENUS  RECURVIROSTRA  LINN^US. 

"Hind  toe  rudimentary,  but  distinct;  anterior  toes  united  to  the  claws  by  a 
much  emarginated  membrane.  Bill  depressed,  decidedly  recurved,  extending 
into  a  fine  point,  which  is  slightly  decurved.  Tail  covered  by  the  wings." 

Recurvirostrg,  americana  GM. 

AMERICAN  AVOCET. 
PLATE  X. 

Summer  resident  in  the  western  part  of  the  State;  rare;  dur- 
ing migration,  common  throughout  the  State.  Arrive  the  last 
of  April  to  first  of  May;  begin  laying  early  in  June;  occasion- 
ally linger  until  late  in  the  fall. 

B.  517.     R.  566.     C.  600.     G.  266,     71.     U.  225. 

HABITAT.  Temperate  North  America,  north  to  Great  Slave 
Lake,  south  in  winter  to  Guatemala,  Cuba  and  Jamaica;  rare  in 
the  Eastern  States,  not  common  along  the  Pacific  coast,  but  —  in 
suitable  localities  —  abundant  in  the  interior,  west  of  the  Missis- 
sippi River;  breeding  from  southwestern  Texas  northward  with- 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  153 

in  its  range,  chiefly  from  Colorado  to  Manitoba,  Saskatchewan, 
Utah  and  southeastern  Oregon. 

SP.  CHAK.  "Wings  (except  secondaries,  terminal  half  of  greater  coverts 
and  inner  secondaries),  inner  scapulars  and  adjoining  feathers  of  the  back 
brownish  black;  lower  parts,  rump,  outer  scapulars  and  middle  of  the  back 
•white;  tail  ashy  white  or  pale  ashy.  Adult,  in  summer:  Head,  neck  and  breast 
light  cinnamon,  becoming  white  around  the  bill  and  fading  gradually  into  the 
white  of  the  body;  tertials  brownish  gray.  Adult  (and  young),  in  winter: 
Head,  neck  and  breast  white,  more  or  less  tinged  with  pale  bluish  gray,  espe- 
cially on  crown  and  nape.  Young:  Primaries  slightly  tipped  with  whitish;  scap- 
ulars and  feathers  of  back  tipped  or  transversely  mottled  with  pale  fulvous  or 
buff;  crown  dull  grayish;  nape  tinged  with  light  rufous;  bill  deep  biack;  iris 
umber  brown;  legs  and  feet  ashy  blue. 

"The  intensity  of  the  cinnamon  color  on  the  head  and  neck  varies  with  the 
individual;  sometimes  there  is  a  dusky  gray  suffusion  around  the  eye,  this  be- 
ing especially  characteristic  of  younger  birds." 

Stretch  of 
Length.          wing.          Wing.          Tail.        Tarsus.          Bill. 

Male 17.75         30.50         9.00        3.65         3.70        3.75 

Female...     17.00         29.50         8.60         3.50         3.60         3.50 

This  species  inhabit  the  swales  and  edges  of  ponds,  prefer- 
ring the  alkali  marshes  and  pools  of  water.  They  move  about 
with  easy  motions,  bowing  the  head  at  nearly  every  movement; 
are  perfectly  at  home  on  the  land  and  float  as  lightly  upon  the 
water  as  a  Gull. 

Their  usual  feeding  habits  are  peculiar,  skimming  the  surface 
of  the  water  or  land  from  side  to  side  for  minute  forms  of  life, 
and  when  so  engaged  upon  the  land  sway  the  body  at  each  step, 
much  like  a  person  mowing  or  cradling.  They  also  pick  up  the 
larger  forms,  and  are  quite  expert  in  chasing  and  catching  insects. 
They  are  social  and  usually  found  in  small  flocks;  as  a  rule 
rather  shy,  but  at  their  nesting  places,  especially  near  the  hatch- 
ing time,  often  meet  the  intruder,  circling  around  and  scolding, 
and  when  near  try  to  scare  him  away  by  darting  swift  as  an 
arrow,  sheering  as  they  pass.  On  alighting,  open  their  wings 
high  above  their  backs  and  close  them,  much  like  the  Bartramian 
Sandpiper  (generally  known  as  the  Field  or  Upland  Plover). 
Their  nests  are  placed  on  the  ground,  in  the  tall  grass  at  or 
near  the  edges  of  shallow  ponds  of  water;  made  of  the  stems 
of  the  old  grass  and  lined  writh  the  finer  leaves  of  the  upland 
prairie  grasses.  Eggs  three  or  four,  1.87x1.30;  olivaceous 


154  HISTORY  OF  THE 

drab  to  buff,  rather  uniformly  spotted  or  blotched  with  varying 
shades  of  light  to  dark  brown;  in  form,  obovate.  A  set  of  four 
eggs,  taken  July  5th,  1886,  from  a  nest  on  an  alkali  marsh  near 
Fort  Garland,  Colorado,  are:  2.00x1.40,  1.89x1.39,  1.94x1.37, 
1.97x1.36. 

GENUS  HIMANTOPUS  BKISSON. 

"Hind  toe  wanting;  outer  and  middle  toes  connected  at  the  base  by  a  short 
web;  the  inner  toe  completely  separated  from  the  middle;  bill  subulate,  deeper 
than  broad,  slightly  upturned  toward  the  end;  legs  excessively  lengthened,  the 
bare  part  of  the  tibia  about  half  as  long  as  the  tarsus,  which  greatly  exceeds  the 
bill  in  length,  the  latter  being  nearly  twice  the  length  of  the  middle  toe." 

Himantopus  mexicanus  (MULL.). 

BLACK-NECKED  STILT. 
PLATE  X. 

Summer  resident  in  the  western  part  of  the  State;  rare.  Arrive 
about  the  middle  of  May;  begin  laying  by  the  first  of  June. 

B.  518.     R.  567.     C.  601.     G.  ,     72.     U.  226. 

HABITAT.  Temperate  North  America,  from  New  Brunswick, 
Maine,  Minnesota  and  Oregon,  southward;  south  in  winter  to 
Peru,  Brazil  and  West  Indies.  Rare  in  the  middle  and  eastern 
provinces,  except  Florida,  also  along  the  Pacific  coast;  breed- 
ing in  suitable  localities,  and  in  abundance  in  western  Texas, 
southern  Colorado,  Utah,  eastern  California  and  southeastern 
Oregon. 

SP.  CHAR.  "Adult  male:  Forehead,  a  large  postocular  spot,  lores,  entire 
lower  parts,  rump  and  upper  tail  coverts  white;  remainder  of  the  head,  whole 
nape,  back,  scapulars  and  wings  (both  surfaces)  glossy  black,  with  a  greenish 
blue  reflection;  tail  pale  grayish;  bill  black;  iris  crimson;  legs  and  feet  lake 
red  or  beautiful  rose  pink  in  life,  yellowish  in  the  dried  skin.  Adult  female: 
Similar  to  the  male,  but  back  and  scapulars  brownish  slate  and  the  black  of 
other  portions  duller.  Young,  first  plumage:  Similar  to  the  adult  female,  but 
the  feathers  of  the  back,  the  scapulars  and  tertials  bordered  with  buff  or  dull 
whitish,  the  black  of  the  head  and  nape  finely  mottled  with  the  same.  Downy 
young:  Above,  light  fulvous  gray,  mottled  with  dusky,  the  back  and  rump  re- 
lieved by  several  large  black  blotches;  head,  neck  and  lower  parts  fulvous 
whitish;  the  crown,  occiput  and  nape  grayish,  the  crown  with  a  mesial  black 
streak,  the  occiput  with  coarse  spots  of  the  same;  bill  deep  black;  iris  rosy  car- 
mine; legs  and  feet  fine  rose  pink  or  delicate  pale  lake  red  (in  life). 

"Adult  specimens  in  high  breeding  plumage  sometimes  have  the  white  of 
breast,  etc.,  tinged  with  soft,  creamy  pink." 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  155 

Stretch  of 
Length.          wing.  Wing.         Tail.         Tarsus.          Bill. 

Male 14.75         28.50         9.25         3.00         4.50         2.70 

Female...     14.50         27.00         8.50         3.00         4.30        2.55 

This  slender  wader  inhabits  the  shores  of  bays,  ponds  of  wa- 
ter, and  swales  where  scantily  covered  with  short  grasses;  alkali 
pools  are  favorite  resorts.  It  swims  buoyantly  and  gracefully, 
and  moves  on  the  land  with  easy,  measured  tread  (not  in  a 
"tremulous  manner,"  as  supposed  by  some  writers,  on  account 
of  its  extremely  long  and  slender  legs),  runs  swiftly,  with  par- 
tially raised  wings,  readily  tacking  or  stopping  in  its  chase  after 
insect  life.  Its  flight  is  not  very  swift,  but  strong  and  steady, 
with  sweeping  strokes,  legs  fully  extended  and  head  partially 
drawn  back,  after  the  manner  of  the  Avocet,  and,  like  the  latter, 
will  meet  one  often  a  long  distance  from  their  nests,  scolding 
and  threatening;  at  such  times  their  necks  are  as  fully  extended 
as  their  legs,  the  latter  often  dangling  as  they  retreat. 

Their  food  consists  of  insects,  minute  shell  fish,  larvae,  and 
the  various  small  forms  of  life.  They  are  social,  usually  living 
and  breeding  in  small  flocks. 

Their  nests  —  when  placed  on  dry,  sandy  land  —  are  slight 
depressions  worked  out  to  fit  the  body;  on  wet  lands,  are  upon 
bunches  or  masses  of  vegetation.  Eggs  three  or  four;  buff  to 
brownish  olive,  irregularly  but  rather  thickly  splashed  and 
spotted  with  blackish  brown;  in  shape,  pyriform.  A  set  of 
four  eggs,  taken  May  17th,  1882,  near  Corpus  Christi,  Texas, 
from  a  nest  near  the  water's  edge,  are,  in  dimensions:  1.72x 
1.23,  1.75x1.25,  1.78x1.24,  1.80x1.27. 

FAMILY   SCOLOPACIDJE.     SNIPES,  SANDPIPERS,  ETC. 

( This  family  embraces  a  great  variety  of  forms,  from  the  smallest  Sandpiper 
to  the  largest  Curlews.) 

"Bill  exceedingly  variable  —  short  or  long,  straight,  slightly  recurved,  or  de- 
cidedly decurved,  but  usually  more  or  less  expanded  laterally  at  the  end,  which 
is  more  or  less  sensitive.  Hind  toe  usually  present,  rarely  absent. 

"Tarsus  rounded  in  front,  where  clothed  with  a  single  row  of  transverse 
scutellse." 

GKNTTS  PHILOHELA  GRAY. 

"Body  very  full,  and  head,  bill  and  eyes  very  large.  Tibia  short,  feathered 
to  the  joint.  Toes  cleft  to  base.  Wings  short,  rounded,  the  three  outer  prima- 
ries very  narrow  and  much  attenuated;  the  fourth  and  fifth  equal  and  longest. 


156  HISTORY  OF   THE 

Tarsi  stout,  shorter  than  the  middle  toe.     Hind  claw  very  short,  conical,  not 
extending  beyond  the  toe.     Tail  of  twelve  feathers." 

Philohela  minor  (GMEL.). 

AMERICAN  WOODCOCK. 
PLATE  X. 

Occasional  summer  resident;  quite  common  in  migration.  Ar- 
rive the  last  of  February  to  middle  of  March;  begin  laying  the 
first  of  April;  a  few  linger  until  the  ice  closes  their  feeding 

grounds. 

B.  522.     K.  525.     C.  605.     G.  240,     73.     U.  228. 

HABITAT.  Eastern  United  States,  nortfi  to  British  Provinces, 
west  to  the  plains;  accidental  in  the  Bermudas;  breeding 
throughout  its  range. 

SP.  CIIAK.  "Bill  long,  compressed,  punctuated  and  (in  dried  skins)  corru- 
rugated  near  the  end;  upper  mandible  longer  than  the  under,  and  fitted  to  it  at 
the  tip;  wings  moderate,  three  outer  quills  very  narrow;  tail  short;  legs  mod- 
erate; eyes  inserted  unusually  distant  from  the  bill.  Adult:  Occiput  with  three 
transverse  bands  of  black,  alternating  with  three  much  narrower  ones  of  pale 
yellowish  rufous;  upper  parts  of  body  variegated  with  pale  ashy  rufous,  or  yel- 
lowish red  of  various  shades,  and  black;  large  space  on  front  and  throat  reddish 
ashy;  line  from  the  eye  to  the  bill,  and  another  on  the  neck  below  the  eye, 
brownish  black;  entire  under  parts  pale  grayish  rufous,  brighter  on  the  sides 
and  under  wing  coverts;  quills  ashy  brown;  tail  feathers  brownish  black,  tipped 
with  ashy,  darker  on  the  upper  surface,  paler  and  frequently  white  on  the  un- 
der; bill  light  brown,  paler  and  yellowish  at  base;  legs  pale  reddish.  Downy 
young:  Generally,  color  light  reddish  buff  or  Isabella  color,  uniform  on  the 
lower  surface;  line  from  bill  to  eye,  a  large,  somewhat  elliptical  patch  covering 
forehead  and  fore  part  of  the  crown,  a  patch  on  the  occiput  (connected  with 
that  of  the  crown  by  a  narrow  isthmus)  and  a  narrow  mark  behind  the  eye,  with 
an  oblique  one  below  it,  very  dark  chestnut;  broad  stripe  down  the  rump  also 
chestnut;  stripe  down  the  nape,  and  various  large  blotches  on  the  back,  wings, 
etc.,  rather  light  snuff  brown." 

Stretch  of 
Length.          wing.          Wing,         Tail.          Tarsus.         Bill. 

Male 10.50         17.50         5.25        2.25         1.25         2.50 

Female . .  .     11.50         18.75         5.50         2.50         1.30        2.75 

The  following  interesting  description  of  this  popular  game 
bird  is  taken  from  "North  American  Water  Birds,"  Yol.  I, 
p.  184: 

"In  its  habits  the  Woodcock  is  nocturnal.  It  never  flies 
voluntarily  by  day,  but  only  when  forced  from  its  retreats,  usu- 
ally keeping  in  close  and  sheltered  thickets,  and  resorting  at 
twilight  to  its  favorite  feeding  places.  It  feeds  almost  exclu- 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  157 

sivelj  during  the  night,  as  its  sight  is  very  imperfect  by  day. 
Its  eye  is  remarkably  large  and  handsome,  but  unfit  to  bear  the 
glare  of  the  sun,  its  full  and  almost  amaurotic  appearance  plainly 
suggesting  the  crepuscular  habits  of  the  bird.  During  the 
greater  portion  of  the  day  the  Woodcock  remains  closely  con- 
cealed in  marshy  thickets  or  in  rank  grass;  in  the  early  morn- 
ing or  evening,  and  also  on  moonlight  nights,  it  seeks  its  food 
in  open  places,  but  during  the  daytime  in  dark  and  dense 
coverts. 

' '  The  favorite  places  of  resort  of  this  species  are  low  marshy 
grounds,  swamps,  and  meadows  with  soft  bottoms.  During  very 
wet  seasons  it  seeks  higher  land  —  most  generally  corn  fields  — 
and  searches  for  food  in  the  soft  ploughed  ground,  where  its 
presence  is  indicated  by  the  holes  made  by  its  bill.  In  seasons 
of  excessive  drought,  the  Woodcock  resorts  in  large  numbers  to 
tide-water  creeks  and  the  banks  of  fresh  water  rivers;  but  so 
averse  is  it  to  an  excess  of  water,  that  after  continued  or  very 
heavy  rains  it  has  been  known  to  suddenly  disappear  over  widely 
extended  tracts  of  country. 

"In  October  and  November  this  bird  forsakes  its  usual  feeding 
grounds,  and  resorts  to  tall,  swampy  woods,  small  streams  over- 
grown with  bushes,  and  newly-cleared  lands.  Its  favorite  food 
consists  of  larvae,  insects  and  (more  especially)  worms.  As  the 
approach  of  cold  weather  drives  the  latter  deeper  into  the  ground, 
the  Woodcock  resorts  to  woods  and  brush  lands,  where  it  gleans 
a  subsistence  on  insects  concealed  under  the  leaves.  That  is 
considered  by  sportsmen  as  the  most  favorable  season  in  which 
to  shoot  this  bird,  as  it  is  then  larger,  fatter  and  more  free  from 
vermin  than  at  any  other  time.  The  best  sportsmen  contend 
that  the  Woodcock  should  not  be  shot  until  the  last  of  Septem- 
ber or  the  first  of  October,  and  regard  its  destruction,  when  of 
imperfect  flight,  as  both  barbarous  in  itself  and  certain  to  render 
the  race  extinct,  at  least  over  portions  of  the  country. 

"The  food  of  this  species  consists  chiefly  of  worms,  and  also 
of  several  kinds  of  larvae,  which  it  finds  under  leaves  and  the 
debris  of  swampy  woods  and  open  bogs.  The  extreme  portion 
of  its  bill  is  well  supplied  with  nerves,  and  is  so  extremely  sen- 


158  HISTORY  OF  THE 

sitive  to  the  touch  that  by  it  the  presence  of  worms  in  the  soft 
earth  at  a  depth  of  three  inches  is  readily  detected.  This  is  a 
very  voracious  bird,  and  when  kept  in  confinement  requires 
constant  attention  and  a  large  supply  of  food.  It  soon  discov- 
ers and  draws  out  every  worm  in  the  ground;  and  such  as  are 
provided  for  it  are  consumed  in  incredible  quantities.  It  can 
in  time  be  induced  to  feed  on  bread  and  milk,  of  which  it  will 
also  consume  an  enormous  quantity  in  twenty-four  hours.  The 
voracity  of  this  species  is  evidently  one  of  the  occasions  of  its 
unsocial  character.  For  the  table  the  Woodcock  is  highly 
esteemed  by  epicures,  and  always  commands  a  high  price  in  the 
markets  of  our  large  cities.  It  is  particularly  sought  for  during 
the  early  part  of  the  season,  although  birds  taken  at  that  time 
are  much  inferior  in  many  respects  to  those  procured  later  in 
autumn. 

"The  flight  of  this  species  is  very  peculiar.  When  flushed  in 
its  retreats,  it  rises  to  the  height  of  the  bushes  or  undergrowth, 
and  quickly  drops  behind  them  again,  usually  running  a  short 
distance  as  soon  as  it  touches  the  ground.  Yery  little  force  is 
required  to  kill  it,  but,  as  it  presents  itself  as  a  mark  only  for  a 
moment,  no  other  than  a  practiced  sportsman  will  be  successful. 
As  it  rises,  the  action  of  its  wings  causes  a  whistling  sound. 
When  found  in  open  meadow  land,  however,  it  is  comparatively 
easily  shot,  as  it  always  gives  warning  by  this  whistling  sound 
of  its  wings  and  seldom  rises  higher  than  a  man's  head,  skim- 
ming over  the  ground  with  a  slow  and  steady  flight  to  a  short 
distance,  when  it  settles  again  in  the  grass.  But  among  bushes 
and  thickets  its  course  is  at  first  indirect  and  unsteady,  and  un- 
like the  flight  of  any  other  game;  springing  rapidly  from  the 
ground,  it  rises  perpendicularly  until  it  clears  the  tops  of  the 
trees  or  bushes;  its  flight  then  becomes  more  steady,  but  the 
bird  is  by  that  time  usually  out  of  reach,  or  only,  to  be  hit  by 
sportsmen  of  experience  and  cool  judgment. 

"The  call  note  of  the  Woodcock  is  a  short  'Quack,'  but  this 
is  not  often  heard  except  in  the  spring,  when  during  the  love 
season  the  male  is  said  to  have  what  may  be  considered  its  song. 
Towards  dusk  it  mounts  in  the  air,  uttering  peculiar  whistling 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  159 

notes,  which  are  continued  until  a  late  hour  in  the  evening;  and 
the  same  are  sometimes  heard  in  the  early  morning.  This  pe- 
culiarity is  mentioned  by  several  writers,  but  the  song  is  spoken 
of  by  some  as  a  succession  of  cries,  by  others  as  a  series  of 
whistling  notes.  Lewis  mentions  it  as  occurring  in  the  morning, 
and  only  occasionally  at  night.  The  Woodcock  rises  in  the  air 
by  a  kind  of  spiral  motion  to  a  considerable  height,  uttering  its 
notes  from  time  to  time,  until,  having  gained  a  certain  elevation, 
it  circles  around  in  a  wild,  irregular  manner,  at  the  same  time 
making  confused  and  murmuring  sounds;  it  then  descends  as 
rapidly  as  it  rose.  When  it  attempts  to  utter  these  notes  on  the 
ground,  it  seems  to  do  so  with  difficulty,  throwing  its  head 
toward  the  earth  and  erecting  its  tail.  These  manoeuvres  and 
this  song  are  only  noticed  in  spring,  and  unquestionably  are  the 
love  song  of  the  male  to  his  mate. 

"Its  period  of  incubation  is  three  weeks.  The  young  bird 
when  first  hatched  is  not  capable  of  active  movement,  and  may 
be  very  easily  caught.  This  species  is  said  to  have  frequently 
two  broods  in  a  season.  The  female  exhibits  great  ingenuity 
in  her  endeavors  to  conceal  her  young  and  to  draw  away  intrud- 
ers, fluttering  over  the  ground,  dragging  her  body  heavily  along 
as  if  wounded  and  incapable  of  flight,  and  then  flying  to  a  short 
distance,  repeating  these  manoeuvres  until  she  has  enticed  her 
pursuers  sufficiently  far,  when  she  suddenly  takes  wing,  and  re- 
' turns  to  her  offspring  by  a  circuitous  route." 

On  the  25th  of  May,  1874:,  while  slowly  moving  about  in  the 
low  bottom  timber  lands,  near  Neosho  Falls,  Kansas,  I  came 
across  an  old  bird  with  several  young,  at  least  one-fourth  grown; 
the  moment  I  appeared  in  sight  the  mother  uttered  a  sharp  alarm 
note  (the  little  ones  hiding  like  magic),  fluttering  about  as  de- 
scribed above,  rapidly  uttering  her  warning  note,  until  I  was 
within  ten  feet,  when  she  suddenly  grasped  a  little  one  with  her 
toes,  and  in  a  low  and  laborious  manner  flew  about  thirty  yards 
and  dropped  it  in  a  thicket,  then  swiftly  winged  herself  away. 

These  birds  nest  on  the  ground  in  the  timbered  lands,  along 
the  streams  and  about  the  ponds,  usually  under  an  old  log  or  at 
the  foot  of  a  stump;  a  loosely-constructed  nest  of  old  leaves  and 


160  HISTORY  OF  THE 

grasses.  Eggs  three  or  four,  1.60x1.16;  grayish  to  buff  white, 
irregularly  spotted  and  blotched  with  various  shades  of  reddish 
brown  and  neutral  tints;  in  shape,  rather  pyriform. 

GENUS  GALLINAGO  LEACH. 

"Lower  portion  of  the  tibia  bare  of  feathers,  scutellate  before  and  behind, 
reticulated  laterally  like  the  tarsi.  Nail  of  hind  toe  slender,  extending  beyond 
the  toe.  Bill  depressed  at  the  tip.  Middle  toe  longer  than  the  tarsus.  Tail 
with  twelve  to  twenty-six  feathers.  Plumage  the  same  in  winter  and  summer; 
young  like  the  adult  in  colors  and  markings.  The  more  slender  body,  longer 
legs,  partly  naked  tibia,  and  other  feathers,  distinguish  this  genus  from  Scolopax 
and  PhiloTiela,  and  the  cleft  toes  from  Macrorhamphus." 

Gallinago  delicata  (OKD.). 

WILSON'S  SNIPE. 
PLATE  X. 

Migratory;  common.  Arrive  in  March  to  first  of  April;  re- 
turn as  early  as  August;  a  few  occasionally  remain  until  their 
feeding  grounds  are  frozen. 

B.  523.     K.  526a.     C.  608.     G.  241,     74.     U.  230. 

HABITAT.  The  whole  of  North  America;  south  in  winter  to 
the  West  Indies  and  northern  South  America;  breeding  from 
about  latitude  42°  north  to  within  the  Arctic  circle. 

SP.  CHAR.  "(Tail  feathers  usually  sixteen.)  Bill  long,  compressed,  flattened 
and  slightly  expanded  toward  the  tip,  punctulated  in  its  terminal  half;  wings 
rather  long;  legs  moderate;  tail  short.  Entire  upper  parts  brownish  black; 
every  feather  spotted  and  widely  edged  with  light  rufous,  yellowish  brown  or 
ashy  white;  back  and  rump  transversely  barred  and  spotted  with  the  same;  a 
line  from  the  base  of  the  bill  over  the  top  of  the  head.  Throat  and  neck  before, 
dull  reddish  ashy;  wing  feather  marked  with  dull  brownish  black;  other  under 
parts  white,  with  transverse  bars  of  brownish  black  on  the  sides,  axillary  feath- 
ers, under  wing  coverts  and  under  tail  coverts;  quills  brownish  black;  outer 
edge  of  first  primary  white;  tail  glossy  brownish  black,  widely  tipped  with 
bright  rufous,  paler  at  the  tip,  and  with  a  subterminal  narrow  band  of  black; 
outer  feathers  of  tail  paler,  frequently  nearly  white,  and  barred  with  black 
throughout  their  length.  Bill  brown  (greenish  gray  in  life),  paler  at  base  and 
darker  toward  the  end;  legs  dark  brown  (light  greenish  gray  in  life)." 

Stretch  of 
Length.          wing.          Wing.  Tail.         Tarsus.         Bill. 

Male 10.50         16.80         5.20         2.20         1.20         2.50 

Female...     11.15         17.25         5.25         2.30        1.25        2.60 

Iris  dark  brown;  claws  black. 

This  highly-prized  game  bird  is  quite  common  from  the  At- 
lantic to  the  Pacific.  It  inhabits  the  open  moist  grounds,  where 
it  can  feed  and  probe  with  its  long,  soft,  sensitive,  pointed  bill 


BfRDS  OF  KANSAS.  161 

in  the  thin  mud  and  soft  earth  for  worms,  larvae  and  the  tender 
roots  of  plants;  it  also  readily  picks  up  insects  or  anything  eat- 
able to  its  taste  in  sight.  Its  movements  on  the  ground  are 
easy,  and,  while  feeding,  its  tail  is  partially  erect  and  head  down- 
ward, the  bill  just  clearing  the  ground. 

In  courtship,  the  male  struts  with  drooping  wings  and  wide- 
spread tail  around  his  mate,  in  a  most  captivating  manner,  often 
at  such  times  rising  spiral-like  with  quickly-beating  wings  high 
in  air,  dropping  back  in  a  wavy,  graceful  circle,  uttering  at  the 
same  time  his  jarring,  cackling  love  note,  which,  with  the  vibra- 
tion of  the  wings  upon  the  air,  makes  a  rather  pleasing  sound. 

Their  flight  is  swift  and,  on  the  start,  in  a  zigzag  and  irregu- 
lar manner.  It  is  a  most  difficult  bird  to  shoot;  it  requires  a 
quick  eye  and  a  snap  shot  to  bag  four  out  of  five.  I  have  al- 
ways had  the  best  success  when  the  birds  are  suddenly  flushed, 
in  shooting  the  instant  its  startled  "Scaipe"  reaches  my  ear,  as 
it  is  invariably  heard  the  moment  the  bird  is  fairly  in  the  air. 
These  birds  are  not  social,  and,  although  found  at  times  in  num- 
bers, move  about  either  alone  or  in  pairs. 

Their  nests  are  usually  placed  on  or  under  a  tuft  of  grass;  a 
mere  depression,  scantily  lined  with  bits  of  old  grass  leaves. 
Eggs  three  or  four,  grayish  olive,  with  more  or  less  of  a  brown- 
ish shade,  spotted  and  blotched,  chiefly  about  the  larger  end, 
with  varying  shades  of  umber  brown,  and  usually  sharp,  scratchy 
lines  of  black;  in  shape,  pyriform.  A  set  of  four  eggs,  taken 
May  3d,  1878,  at  Pewaukee,  Wisconsin,  from  a  nest  on  a  marsh, 
are,  in  dimensions:  1.51x1.14,  1.52x1.12,  1.54x1.13,  1.56 

xl.13. 

GENUS  MACROEHAMPHUS  LEACH. 

"General  appearance  of  Gallinago.  Tarsi  longer  than  middle  toe;  a  short 
web  between  the  base  of  outer  and  middle  toe.  Plumage  very  different  in  win- 
ter and  summer;  young  different  from  the  adult.  The  membrane  at  the  base  of 
the  toes  will  at  once  distinguish  this  genus  from  GaUinago,  though  there  are 
other  characters  involved." 

Macrorhainphus  scolopaceus  (SAY). 

LONG-BILLED  DOWITCHER. 
PLATE  X. 

Migratory;  common.  Arrive  in  April;  begin  to  return  in 
August,  and  I  have  noticed  the  birds  late  in  October. 


1G2  HISTORY  OF  THE 

B.  525.     R.  5270.     C.  610.     G.  242,     75.     U.  232. 

HABITAT.  North  America  in  general  (except  northeastern 
portion),  but  chiefly  in  the  western  provinces;  south  in  winter  to 
northern  South  America,  West  Indies;  breeding  in  Alaska,  etc., 
to  the  Arctic  Ocean. 

SP.  CHAR.  "Shaft  of  first  primary  strong,  pure  white;  axillars,  tail  coverts 
and  lower  part  of  rump  white,  barred  or  transversely  spotted  with  slate  color; 
upper  part  of  rump  white,  usually  immaculate;  tail  slate  colored  or  dusky,  barred 
with  white  (or,  in  summer,  adult  with  pale  cinnamon  on  middle  feathers). 
Adult,  in  summer:  Head,  neck  and  lower  parts  light  cinnamon;  breast  scantily 
speckled,  and  sides  barred  with  dusky;  the  head  and  neck  streaked  with  the 
same;  upper  parts  mixed  black,  light  cinnamon  and  white,  the  first  prevailing. 
Winter  plumage:  Belly  and  anal  region  white,  usually  unmarked;  rest  of  plum- 
age nearly  uniform  ash  gray,  somewhat  mixed  with  white  on  breast  and  sides; 
a  whitish  superciliary  stripe,  and  wing  coverts  bordered  with  white.  Young: 
Back,  scapulars  and  tertials  varied  with  black  and  light  clay  brown,  the  latter 
chiefly  on  edges  of  the  feathers;  lower  parts  dull  whitish,  soiled  with  dull  buff 
or  clay  color,  especially  across  breast,  the  jugulum  and  sides  usually  indistinctly 
speckled  with  dusky.  Bill  dark  olive;  iris  reddish  hazel;  feet  light  yellowish 
olive;  claws  black." 

Stretch  of 
Length.  wing.          Wing.         Tail.        Tarsus.         Bill. 

Male 11.00         18.50         5.70         2.25         1.55         2.65 

Female...     11.50        18.75        5.75        2.35        1.60        2.90 

The  sand  bars,  edges  of  lagoons  and  mud  flats  upon  the  sea- 
coast  appear  to  be  the  natural  haunts  of  this  widely-distributed 
and  excellent  table  bird.  It  is  largely  replaced,  along  the  At- 
lanic  coast,  by  its  cousin,  M.  griseus;  increasing  in  numbers 
westward,  and,  during  migration  to  and  from  its  breeding 
grounds,  very  common  inland,  where  it  seems  to  prefer  the  al- 
kali marshes  and  pools  of  water. 

These  birds  are  social  and  generally  move  in  small  flocks. 
They  are  rather  timid,  and,  as  approached,  bunch  together  like 
sheep,  affording  an  easy  shot.  The  survivors  rise  with  a  startled 
"Tweet,  tweet,  tweet,"  but  instead  of  beating  a  retreat,  as  a 
rule  return,  and  hover  over  the  dead  and  wounded,  giving  the 
heartless  "pot  hunter"  another  opportunity  to  slaughter.  When 
much  hunted  they  become  wild,  but  at  such  times  a  passing 
flock  are  easily  drawn  within  range  by  putting  out  decoys,  or, 
from  a  blind,  uttering  their  call  note;  curiosity,  love  of  one  an- 
other, or  stupidity,  (call  it  what  you  may,)  makes  the  birds  an 
easy  capture.  In  flight  they  are  swift  and  strong;  their  feeding 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  163 

habits  similar  to  Wilson1  s  Snipe,  but  in  more  open  grounds  and 
in  deeper  waters;  and  when  too  deep  to  wade,  I  have  seen  them 
boldly  swim  across  a  narrow  channel  or  strip  of  water.  Mr. 
Nelson,  in  his  "Report  upon  Natural  History  Collections  made 
in  Alaska,  between  the  years  1877  and  1881,"  says: 

"This  is  one  of  the  most  common  waders  on  the  shore  of 
Norton  Sound  in  summer,  and  is  also  present  in  small  numbers 
all  along  the  Yukon,  where  suitable  locations  occur.  It  is  a 
rather  scarce  summer  resident  about  Point  Barrow,  according  to 
Murdock.  In  spring,  the  middle  of  May,  as  the  snow  disap- 
pears, and  the  first  pale  leaves  of  grass  begin  to  thrust  their 
spear  points  through  the  dead  vegetable  mat  on  the  ground,  or 
as  early  as  the  tenth  on  some  seasons,  this  peculiar  Snipe  returns 
to  its  summer  home.  At  the  Yukon  mouth  I  found  them  on 
May  12th,  when  they  were  already  engaged  in  love  making, 
though  the  ground  was  still  to  a  great  extent  covered  with 
snow,  and  only  here  and  there  appeared  a  thawed  place  where 
they  could  feed.  Toward  the  end  of  this  month  they  are  plen- 
tiful, and  their  curious  habits  and  loud  notes  make  them  among 
the  most  conspicuous  denizens  of  the  marshes.  At  the  Yukon 
mouth,  on  May  28th,  I  came  across  a  female  busily  at  work, 
preparing  a  little  hollow  in  a  tussock  for  her  eggs,  and,  as  I  drew 
near,  she  moved  a  little  to  one  side  and  uttered  a  sharp,  queru- 
lous note,  as  if  protesting  against  the  intrusion.  We  took  the 
hint  and  left  her;  but  a  second  visit,  some  days  later,  showed 
the  spot  deserted.  These  are  very  demonstrative  birds  in  their 
love  making,  and  the  last  of  May  and  first  of  June  their  loud 
cries  are  heard  everywhere  about  their  haunts,  especially  in 
morning  and  evening. 

"Two  or  three  males  start  in  pursuit  of  a  female,  and  away 
they  go,  twisting  and  turning,  here  and  there,  over  marsh  and 
stream,  with  marvelous  swiftness  and  dexterity.  At  short  inter- 
vals, a  male  checks  his  flight  for  a  moment  to  utter  a  strident 
"Peet-u-weet;  wee-too,  wee-too;"  then  on  he  goes  full  tilt  again. 
After  they  have  mated,  or  when  a  solitary  male  pays  his  devo- 
tions, they  rise  fifteen  or  twenty  yards  from  the  ground,  where, 
hovering  upon  quivering  wings,  the  bird  pours  forth  a  lisping 


164  HISTORY  OF  THE 

but  energetic  and  frequently  musical  song,  which  can  be  very 
imperfectly  expressed  by  the  syllables  "Peet-peet,  pee-ter-wee- 
too, wee-too,  pee-ter-wee-too,  pee-ter-wee-too,  wee-too,  wee-too." 
This  is  the  complete  song,  but  frequently  only  fragments  are 
sung,  as  when  the  bird  is  in  pursuit  of  the  female. 

"June  16th,  while  crossing  a  tussock-covered  hill  top,  over  a 
mile  from  any  water,  I  was  surprised  to  see  a  female  of  this 
species  flutter  from  her  nest  about  six  feet  in  front  of  me,  and 
skulk  off  through  the  grass  with  trailing  wings  and  depressed 
head  for  some  ten  or  fifteen  yards,  then  stand  nearly  concealed 
by  a  tuft  of  grass,  and  watch  me  as  I  pillaged  her  home  of  its 
treasures." 

The  eggs,  four  in  number  (set  No.  299),  rested  in  a  shallow 
depression  formed  by  the  bird's  body  in  the  soft  moss,  and  with, 
out  a  trace  of  lining.  These  eggs  measure,  respectively:  1.80x 
1.21,  1.70x1.20,  1.69x1.20,  1.72x1.23.  A  second  set  of  four 
(No.  328),  taken  on  lower  ground,  June  20th.  the  same  season, 
measure:  1.80x1.22,  1.72x1.23,  1.87x1.24,  1.83x1.25;  and  set 
No.  222,  from  a  boggy  flat,  but  with  no  nest  except  the  dead 
grass  naturally  found  on  the  place  occupied,  was^taken  June 
13th,  the  same  season,  and  measure:  1.73x1.23,  1.72x1.23, 
1.70x1.22,  1.72x1.22.  The  ground  color  varies  from  a  greenish 
clayey  olive  to  a  light  grayish  or  clay  color.  The  spots  are 
large,  well  defined,  and  scattered  sparsely,  except  about  the  tip 
of  large  end,  where  they  are  crowded.  These  spots  are  dark 
umber  brown,  and  present  a  striking  contrast  to  the  ground 
color.  All  the  eggs  mentioned  above  were  fresh,  but  the  young 
are  full  grown  and  on  the  wing  with  their  parents  the  last  of 
July,  and  the  first  of  August  finds  the  adults  rapidly  changing 
their  breeding  dress  for  that  of  winter,  and  gathering  into  flocks. 
By  the  first  of  September  they  are  in  perfect  winter  dress,  and 
frequent  muddy  flats,  the  edges  of  tide  creeks,  and  other  places, 
exactly  as  they  do  in  their  passage  south  or  north,  in  middle 
latitudes.  They  have  the  same  unsuspicious  ways  here  as  there, 
and  may  be  shot  at  again  and  again,  as  they  keep  about  their 
wounded  comrades. 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  165 

GENUS  MICROPALAMA  BAIHD. 

"Form  slender,  the  legs  very  long,  the  bill  long  and  much  compressed,  the 
anterior  toes  all  webbed  at  the  base.  Tarsus  nearly  twice  as  long  as  the  middle 
toe.  which  is  a  little  shorter  than  the  bare  portion  of  the  tibiae,  this  scutellate 
before  and  behind,  like  the  tarsus.  Bill  slender,  straight,  about  equal  to  the 
tarsus,  greatly  compressed,  except  at  the  end,  which  is  decidedly  expanded  lat- 
erally. Tail  nearly  even,  but  the  central  and  exterior  feathers  usually  percep- 
tibly longer  than  the  rest.  Wings  long  and  pointed. 

"The  present  genus,  with  a  basal  membrane  to  all  the  anterior  toes,  as  in 
Ereunetes,  has  this  a  little  more  deeply  emarginate;  the  bill  and  legs  much 
longer;  the  former  more  curved.  The  bare  portion  of  the  tibia  is  covered  before 
and  behind  by  transverse  scutell*,  like  the  tarsus.  The  tail  is  nearly  even, 
with  a  double  emargiuation.  The  middle  toe  is  not  two-thirds  the  length  of 
the  tarsus,  but  about  equal  to  the  bare  portion  of  the  tibia.  The  bill  is  much 
pitted  at  the  end  in  the  dry  skin. 

"In  many  respects  this  species  approaches  the  Snipes,  and  its  true  place 
is  probably  very  near  Macrorhamphus.  The  legs,  however,  are  much  longer, 
and  equal  to  the  bill,  instead  of  being  much  shorter." 

Micropalama  himantopus  (BONAP.). 

STILT  SANDPIPER. 
PLATE  X. 

Migratory,  rare.  Arrive  in  April;  return  the  last  of  August 
to  middle  of  September. 

B.  536.     R.  528.     C.  611.     G.  243,     76.     U.  233. 

HABITAT.  Eastern  North  America,  west  to  the  Rocky  Moun- 
tains; south  in  winter  to  Brazil,  Peru  and  West  Indies;  breed- 
ing far  northward. 

SP.  CHAB.  "Adult,  summer  plumage:  Above,  variegated  with  black,  whitish 
gray  and  pale  buff,  the  first  prevailing  on  the  back  and  scapulars;  wings  rather 
dark  gray,  the  feathers  edged  with  paler;  primaries  dusky  slate;  rump  grayish, 
the  feathers  with  darker  centers;  upper  tail  coverts  white,  the  longer  ones 
barred,  the  anterior  ones  longitudinally  marked  with  dusky;  middle  tail  feath- 
ers light  gray,  the  others  varied  longitudinally  with  white  and  pale  gray;  pileum 
dusky,  streaked  with  whitish;  a  dark  brown  loral  stripe  from  base  of  maxilla  to 
eyes;  auriculars  and  patch  on  each  side  the  occiput  light  cinnamon  rufous; 
lower  parts  dirty  white,  the  throat  and  jugulum  streaked  (other  portions  trans- 
versely barred)  with  dusky;  lining  of  the  wing  and  axillars  white,  the  latter 
marked  with  gray.  Adult,  in  winter:  Above,  uniform  ash  gray,  the  upper  tail 
coverts,  tail  and  wings  only  as  in  the  summer  plumage;  superciliary  stripe  and 
lower  parts  white,  the  jugulum,  sides  of  the  neck  and  crissum  streaked  with 
gray.  Young:  Back  and  scapulars  blackish,  all  the  feathers  widely  bordered 
with  buffy  white,  the  middle  of  the  back  tinged  with  rusty;  wing  coverts  bor- 
dered with  pale  buff  and  white;  upper  tail  coverts  nearly  immaculate  white: 
pileum  streaked  with  dusky,  pale  buff  and  grayish;  nape  nearly  uniform  ash 
gray;  lower  parts  soiled  white,  the  breast  and  sides  more  or  less  strongly  suf- 


166  HISTORY  OF  THE 

fused  with  buff,  the  jugulnm,  sides  of  the  neck  and  flanks  indistinctly  streaked 
with  grayish;  bill  black;  iris  brown;  feet  dull  yellowish  green;  claws  black." 

Stretch  of 
Length.          -wing.          Wing.  Tail.         Tarsus.         Bill. 

Male 8.25          15.50         5.00         2.00         1.60         1.50 

Female .  . .      9.25          16.75         5.25         2.20         1.75         1.65 

I  have  met  with  this  rare  species  in  the  State  on  several  occa- 
sions, at  all  times  in  small  flocks,  and  along  the  edges  of  old 
channels  of  rivers  or  muddy  pools  of  water,  in  which  it  wades 
while  feeding;  immersing  the  head  and  feeling  with  its  sensi- 
tive bill  in  the  thin  mud  for  worms  and  minute  forms  of  life. 
It  moves  about  rather  slowly  as  compared  with  the  true  Sand- 
piper, but  in  an  easy,  graceful  manner.  In  resting,  draws  its 
head  down  between  the  shoulders  and  often  stands  upon  one 
leg;  and  once  when  approaching  a  pair  of  these  birds  thus  rest- 
ing, they  both  dropped  to  the  ground,  and  hugged  it  closely,  in 
hopes  that  I  would  pass  them  unobserved,  and  so  remained  until 
I  was  within  at  least  ten  feet,  when,  with  a  sudden  spring,  they 
launched  into  the  air,  uttering  a  sharp  "Tweet,  tweet,"  and 
winged  themselves  away  with  the  speed  of  an  arrow. 

These  birds  are  said  to  breed  in  the  Arctic  regions  through- 
out their  range.  The  following,  taken  from  "North  American 
Water  Birds,"  is  the  only  reliable  description  given  that  I  can 
find  of  their  nests  and  eggs: 

"Mr.  McFarlane  found  this  species  breeding  at  Rendezvous 
Lake,  in  the  Arctic  region.  June  27th.  In  situation  and  com- 
position they  are  said  to  be  similar  to  others  previously  met 
with.  The  nest  contained  four  eggs,  the  female  having  been 
shot  on  leaving  it.  The  contents  of  the  eggs  were  slightly  de- 
veloped. This  bird  was  everywhere  very  rare,  except  on  the 
Arctic  coast  at  Franklin  Bay,  where  it  was  found  tolerably  abund- 
ant. At  Island  Point,  July  5th,  he  obtained  two  young  birds 
in  the  down,  with  the  female  parent.  Both  parents  displayed 
much  courage  and  ingenuity  in  defense  of  their  young,  two  of 
which  were  thus  enabled  to  escape.  He  afterwards,  in  the  same 
neighborhood,  procured  other  young  in  the  down,  with  both 
parents.  Another  nest  obtained  at  Langston  Harbor,  in  July, 
1865,  contained  four  eggs  quite  fresh.  The  nest  was  a  mere 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  167 

depression  in  the  ground,  lined  with  a  few  withered  leaves  and 
grasses. 

"A  set  of  eggs  (S.  I.  No.  9389),  obtained  on  the  Arctic  coast 
by  Mr.  MacFarlane,  June  22d,  1863,  was  in  a  nest  composed 
of  decayed  leaves,  and  placed  in  a  hollow  partly  concealed  by 
tufts  of  grass.  The  eggs  are  three  in  number,  of  an  oblong, 
pyriform  shape,  and  have  a  ground-color  of  a  light  and  bright 
drab  or  grayish  white,  with  large,  rounded  and  scattered  mark- 
ings of  bistre;  these  markings  are  larger  and  more  numerous 
at  the  obtuse  end.  The  eggs  range  from  1.47  to  1.50  inches  in 
length,  and  have  a  breadth  of  one  inch.  Another  set  (No. 
11331),  obtained  in  1866,  have  spots  that  are  larger  and  more 
confluent  about  the  greater  end,  and  are  more  rounded  in  shape, 
varying  between  1.45  and  1.46  inches  in  length,  and  in  breadth 
between  1.05  and  1.10  inches. 


GENUS  THING-  A 

"Body  robust;  bill  and  legs  short,  the  former  straight,  widened  terminally, 
and  scarcely  longer  than  the  head;  tarsus  about  equal  to  the  bill,  or  a  little 
shorter;  middle  toe  about  two-thirds  the  tarsus;  wings  long  and  pointed,  reach- 
ing beyond  the  end  of  the  tail." 

SUBGENTJS  TRINGA. 
Middle  pair  of  tail  feathers  not  longer  than  the  rest.  (Ridgway.) 

Tringa  canutus  LINN. 

KNOT. 
PLATE  X. 

Migratory;  rare.  Two  specimens,  shot  in  the  spring  of  the 
year,  at  Neosho  Falls,  by  Col.  W.  L.  Parsons,  are  the  only  ones 
to  rny  knowledge  captured  or  seen  in  the  State. 

B.  526.     R.  529.     C.  626.     G.  244,     77.     U.  234. 

HABITAT.  Northern  hemisphere,  chiefly  upon  the  seacoasts; 
south  in  winter  nearly  throughout  the  southern  hemisphere; 
breeds  in  high  northern  latitudes. 

SP.  CHAR.  Summer  adult  with  lower  parts  uniform  light  cinnamon. 
Above,  light  grayish,  irregularly  varied  with  black  and  tinged  with  pale  rusty; 
rump  and  upper  tail  coverts  white,  irregularly  barred  and  spotted  with  dusky; 
distinct  superciliary  stripe,  and  lower  parts  generally,  uniform  pale  viuaceous 
cinnamon,  paler  on  belly;  under  wing  coverts,  axillars,  flanks  and  lower  tail 
coverts  white,  usually  more  or  less  marked  with  dusky.  Winter  plumage:  Above, 


168  HISTORY  OF  THE 

plain  ash  gray,  the  feathers  with  indistinct  darker  shaft  streaks;  rump  and  up- 
per tail  coverts  white,  barred  with  dusky;  lower  parts  white,  the  throat,  fore- 
neck,  chest  and  sides  streaked  and  otherwise  marked  with  dusky.  Younrj: 
Above,  ash  gray,  each  feather  bordered  with  whitish  and  with  a  subedgiug  of 
dusky;  lower  parts  whitish,  sometimes  tinged  with  dull  buffy  on  breast,  etc.; 
the  neck  and  chest  streaked  and  flecked  with  dusky,  the  sides  indistinctly 
barred  and  spotted  with  the  same;  otherwise  like  adult.  Downy  young:  Fore- 
head warm  buff,  with  a  central  black  line;  over  the  eye  a  double  black  line; 
crown,  from  center  backwards,  black,  slightly  varied  with  rufous  and  dotted 
with  buff;  nape  creamy  buff  slightly  varied  with  blackish;  upper  parts  black, 
slightly  varied  with  reddish  brown  and  profusely  dotted  with  creamy  white; 
under  parts  very  slightly  washed  with  warm  buff.  (Ridgway.) 

Stretch  of 
Length.          -wing.  Wing.  Tail.         Tarsus.          Bill. 

Male 10.25         20.50         6.25         2.40         1.20         1.40 

Female...      10.50         20.75         6.35         2.50         1.20         1.40 

Iris  dark  brown;  bill  and  claws  black;  legs  and  feet  dark 
green. 

This  cosmopolitan  species  is  quite  common  along  the  Atlantic 
coast,  and  from  Alaska  northward,  but  is  seldom  met  with  in- 
land, especially  west  of  the  Mississippi. 

In  the  early  part  of  September,  1884,  I  had  a  very  good  op- 
portunity to  observe  these  birds  near  Chatham,  Massachusetts, 
as  they  were  feeding  along  the  sandy  beach  upon  minute  shell- 
fish and  other  small  forms  of  life  that  are  loosened  and  brought 
to  the  surface  by  the  wash  of  the  waters  upon  the  shore;  a  very 
pretty  and  lively  sight,  as  they  swiftly  followed  and  retreated 
from  the  waves  that  continually  roll  upon  the  beach.  I  also 
noticed  a  small  flock  of  these  birds  probing  for  food  in  a  marshy 
pool  of  water  on  Monornoy  Isle;  occasionally  wading  beyond 
their  depth,  apparently  floating  and  swimming  with  ease.  They 
usually  move  in  flocks,  and  when  startled  all  spring  into  the 
air  with  a  sharp  "Tweep.  tweep,"  and  swiftly  fly  in  a  compact, 
wavy  manner. 

These  birds  are  reported  as  breeding  along  the  Arctic  coast 
north  to  Greenland,  and  young  birds  have  been  captured. 
Morris,  in  his  "British  Birds,"  Vol.  IV,  p.  293,  says:  "A  tuft 
of  grass  serves  as  a  depository  for  the  eggs.  They  are  stated 
to  be  four  in  number,  of  a  light  yellowish  brown  color,  marked 
at  the  larger  end  with  gray  and  reddish  spots,  forming  more  or 
less  of  a  belt,  and  less  spotted  towards  the  smaller  end."  But 


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BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  169 

the  following  is  the  only  authentic  description  given  of  its  eggs, 
or  rather  egg,  by  Dr.  Merriam,  in  "The  Auk,"  Vol.  2,  p.  313: 
"Lieut.  A.  W.  Greeley,  U.  S.  A.,  commander  of  the  late  ex- 
pedition to  Lady  Franklin  Sound,  succeeded  in  obtaining  the 
long-sought-for  egg  of  this  species,  and  has  had  the  extreme 
kindness  to  ask  me  to  publish  the  first  account  of  it.  Lieut. 
Greeley  writes  me:  'The  specimen  of  bird  and  egg  were  ob- 
tained in  the  vicinity  of  Fort  Conger,  latitude  81°  44'  1ST.  The 
egg  was  1.10  inch  (28  mm.)  in  the  longer  axis,  and  1.00  inch 
(25.40  mm.)  in  the  shorter.  Color  light  pea  green,  closely 
spotted  with  brown,  in  small  specks  about  the  size  of  a  pin 
head.'" 

SUBGENUS  ACTODROMAS  KATJP. 

"Size  medium  to  very  small  (smallest  of  the  family);  form  graceful;  legs 
and  bill  slender,  the  latter  straight  and  little  (if  any)  longer  than  the  tarsus. 
Tarsus  decidedly  longer  than  the  middle  toe  with  its  claw;  toes  slender,  com- 
pletely cleft;  wings  long  and  pointed,  their  ends,  when  closed,  reaching  beyond 
the  tip  of  the  tail. 

"Although  the  species  of  this  genus  vary  greatly  in  size,  they  all  agree  very 
closely  in  the  details  of  structure." 


Tringa  maculata 

PECTORAL  SANDPIPER. 
PLATE  XI. 

Migratory;  abundant.  Arrrive  the  last  of  March  to  middle 
of  April;  return  early  in  September. 

B.  531.     K.  534.     C.  616.     G.  245,     78.     U.  239. 

HABITAT.  Nearly  the  whole  of  America,  but  in  summer  con- 
fined to  Arctic  and  sub-Arctic  regions.  Occasionally  in  Europe. 

SP.  CHAR.  "Adult,  in  summer:  Above,  light  clay  color,  the  crown,  back, 
scapulars  and  tertials  washed  with  light  rufous  or  rusty  ochraceous;  the  feath- 
ers black  centrally,  producing  conspicuous  streaks,  which  widen  into  spots  on 
the  scapulars  and  back;  rump  and  middle  upper  tail  coverts  brownish  black; 
lateral  upper  tail  coverts  white,  with  dusky  shaft  streaks;  middle  tail  feathers 
dusky,  edged  with  lighter;  other  rectrices  pale  brownish  gray,  bordered  with 
white;  wing  coverts  light  grayish  brown,  with  paler  borders  and  darker  centers; 
a  light  superciliary  stripe,  and  a  darker  loral  one.  Cheeks,  sides  of  neck,  whole 
jugulum  and  breast  pale  clay  color  or  light  grayish  buff,  streaked  with  dusky: 
sides  sparsely  streaked;  remaining  lower  parts  immaculate  white;  basal  half  of 
bill  dull  greenish  yellow.  Adult,  in  winter:  Similar  to  summer  plumage,  but 
the  rusty  tint  above  almost  or  wholly  absent,  and  the  black  markings  less  sharply 
defined.  Young,  first  plumage:  Quite  similar  to  the  summer  adult,  but  the 


170  HISTORY  OF  THE 

scapulars  and  outer  interscapnlars  conspicuously  tipped  externally  with  white, 
the  breast,  etc.,  more  distinctly  buff,  and  rather  more  narrowly  streaked." 

Stretch  of 
Length.          wing.          Wing,          Tail.        Tarsus.         Bill. 

Male 9.00          16.75         5.40        2.40         1.00         1.10 

Female...      8.50         16.00        5.10        2.30        1.00        1.05 

Iris  brown;  bill  brown,  greenish  at  base;  legs  and  feet  green- 
ish yellow;  claws  dark  brown. 

This  species  inhabits  low,  wet  lands,  .muddy  flats  and  the  edges 
of  shallow  pools  of  water,  seldom  frequenting  sandy  shores. 
These  birds  move  in  flocks,  but,  while  feeding,  scatter  as  they 
move  about,  picking  and  probing  here  and  there  for  their  food, 
which  consists  of  worms,  insects,  larvae,  minute  shellfish,  and 
occasionally  tender  rootlets  and  buds;  but  at  the  report  of  a  gun, 
or  any  sudden  fright,  spring  into  the  air,  utter  a  low  whistling 
note,  quickly  bunch  together,  flying  swift  and  strong,  usually  in 
a  zigzag  manner,  and  when  not  much  hunted  often  circle  and 
drop  back  within  shot;  for  they  are  not  naturally  a  suspicious 
or  timid  bird,  and  when  quietly  and  slowly  approached,  occa- 
sionally—  like  the  Knot  —  try  to  hide  by  squatting  close  to  the 
ground.  It  is  only  of  late  that  we  have  had  any  authentic 
accounts  of  their  breeding  habits,  and  it  therefore  gives  me  great 
pleasure  to  present  Mr.  Nelson's  interesting  description  of  the 
same,  as  published  in  his  report  upon  "Natural  History  Collec- 
tions in  Alaska,"  viz. : 

"The  last  of  May,  1879,  I  pitched  my  tent  on  a  lonely  island 
in  the  Yukon  delta,  and  passed  several  weeks  in  almost  contin- 
ual physical  discomfort,  owing  to  the  cold  rain  and  snow  storms 
which  prevailed.  However.  I  look  back  with  pleasure  upon 
the  time  passed  here  among  the  various  water  fowl,  when  every 
day  contributed  new  and  strange  experiences. 

"The  night  of  May  24th,  I  lay  wrapped  in  my  blanket,  and 
from  the  raised  flap  of  the  tent  looked  out  over  as  dreary  a 
cloud-covered  landscape  as  can  be  imagined.  The  silence  was 
unbroken  save  by  the  tinkling  and  clinking  of  the  disintegrat- 
ing ice  in  the  river,  and  at  intervals  by  the  wild  notes  of  some 
restless  Loon,  which  arose  in  a  hoarse,  reverbrating  cry  and  died 
away  in  a  strange,  gurgling  sound.  As  my  eyelids  began  to 
droop  and  the  scene  to  become  indistinct,  suddenly  a  low,  hoi- 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  171 

low,  booming  note  struck  my  ear  and  sent  my  thoughts  back 
to  a  spring  morning  in  northern  Illinois,  and  to  the  loud  vi- 
brating tones  of  the  Prairie  Chickens.  Again  the  sound  arose, 
nearer  and  more  distinct,  and  with  an  effort  I  brought  myself 
back  to  the  reality  of  my  position,  and,  resting  upon  one  elbow, 
listened.  A  few  seconds  passed,  and  again  arose  the  note;  a 
moment  later,  and,  gun  in  hand,  I  stood  outside  the  tent.  The 
open  flat  extended  away  on  all  sides,  with  apparently  not  a  liv- 
ing creature  near.  Once  again  the  note  was  repeated  close  by, 
and  a  glance  revealed  its  author.  Standing  in  the  thin  grass 
ten  or  fifteen  yards  from  me,  with  its  throat  inflated  until  it  was 
as  large  as  the  rest  of  the  bird,  was  a  male  A.  maculata.  The 
succeeding  days  afforded  opportunity  to  observe  the  bird  as  it 
uttered  its  singular  notes,  under  a  variety  of  situations,  and  at 
various  hours  of  the  day  or  during  the  light  Arctic  night.  The 
note  is  deep,  hollow  and  resonant,  but  at  the  same  time  liquid 
and  musical,  and  may  be  represented  by  a  repetition  of  the  syl- 
lables, "Tob-u,  tob-u,  tob-ii,  tob-ii,  tbb-u,  tob-u,  tob-u,  tob-u." 
Before  the  bird  utters  these  notes  it  fills  its  sesophagus  with  air 
to  such  an  extent  that  the  breast  and  throat  is  inflated  to  twice, 
or  more,  its  natural  size,  and  the  great  air  sac  thus  formed  gives 
the  peculiar  resonant  quality  to  the  note. 

"The  skin  of  the  throat  and  breast  becomes  very  flabby  and 
loose  at  this  season,  and  its  inner  surface  is  covered  with  small 
globular  masses  of  fat.  When  not  inflated,  the  skin  loaded 
with  this  extra  weight,  and  with  a  slight  serous  suffusion  which 
is  present,  hangs  down  in  a  pendulous  flap  or  fold  exactly  like 
a  dewlap,  about  an  inch  and  a  half  wide.  The  aesophagus  is 
very  loose  and  becomes  remarkably  soft  and  distensible,  but  is 
easily  ruptured  in  this  state,  as  I  found  by  dissection.  In  the 
plate  accompanying  this  report,  the  extent  and  character  of  this 
inflation,  unique  at  least  among  American  waders,  is  shown. 
The  bird  may  frequently  be  seen  running  along  the  ground 
close  to  the  female,  its  enormous  sac  inflated,  and  its  head  drawn 
back  and  the  bill  pointing  directly  forward,  or,  filled  with  spring- 
time vigor,  the  bird  flits  with  slow  but  energetic  wing  strokes 
close  along  the  ground,  its  head  raised  high  over  the  shoulders 


172  HISTORY  OF  THE 

and  the  tail  hanging  almost  directly  down.  As  it  thus  flies  it 
utters  a  succession  of  the  hollow,  booming  notes,  which  have  a 
strange  ventriloquial  quality.  At  times  the  male  rises  twenty 
or  thirty  yards  in  the  air,  and,  inflating  its  throat,  glides  down 
to  the  ground  with  its  sac  hanging  below,  as  is  shown  in  the  ac- 
companying plate.  Again  he  crosses  back  and  forth  in  front 
of  the  female,  puffing  his  breast  out  and  blowing  from  side  to 
side,  running  here  and  there,  as  if  intoxicated  with  passion. 
Whenever  he  pursues  his  love  making,  his  rather  low  but  per- 
vading note  swells  and  dies  in  musical  cadences,  which  form  a 
striking  part  of  the  great  bird  chorus  heard  at  this  season  in  the 
north." 

Mr.  Murdock,  to  whom  we  are  indebted  for  the  first  account 
of  its  nest  and  eggs,  says  the  birds  breed  in  abundance  at  Point 
Barrow,  Alaska,  and  that  "The  nest  is  always  built  in  the  grass, 
with  a  decided  preference  for  high  and  dry  localities  like  the 
banks  of  gullies  and  streams.  It  was  sometimes  placed  at  the 
edge  of  a  small  pool,  but  always  in  grass  and  in  a  dry  place, 
never  in  the  black  clay  and  moss,  like  the  Plover  and  Buff- 
breasted  Sandpipers,  or  in  the  marsh,  like  the  Phalaropes.  The 
nest  was  like  that  of  the  other  waders,  a  depression  in  the 
ground  lined  with  a  little  dry  grass." 

All  the  complete  sets  of  eggs  we  found  contained  four.  The 
following  is  a  description  of  the  eggs,  obtained  from  the  exam- 
ination of  eighteen  sets: 

They  are  pointedly  pyriforin,  like  those  of  the  other  small 
waders.  The  following  measurements,  in  inches,  indicate  the 
size,  shape  and  limits  of  variation:  1.58x1.06,  1.44x1.11,  1.42 
xl.08,  1.54x1.02.  In  color  and  markings  they  closely  resemble 
the  eggs  of  the  other  small  waders.  The  ground  color  is  drab, 
sometimes  with  a  greenish  tinge,  though  never  so  green  as  in 
the  egg  of  P.  alpina  americana,  and  sometimes  a  pale  bistre 
brown.  The  markings  are  blotchings  of  clear  umber  brown, 
varying  in  intensity,  thickest  and  sometimes  confluent  around  the 
larger  end,  smaller  and  more  scattered  at  the  smaller  end. 
Some  of  the  eggs  with  brown  ground  are  thickly  blotched  all 
over.  A  single  egg  in  one  set  of  four  has  the  markings  almost 


SIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  173 

as  fine  as  in  A.  bairdi,  but  the  egg  is  larger  and  has  not  the 
characteristic  ruddy  hue.  All  the  eggs  have  the  usual  shell 
markings  of  pale  purplish  gray  and  light  neutral  tint.  The 
eggs  may  be  distinguished  from  those  of  the  Buff -breasted  Sand- 
piper, which  they  closely  resemble,  by  their  warmer  color. 

Tringa  fuscicollia  VIELL. 

WHITE-RUMPED  SANDPIPER. 
PLATE  XI. 

Migratory;  common.  Arrive  the  last  of  April  to  first  of  May, 
occasionally  arriving  as  early  as  the  last  of  March,  and  I  have 
in  the  "Goss  Ornithological  Collection"  a  pair  shot  the  17th 
and  22d  of  May;  return  early  in  September. 

B.  533.     R.  536.     C.  617.     G.  246,     79.     U.  240. 

HABITAT.  Nearly  the  whole  of  America,  north  to  Greenland, 
south  to  Falkland  Islands,  occasionally  in  Europe;  breeds  from 
Labrador  and  Alaska  northward. 

SP.  CHAK.  "Adult,  in  summer:  Above  light  brownish  gray,  much  tinged, 
particularly  on  the  crown,  back  and  inner  scapulars,  with  light  rusty  buff  or 
ochraeeous,  all  the  feathers  black  centrally,  these  markings  largest  and  some- 
what V-shaped,  or  sagittate,  on  the  scapulars,  streak-like  elsewhere,  the  streaks 
broadest  on  the  crown  and  back;  rump  dusky  blackish,  the  feathers  bordered 
with  light  gray;  upper  tail  coverts  pure  white,  in  marked  contrast,  some  of  the 
feathers  having  irregular,  sagittate,  mostly  concealed,  spots  of  dusky.  Tail 
brownish  gray,  the  middle  feathers  blackish,  and  all  slightly  edged  with  whitish. 
Wing  coverts  and  tertials  brownish  gray,  lighter  on  edges  and  dusky  centrally, 
the  shafts  nearly  black.  Superciliary  stripe  and  entire  lower  parts  pure  white; 
auriculars  light  buff,  indistinctly  streaked;  sides  of  head  and  neck,  foreneck, 
jugulum  and  upper  part  of  breast  streaked  or  dashed  with  dusky;  sides  and 
flanks  with  larger  irregular  markings  of  the  same.  Adult,  in  winter:  Wings, 
rump,  upper  tail  coverts  and  tail  as  in  summer  plumage;  rest  of  upper  parts 
continuous  brownish  gray,  relieved  by  rather  indistinct  mesial  streaks  of  black; 
etreaks  on  jugulum,  etc.,  less  sharply  defined  than  in  the  summer  plumage. 
Young,  first  plumage:  Back  and  scapulars  black,  the  feathers  bordered  termin- 
ally with  pure  white,  and  laterally  with  ferruginous,  those  of  the  middle  of  the 
back  also  tipped  with  this  color;  feathers  of  the  pileum  and  rump,  as  well  as  the 
tertials,  also  bordered  with  rusty;  wing  coverts  bordered  with  pale  grayish  buff. 
Otherwise  as  in  the  winter  plumage,  but  breast,  jugulum,  etc.,  suffused  with  pale 
fulvous. " 

Stretch  of 
Length.          wing.  Wing.         Tail.        Tarsus.        Bill. 

Male 7.25          15.00          4.75         2.25         .95  .95 

Female...      7.20          14.75          4.70        2.10        .95  .95 

Iris  dark  brown;  bill  black,  with  base  of  under  reddish  flesh 
color.  Legs  and  feet  dark  olive  brown,  claws  black. 


174  HISTORY  OF  THE 

This  species,  during  migration,  is  found  from  the  Atlantic 
coast  to  the  Kocky  Mountains.  (I  have  met  with  the  birds  in 
Texas  and  Eastern  Colorado.)  The  only  mention  I  can  find  of 
the  birds  west  of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  south  of  Alaska,  is  of  a 
single  specimen  reported  from  Oakland,  California,  by  Walter 
E.  Bryant,  in  "The  Auk,"  Yol.  4,  p.  78.  If  as  stated,  ("feet 
and  legs  yellow,")  it  cannot  be  this  species;  but  as  the  birds 
breed  in  Northern  Alaska,  and  have  been  found  by  Stejneger 
west  on  Behring  Islands,  they  will  probably  prove  to  be  migrants 
on  the  Pacific  side,  though  not  as  common  as  eastward.  They 
frequent  the  sandy  beach  as  well  as  the  marshy  shores  upon  the 
coast;  but  inland  seem  to  prefer  the  edges  of  pools  of  water 
upon  the  uplands.  They  move  in  small  flocks,  are  very  social, 
often  associating  with  other  waders;  are  not  as  a  rule  shy  or 
timid,  and,  when  startled,  usually  fly  but  a  short  distance,  drop 
back  and  run  about  in  an  unconcerned  and  heedless  manner, 
picking  up  the  minute  forms  of  life  that  usually  abound  in  such 
places,  occasionally  uttering  a  rather  sharp,  piping  "Weet, 
weet."  Their  flight  is  swift  and  well  sustained. 

The  following  description  of  their  nest  and  eggs  is  from 
4 '  North  American  Water  Birds, ' '  Vol.  I,  p.  229 :  "  Mr.  L.  Kum- 
lin  states  that  this  species  breeds  in  Kinguah  and  Kinguite  fords, 
and  in  other  suitable  localities  on  both  shores  of  Cumberland 
Sound.  Considerable  numbers  were  observed  along  the  beach 
near  Nuboyant,  on  the  west  shore,  in  July,  where  they  were  in 
all  probability  breeding.  Mr.  MacFarlane  was  so  fortunate  as 
to  meet  with  several  nests,  with  the  eggs,  of  this  species  on  or 
near  the  Arctic  coast.  One  of  these,  taken  July  3d,  on  the 
shore  of  the  Arctic  Sea,  contained  four  eggs  with  very  large 
embryos.  Another,  found  on  the  following  day,  contained  three 
eggs.  A  third,  found  June  29th,  on  the  Barren  Grounds,  was 
a  mere  depression  in  the  ground,  lined  with  a  few  decayed 
leaves,  containing  four  eggs  with  very  large  embryos.  A  fourth, 
obtained  on  the  banks  of  a  small  river,  was  composed  of  a  few 
decayed  leaves,  and  held  four  eggs. 

"Eggs  of  this  species  found  on  the  Barren  Grounds,  near  the 
Arctic  coast,  by  Mr.  MacFarlane  (S.  I.  No.  11329),  are  pyri- 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  175 

form  in  shape,  and  have  a  ground  color  of  a  rufous  drab,  marked 
with  bold  patches  of  dark  sepia  brown,  interspersed  with  spots 
in  which  this  shade  is  deepened  almost  into  blackness,  and  which 
are  collected  in  confluent  groupings  around  the  larger  end. 
These  eggs  measure  1.35  inches  in  length  by  .95  in  breadth." 

Tringa  bairdii  (COUES). 

BAIBD'S  SANDPIPER. 
PLATE  XI. 

Migratory;  quite  common.  Arrive  the  last  of  March  to  first 
of  May;  remain  often  late  into  May;  begin  to  return  the  last 
of  August,  occasionally  remain  until  November. 

B.  .     E.  537.     C.  615.     G.  247,     80.     U.  241. 

HABITAT.  America  in  general,  but  chiefly  the  interior;  breed- 
ing along  the  Arctic  coast,  and  migrating  south  in  winter  to 
Chili  and  Argentine  Republic. 

SP.  CHAR.  "Adult,  in  summer:  Above,  variegated  with  black  and  grayish 
buff,  the  former  prevailing,  in  the  form  of  irregular,  somewhat  diamond-shaped 
spots  on  the  back  and  scapulars,  the  buff  occupying  most  of  the  border  of  the 
feathers,  and  sending  indentations  toward  the  shaft;  elsewhere,  the  black  forms 
distinct  streaks,  widest  on  the  crown  and  anterior  part  of  the  back;  rump  and 
upper  tail  coverts  dusky  brownish  black,  feathers  bordered  with  dull  clay  color, 
the  exterior  ones  of  the  latter  chiefly  white,  with  irregular  U-shaped  markings 
of  dusky;  tail  light  brownish  gray,  the  middle  feather  nearly  black,  all  narrowly 
edged  with  whitish;  wing  coverts  and  tertials  grayish  brown,  with  lighter  edges 
and  darker  centers;  remiges  dull  slate;  lower  parts  white,  the  sides  of  the  head 
and  neck,  the  jugulum  and  anterior  portions  of  the  sides  streaked  with  dusky. 
Adult,  in  winter:  Above,  continuous  grayish  clay  color,  the  feathers  with  darker 
mesial  streaks;  rump  and  middle  upper  tail  coverts  dusky,  the  feathers  bor- 
dered terminally  with  dull  clay  color;  lateral  upper  tail  coverts  brownish  white: 
beneath,  brownish  white,  the  jugulum,  breast,  sides  (anteriorly)  and  sides  of 
the  neck  deeply  suffused  with  clay  color  or  dull  buff.  Young,  first  plumage: 
Above,  grayish  clay  color,  the  scapulars  and  interscapulars  blackish  centrally, 
and  conspicuously  bordered  with  whitish  terminally;  the  feathers  of  the  crown 
and  nape  streaked  with  dusky;  wing  coverts,  rump,  etc.,  much  as  in  the  winter 
plumage;  sides  of  the  head  and  neck,  the  jugulum  and  breast  pale  clay  color, 
rather  indistinctly  streaked  with  dusky;  other  lower  parts  white." 

Stretch  of 
Length.          wing.          Wing.  Tail.        Tarsus.         Bill. 

Male 7.00          14.70         4.80         1.85          .85  .85 

Female...      7.20          15.00        4.90        2.00          .85  .85 

Iris  dark  brown;  legs,  feet  and  claws  black. 
These  birds  are  rarely  met  with  upon  either  coast,  but  are 
quite  common  inland,  especially  in  the  Missouri  region  and  west 


176  HI STORY  OF  THE 

to  Nevada.  In  habits  they  are  similar  to  the  White-rumped 
(which  they  so  closely  resemble),  but  are  more  inclined  to  wan- 
der from  the  water's  edge.  I  have  flushed  the  birds  on  high 
prairie  lands,  at  least  a  mile  from  water. 

They  are  said  to  breed  all  along  the  Arctic  coast,  west  of  Hud- 
son' s  Bay  to  Alaska.  The  following  description  of  their  nest  and 
eggs  is  taken  from  "North  American  Water  Birds:" 

"This  species  was  found  breeding  on  the  Barren  Grounds, 
near  the  Arctic  coast,  June  24th,  by  Mr.  MacFarlane.  The  nest 
had  been  made  upon  the  ground,  in  a  swampy  district  between 
two  small  lakes,  and  was  composed  of  a  few  decayed  leaves  laid 
loosely  in  a  small  hole  or  depression,  shaded  by  a  tuft  of  grass. 
The  female  bird  glided  from  the  nest,  on  being  approached, 
passing  closely  to  him,  and  then  fluttering  along,  dropping  her 
wings  as  if  wounded,  endeavoring  thus  to  lead  him  away  from 
the  nest.  This  was  a  rare  bird  in  that  quarter.  The  eggs  of 
this  species  are  usually  four  in  number.  One  set  (S.  I.  No. 
14085)  exhibited  the  following  measurements:  1.40x.  99,  1.35 
xl.02,  1.32x.98  and  1.31x.98.  Their  ground  color  is  a  light 
drab,  generally  and  very  uniformly  sprinkled  with  dottings, 
spots  and  a  few  larger  confluent  blotches  of  a  bright  sepia  brown. 
These  are  occasionally  larger  and  a  little  more  numerous  at  the 
obtuse  end,  but  generally  are  distributed  with  very  little  differ- 
ence over  the  whole  surface  of  the  egg." 

Tringa  minutilla  VIEILI,. 

LEAST  SANDPIPER. 
PLATE  XL 

Migratory;  abundant.  Arrive  the  last  of  March  to  first  of 
May;  begin  to  return  early  in  August,  a  few  occasionally  re- 
maining into  November. 

B.  532.     K.  538.     C.  614.     G.  248,     81.     U.  242. 

HABITAT.  America  in  general;  breeding  throughout  the  Arc- 
tic regions,  also  in  sub-Arctic  districts. 

SP.  CHAR.  ' ' Adult,  summer  plumage.  Back  and  scapulars  black,  the  feathers 
bordered  and  somewhat  barred  (not  continuously,  and  mostly  beneath  the  sur- 
face), with  rusty  ochraceous,  the  tips  of  some  of  the  feathers  often  whitish;  rump 
and  middle  upper  tail  coverts  brownish  black;  lateral  upper  tail  coverts  white, 
with  wedge-shaped  markings  of  grayish;  middle  tail  feathers  dusky,  with  paler 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  177 

edges:  other  rectrices  light  brownish  gray,  with  white  shafts.  Crown  light 
grayish  fulvous  or  ochraceous,  heavily  streaked  with  black;  wing  coverts  brown- 
ish gray,  with  dark  centers  and  paler  edges,  the  shafts  blackish;  tertials  edged, 
with  ochraceous;  primaries  dusky.  A  light  superciliary  stripe,  and  a  darker 
one  on  side  of  the  head;  neck  and  jugulum  very  pale  grayish  fulvous,  or  fulvous 
ashy  streaked  with  dusky;  sides  and  crissum  narrowly  streaked;  other  lower 
parts  immaculate  white.  Adult,  in  winter:  Above,  rather  dark  brownish  gray, 
the  feathers  with  indistinctly  darker  centers;  rump,  etc.,  as  in  summer  plumage. 
Superciliary  stripe  and  lower  parts  white,  the  jugulum  light  ashy,  indistinctly 
streaked.  Young,  first  plumage:  Very  similar  to  the  summer  plumage  of  the 
adult,  but  many  of  the  scapulars  and  interscapulars  tipped  with  white,  these 
feathers  without  any  bars;  wing  coverts  bordered  with  ochraceous.  Jugulum 
suffused  with  pale  fulvous,  and  obsoletely  streaked. 

•'This  abundant  and  extensively  diffused  species  resembles  very  closely,  both 
in  its  small  size  and  iu  its  colors,  at  all  seasons,  the  equally  common  and  widely 
distributed  Semipalmated  Sandpiper,  Ercunetes  pusillus.  It  may  be  immedi- 
ately distinguished,  however,  by  the  complete  cleft  toes,  the  other  species  having 
all  the  anterior  toes  webbed  at  the  base." 

Stretch  of 
Length.          wing.  Wing.         Tail.        Tarsus.         Bill. 

Male 5.50         11.00          3.40        1.60  .70  .65 

Female...       5.70        11.50          3.50        1.60  .70  .70 

Iris  brown;  bill,  legs  and  feet  slate  green,  the  latter  with  yel- 
lowish hue;  claws  black. 

This  lively,  social  little  Sandpiper  is  quite  common  through- 
out its  range.  It  has  been  found  breeding  as  far  south  as  Sable 
Island,  Nova  Scotia,  but  its  usual  breeding  grounds  are  north 
from  Labrador  and  Alaska  to  Greenland;  wintering  from  Cali- 
fornia and  the  Gulf  States  southward.  In  habits  it  differs  little 
if  any  from  its  genus,  but  is  more  restless  and  active;  running 
nimbly  about,  often  with  the  larger  waders,  feeding  around  and 
beneath  them,  apparently  heedless  of  danger;  and  many  a  time, 
while  watching  for  other  birds,  they  have  passed  close  to  my 
feet;  but  at  the  least  motion  the  whole  flock  would  spring  into  the 
air  like  a  flash,  with  a  startled  "Peep,  peep,"  and  in  a  compact 
form  swiftly  sweep  about  in  an  uncertain  manner,  canting  from 
side  to  side,  showing  rapidly  the  white  beneath  and  dark  above, 
a  wavy,  pretty  sight,  the  white  at  times  fairly  glistening  in  the 
sunlight.  When  migrating  or  going  any  distance,  their  flight 
is  quite  steady  and  direct.  Audubon,  who  found  the  birds 
breeding  in  Labrador,  says:  "At  all  periods,  excepting  those  at 
which  they  have  nests  containing  eggs,  or  young  so  small  and 

—12 


178  HISTORY  OF  THE 

delicate  as  to  require  all  the  care  of  their  parents,  the  flight  of 
the  present  species  resembles  that  of  the.  common  Snipe,  Scolo- 
pax  icilsonii;  but  when  startled  from  the  nest,  or  from  any 
place  in  the  immediate  vicinity,  it  rises  on  wing  and  moves  ofi 
low  over  the  ground  with  deeply  incurved  wings,  and  with  a 
whirling  motion  of  these  organs,  which,  if  as  rapid  as  that  of 
a  Partridge,  would  appear  quite  similar;  but,  on  such  occasions, 
our  bird  moves  slowly  before  you,  and  instead  of  uttering  the 
note  of  independence,  as  it  were,  which  it  emits  at  other  times 
while  freely  and  fearlessly  traveling,  it  gives  out  sounds  weak- 
ened by  grief  or  anxiety,  for  the  purpose  of  inducing  you  to 
follow  it.  If  on  the  ground  it  acts  in  a  similar  manner,  moves 
off  slowly,  and  limping  as  if  crippled,  and  this  at  times  quite  as 
much  as  if  you  had  really  come  upon  it  while  on  its  nest,  or 
surprised  it  with  its  young." 

Their  nests  are  placed  on  the  ground,  a  slight  depression 
scantily  lined  with  leaves  and  grasses.  Eggs  three  or  four; 
ground  color  cream  buff  to  light  drab,  spotted  and  blotched 
irregularly  with  varying  shades  of  brown,  thickest  about  the 
larger  end.  A  set  of  three  eggs,  collected  July  2d,  1882,  by 
Mr.  MacFarlane,  at  Fort  Anderson,  near  the  Arctic  coast,  meas- 
ure: l.lOx.85,  1.12x.85,  1.12x.86;  in  shape,  pyriform. 

SUBGEXUS  PELIDNA  CTTVIEK. 

"Bill  slender,  longer  than  the  head,  deep  through  the  base,  compressed, 
scarcely  or  not  at  all  expanded  at  the  tip,  and  decidedly  decurved  terminally. 
Tarsus  shorter  than  the  bill,  longer  than  the  middle  toe.  Wings  reaching  be- 
yond end  of  tail." 

Tringa  alpina  pacifica  (COUES). 

BED-BACKED  SANDPIPER. 
PLATE  XI. 

Migratory;  rare.     Arrive  in  April;  return  in  August. 

B.  530.     R.  539a.     C.  624.     G.  249,     82.     U.  243a. 

HABITAT.  North  America  in  general;  eastern  Asia;  breeding 
in  the  Arctic  regions,  north  to  Greenland.  Winter  in  Califor- 
nia, the  Gulf  States  and  southward. 

SP.  CHAB.  "Adult,  in  summer:  Crown,  back,  scapulars,  rump  and  upper 
tail  coverts  light  rufous,  the  crown  streaked  (other  parts  spotted )  with  black; 
wing  coverts  brownish  gray,  the  greater  broadly  tipped  with  white.  Head  (ex- 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  179 

cept  crown),  neck,  jugulum  and  breast  grayish  white,  streaked  with  dusky;  ab- 
domen black;  sides,  flanks,  anal  region,  crissum  and  lining  of  the  wing  pure 
white,  the  sides,  flanks  and  crissum  sparsely  streaked.  Adult  and  young,  in 
winter:  Above,  entirely  plain  ash  gray,  sometimes  with  very  indistinct  dusky 
shaft  streaks;  indistinct  superciliary  stripe  and  lower  parts  white,  the  neck  and 
jugulum  indistinctly  streaked  with  grayish,  the  sides,  flanks  and  crissum  some- 
times sparsely  streaked.  Young:  Back  and  scapulars  black,  the  feathers  broadly 
bordered  with  rusty  ochraceous,  this  becoming  paler  or  even  white  on  the  ends 
of  some  of  the  feathers;  lesser  and  middle  wing  coverts  bordered  with  buff; 
rump  plain  brownish  slate;  upper  tail  coverts  darker,  tipped  with  rusty;  crown 
light  rusty,  streaked  with  black.  Head  and  neck  (except  crown  and  throat)  dull 
dingy  buff,  indistinctly  streaked  with  dusky;  remaining  lower  parts,  including 
throat,  white,  the  breast  and  belly  with  numerous  irregularly  cordate  spots  of 
black,  the  flanks,  crissum  and  lining  of  the  wing  immaculate.  Bill  and  feet 
black;  iris  dark  brown. 

"There  is  a  considerable  amount  of  individual  variation  in  this  species,  es- 
pecially noticeable  in  the  extent  and  continuity  of  the  black  abdominal  area,  the 
distinctness  of  the  black  markings  above,  and  the  depth  of  the  rufous  tint;  not 
infrequently  the  latter  is  mixed  with  grayish.  In  the  winter  plumage,  some  ex- 
amples have  the  sides  and  crissum  narrowly  streaked,  while  in  others  these  parts 
are  immaculate." 

Stretch  of 
Length.         wing:          Wing.          Tail.        Tarsus.         Bill. 

Male 8.25         15.00         4.65        2.20         1.05         1.55 

Female...      8.50         15.50        4.75        2.20        1.05        1.55 

I  have  met  with  this  species  at  Cape  Cod,  Florida,  Texas, 
Kansas,  California,  and  at  Neah  Bay,  Washington;  at  the  latter 
place  the  birds  were  in  breeding  plumage,  May  10th  to  15th, 
1882.  In  all  cases  they  were  in  small  flocks,  and  not  abundant. 

In  habits  they  are  not  noticeably  different  from  others  of  the 
family.  The  following  interesting  description  of  their  breeding 
habits,  etc.,  is  taken  from  Nelson's  "Report  upon  Natural  His- 
tory Collections  made  in  Alaska,"  1877  to  1881: 

"In  early  seasons  the  first  of  these  birds  reach  the  Yukon 
mouth  and  the  shores  of  Norton  Sound  by  the  10th  of  May,  and 
by  the  25th  of  this  month  they  are  in  full  force.  They  arrive 
in  full  breeding  dress,  and  are  generally  in  small  flocks,  which 
soon  break  up,  and  the  birds  scatter  in  twos  and  threes  over  the 
moss  and  grass  grown  '  tundra, '  to  pair  and  attend  to  their  sum- 
mer duties.  They  nest  from  the  first  of  June  to  the  first  of  July, 
and  I  secured  a  set  of  four  fresh  eggs  on  the  third  of  this  month, 
in  1877. 

"The  young  are  mostly  on  the  wing  toward  the  end  of  July, 


180  HISTORY  OF   THE 

and  the  birds  begin  to  gather  into  flocks  along  the  muddy  edges 
of  the  brackish  pools  and  the  banks  of  tide  creeks.  Very  soon 
after  this  they  begin  to  lose  their  summer  plumage,  and  the 
moult  continues  until  the  last  of  September  or  first  of  October. 
During  the  first  of  October  they  are  very  common  in  flocks,  and 
singly  among  the  lakes  and  streams;  a  little  later,  and  the  bor- 
ders of  these  situations  are  edged  with  ice,  and  most  of  the  birds 
leave  for  the  south,  but  some  of  the  hardier  ones  betake  them- 
selves to  the  sea  shore,  where  they  join  with  Coues'  Sandpiper, 
and  remain  as  late  as  the  12th  or  13th  of  the  month. 

"Soon  after  they  arrive  in  the  spring,  they  are  engaged  in 
pairing,  and  the  males  may  be  seen  upon  quivering  wings  flying 
after  the  female,  and  uttering  a  musical,  trilling  note,  which  falls 
upon  the  ear  like  the  mellow  tinkle  of  large  water  drops  falling 
rapidly  into  a  partly  filled  vessel.  Imagine  the  sounds  thus  pro- 
duced by  the  water  run  together  into  a  steady  and  rapid  trill, 
some  five  to  ten  seconds  in  length,  and  the  note  of  this  Sand- 
piper is  represented.  It  is  not  loud,  but  has  a  rich,  full  tone, 
difficult  to  describe,  but  pleasing  to  hear  among  the  discordant 
notes  of  the  various  water  fowl,  whose  hoarse  cries  arise  on  all 
sides.  As  the  lover's  suit  approaches  its  end,  the  handsome 
suitor  becomes  exalted,  and  in  his  moments  of  excitement  he 
rises  fifteen  or  twenty  yards,  and,  hovering  on  tremulous  wings 
over  the  object  of  his  passion,  pours  forth  a  perfect  gush  of 
music,  until  he  glides  back  to  earth  exhausted,  but  ready  to  re- 
peat the  effort  a  few  minutes  later.  The  female  coyly  retreats 
before  the  advances  of  the  male,  but  after  various  mishaps,  each 
bird  finds  its  partner  for  the  summer,  and  they  start  off  house- 
hunting in  all  the  ardor  of  a  rising  honeymoon.  They  gener- 
ally choose  some  dry  knoll,  or  other  slight  elevation  overlooking 
the  neighboring  lakes  and  pools.  Here,  upon  a  bed  of  last 
year's  grasses,  but  without  the  trouble  of  arranging  a  formal 
nest,  the  female  deposits  three  or  four  large  eggs,  of  a  pale 
greenish  varying  to  pale  brownish  clay  color  with  dull  chocolate 
and  umber  brown  spots  and  blotches. 

' '  In  some  specimens  the  markings  are  rather  small,  and  numer- 
ous over  the  entire  shell,  but  in  all  cases  the  larger  end  has 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  181 

the  usual  predominance  of  blotching.  In  other  specimens  the 
markings  form  blotches  or  large  spots,  rather  sparingly  distribu- 
ted at  the  small  end,  but  nearly  hiding  the  ground  color  at  the 
larger  end.  There  is  considerable  variation  in  size  as  well  as 
color  among  these  eggs,  as  the  following  measurements  show: 
1.50x1.10,  1.39x.98,  1.45x.95,  1.50x1.08.  After  the  eggs 
are  laid  the  male  evidently  becomes  a  wiser  and  a  sadder  bird, 
for  his  merry  trill  is  heard  no  longer,  and,  should  some  wander- 
ing naturalist  happen  along  and  start  a  sitting  bird  from  the 
eggs,  the  chances  are  equal  that  he  finds  the  female  is  not  "at 
home,"  but  that  it  is  the  poor  male  who  has  fallen  a  victim  to 
his  faithful  care  of  the  nest. 

"On  two  occasions  I  started  these  birds  from  their  eggs,  and 
in  each  instance  the  parent  fluttered  and  stumbled  along  the 
ground,  trying  to  distract  my  attention,  and  in  each  case  exam- 
ination showed  it  to  be  a  male,  and  the  two  large,  bare  patches 
on  the  breast  showed  that  they  were  accustomed  to  the  task. 
Females  shot  at  the  same  season  showed  the  same  marks  of  in- 
cubation, so  it  is  evident  that  the  work  is  shared  by  the  two  par- 
ents. The  earliest  nest  found  by  me  was  on  June  6th,  and  the 
latest  on  July  3d;  in  both  the  eggs  were  fresh." 

GENUS  EREUNETES  ILLIGEB. 

"Size  small;  anterior  toes  webbed  at  the  base;  a  well-developed  hind  toe. 
Bill  about  as  long  as  or  a  little  longer  than  the  head,  straight,  somewhat  ex- 
panded at  the  end,  about  as  long  as  the  tai'sus;  middle  toe  more  than  half  as 
long  as  the  tarsus:  bare  portion  of  tibia  nearly  equal  to  the  middle  toe. 

"The  bill  of  Ereunetes  is  quite  stout  and  considerably  expanded,  by  which 
it  is  readily  distinguished  from  Actodromas  minutilla  independently  of  the 
semipalmated  feet.  The  tarsus  and  middle  toe  are  about  equal;  the  tibia  de- 
nuded anteriorly  for  about  two-thirds  the  length  of  the  tarsus.  The  basal  mem- 
brane of  toes  is  more  scalloped  out  interiorly  than  exteriorly;  the  notch 
externally  not  quite  as  deep  as  the  first  joint,  although  the  membrane  extends 
beyond  the  second.  There  is  a  tendency  to  hexagonal  subdivision  in  the  bare 
portion  of  tibia  anteriorly.  The  tail  is  doubly  emarginate." 

Ereunetes  pusillus  (LINN.). 

SEMIPALMATED  SANDPIPER. 
PLATE  XI. 

Migratory;  not  uncommon.  Arrive  the  last  of  April  to  middle 
of  May;  return  in  August. 

B.  535.     R.  541.     C.  612.     G.  250,     83.     U.  246. 


182  HISTORY  OF  THE 

HABITAT.  Northern  and  eastern  North  America,  west  during 
migration  to  the  Rocky  Mountains;  south,  in  winter  to  the  West 
Indies  and  South  America;  breeding  from  Labrador  and  the 
western  shores  of  Hudson's  Bay  to  northern  Alaska. 

SP.  CHAR.  "Adult,  breeding  plumage:  Upper  surface  light  grayish  brown, 
the  sides  of  the  pileum  and  edges  of  some  of  the  scapulars  and  interscapulars 
tinged  with  pale  bttffy  cinnamon,  but  this  sometimes  almost  wholly  absent; 
pileum  heavily  streaked  and  dorsal  region  heavily  spotted  with  black,  the  latter 
color  occupying  the  central  portion  of  each  feather.  A  streaked  white  super- 
ciliary stripe  and  dusky  loral  space,  the  latter  usually  very  distinctly  denned 
along  its  upper  edge,  the  lower  part  broken  into  streaks,  which  extend  backward 
over  the  cheeks;  auriculars  streaked  grayish  brown.  Lower  parts  pure  white, 
the  jugulum  and  breast  tinged  with  ashy  and  streaked  with  dusky.  Winter 
plumage:  Above,  brownish  gray  or  cinereous,  relieved  by  dusky  shaft  streaks; 
superciliary  stripe  and  lower  parts  pure  white,  the  jugulum  faintly  streaked. 
Young:  Similar  to  the  summer  adult,  but  jugulum  tinged  with  pale  grayish  buff, 
and  without  well-defined  streaks  or  spots,  the  scapulars  and  interscapulars  bor- 
dered terminally  with  white,  and  the  brown  usually  less  rusty.  Downy  young: 
Forehead  dingy  white,  divided  by  a  mesial  line  of  black;  crown  light  chest- 
nut, marbled  posteriorly  with  black  and  white;  occiput  mottled  whitish.  A 
distinct  loral  line  of  black,  forking  just  before  the  eye,  the  upper  branch  run- 
ning toward  the  anterior  corner  of  the  eye,  the  other  inclining  downward. 
Throat  fulvous  white;  other  lower  parts  whitish,  nearly  pure  on  the  abdomen. 
Upper  parts  pale  fulvous  brown  laterally,  black  centrally,  the  whole  surface 
thickly  bespangled  with  fine,  downy  tufts  terminating  the  downy  filaments." 

Stretch  of 
Length.          wing.  Wing.          Tail.         Tarsus.         Bill. 

Male 6.00          11.75         3.80         1.65          .85  .75 

Female...      6.40          12.80         4.00         1.75          .85  .75 

Iris  dark  brown;  bill,  legs  and  feet  greenish  black;  claws 
black. 

I  have  often  met  with  this  species  upon  the  Atlantic  and  Gulf 
coasts  and  inland.  A  rather  restless  bird,  that  upon  its  feeding 
grounds  is  continually  rising  and  flying  in  a  rapid,  wavy,  cir- 
cling manner,  and  dropping  back  and  running  about,  picking 
and  probing  for  the  minute  forms  of  life  found  along  the  sandy 
beach,  as  well  as  upon  the  muddy  flats  and  edges  of  pools  of 
water.  The  following  full  and  complete  description  of  its 
nests,  eggs,  etc.,  is  taken  from  "North  American  Water  Birds:" 

"Mr.  MacFarlane  found  this  species  breeding  very  abund- 
antly on  the  Arctic  coast  and  on  the  islands  in  the  bays  and 
along  the  shores  of  the  Arctic  Sea.  Some  were  also  found 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  183 

nesting  in  the  Barren  Grounds  west  of  Franklin  Bay.  The 
nests  were  in  most  instances  mere  depressions  in  the  ground, 
lined  with  a  few  grasses  and  leaves,  dry  and  partially  decayed, 
and  were  almost  always  near  small  pools  of  salt  or  brackish 
water,  or  inland  near  the  edge  of  small  ponds.  Sometimes  the 
female  would  glide  from  her  nest,  and,  pretending  to  be  disabled, 
would  seek  to  entice  away  the  intruder.  If  suddenly  startled, 
she  would  frequently  utter  disturbed  cries.  The  eggs  were 
usually  four  in  number,  and  were  found  from  the  20th  of  June 
to  the  10th  of  July.  At  times  the  nests  were  hidden  in  tufts  of 
grass,  but  not  always.  When  driven  from  her  nest,  the  female, 
if  unmolested,  would  almost  immediately  return.  In  reference 
to  one  nest,  procured  June  30th,  on  the  coast  of  Franklin  Bay, 
Mr.  MacFarlane  writes:  'The  nest  from  which  these  eggs  were 
taken  was  situated  between  two  small,  brackish  lakes  near  the 
sea  shore.  One  of  our  party  saw  the  female  get  off;  and  when 
the  nest  was  approached  by  him  she  uttered  a  shrill  note  of 
alarm.  After  searching  about  for  a  few  minutes,  he  failed  to 
find  the  eggs;  and  he  then  determined  to  hide  himself,  and 
from  his  concealment  ascertain  where  the  female  would  alight 
on  her  return.  In  a  short  time  she  was  seen  to  return,  accom- 
panied by  three  companions,  all  of  whom  looked  and  moved 
about;  but  not  discovering  anything,  seemed  to  hold  a  brief 
consultation,  after  which  they  separated,  the  female  to  her  nest. 
Another  search  failed  to  discover  the  eggs;  and  the  female 
again  returned  with  the  same  birds,  who  appeared  to  be  in  a 
state  of  great  excitement,  judging  from  the  clatter  they  kept  up. 
After  awhile  they  again  separated,  when  the  nest  was  found 
and  the  parent  secured.  The  report  of  the  gun  brought  the 
others  once  more  to  the  spot;  but  they  beat  a  hasty  retreat. 
The  nest  was  a  mere  depression  in  the  midst  of  some  hay,  and 
lined  with  the  same  and  a  few  withered  leaves.' 

"The  eggs  of  this  species  exhibit  great  variations  in  their  ap- 
pearance, in  consequence  of  the  difference  in  their  size,  the 
manner  of  distribution  and  the  number  of  the  spots.  The 
ground  is  light  drab,  and  the  markings  are  of  a  pure  bright  se- 
pia. In  one  set  (S.  I.  No.  11272)  of  four  eggs,  the  nest  —  a 


184  HISTORY  OF  THE 

mere  depression  in  the  ground  on  the  border  of  a  small  lake 
in  the  midst  of  marshy  ground — was  lined  with  withered  grasses. 
In  this  set  the  markings  are  large,  pronounced  and  distinct, 
sparsely  distributed  around  the  smaller  end,  and  more  numerous 
and  occasionally  confluent  about  the  obtuse  end.  They  are 
pyriform  in  shape,  and  the  smaller  end  is  very  sharply  defined. 
They  average  1.25  inches  in  length,  by  .86  in  breadth.  An- 
other set  (No.  11271)  of  four  eggs,  in  a  nest  found  placed  be- 
tween two  small  lakes,  and  lined  with  •  withered  grasses  and 
leaves,  was  obtained  in  the  Barren  Grounds,  near  Fort  Ander- 
son. In  these  eggs  the  spots  are  much  finer,  more  numerous 
about  the  smaller  end,  and  there  very  fine,  a  little  larger  and 
more  confluent  about  the  larger  extremity,  and  nearly  conceal- 
ing the  grayish  white  or  light  drab-colored  ground.  These 
measure  1.15  inches  by  .85.  Four  eggs  (No.  11273)  found 
on  an  island  in  Franklin  Bay,  July  4th,  have  markings  still  more 
minute  and  numerous,  universally  diffused,  and  more  or  less 
confluent  over  the  entire  egg,  concealing  the  ground,  and  hav- 
ing apparently  very  little  resemblance  to  No.  11272.  Four  eggs 
(No.  17041)  were  found  by  Mr.  L.  M.  Turner.  May  28th,  1874, 
at  St.  Michael's.  Their  ground  color  is  a  light  grayish  buff, 
thickly  spotted  with  reddish  sepia  and  darker  sepia,  chiefly  on 
the  larger  end.  Their  measurements  are  as  follows:  1.20x.  80, 
1.25x.85,  1.25x.90,  1.25x.85. 

GENUS  CALIDRIS  CUVIER. 

"General  characters  of  Trinya  and  Actodromas,  but  hind  toe  entirely  ab- 
sent. Bill  straight,  rather  longer  than  the  head,  slightly  expanded  or  spoon 
shaped  at  end.  Toes  short,  the  middle  one  scarcely  two-thirds  the  tarsus. 

"The  only  known  species  of  this  genus  is  nearly  cosmopolitan  in  its  range." 

Calidris  arenaria  (LINN.). 

SANDEBLING. 
PLATE  XI. 

Reported  by  Prof.  F.  H.  Snow,  in  his  catalogue  of  the  birds 
of  Kansas:  "Migratory;  rare.  Taken  at  Lawrence,  by  W.  E. 
Stevens,  October  7th,  1874." 

B.  534.     R.  543.     C.  627.     G.  251,     84.     U.  248. 

HABITAT.  Nearly  cosmopolitan,  but  breeding  only  in  north- 
ern portions  of  the  northern  hemisphere. 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  185 

SP.  CHAR.  "No  hiiirl  toe;  front  toes  moderate  or  rather  long,  flattened  un- 
derneath, distinctly  margined  with  a  membrane.  Bill  straight,  rather  thick; 
ridge  of  upper  mandible  flattened;  nasal  groove  deep  and  nearly  as  long  as  the 
upper  mandible,  not  so  distinct  as  the  lower;  both  mandibles  widened  and  flat- 
tened at  the  tip;  aperture  of  the  nostrils  large  and  covered  with  a  membrane. 
Wing  long;  tail  short,  with  the  middle  feathers  longest;  under  coverts  long  as 
the  tail;  legs  moderate;  lower  third  of  the  tibia  naked.  Lower  parts  white, 
immaculate  on  the  belly,  sides,  flanks,  axillars,  anal  region  and  crissum;  greater 
wing  coverts  broadly  tipped  with  white,  and  inner  primaries  white  at  base  .of 
outer  webs.  Adult,  in  summer:  Above,  light  rufous,  broken  by  large  spots  of 
black,  the  feathers  mostly  tipped  with  whitish.  Head,  neck,  throat  and  juguliim 
pale  cinnamon  rufous,  speckled  below  and  streaked  above  with  blackish.  Adult, 
in  winter:  Above,  very  pale  pearl  gray  (the  lesser  wing  coverts  darker  anteri- 
orly), relieved  only  by  faint  darker  shaft  streaks  of  the  feathers.  Throat  arid 
jugulum  immaculate  pure  white.  Adult,  in  spring:  Above,  light  grayish,  with 
large  black  spots  (streaks  on  the  crown),  here  and  there  mixed  with  rufous;  jug- 
lum  speckled  with  dusky  on  a  white  ground.  Young:  Above,  pale  gray,  spotted 
with  black  and  whitish,  the  latter  on  tips  of  the  feathers;  jugulum  immaculate 
white,  faintly  tinged  with  dull  buff.  Bill  and  feet  black;  iris  brown." 

Stretch  of 
Length.          wing.          Wing.          Tail.         Tarsus.         Bill. 

Male 7.75          15.25         4.80         2.20         1.00         1.00 

Female...      8.00         15.75         5.00         2.10         1.00         1.00 

The  natural  home  of  this  wide  spread  and  abundant  species  is 
upon  the  sandy  beach  along  the  sea  shores.  During  migration 
a  few  pass  inland,  but  do  not  tarry  long,  except  at  the  lakes  or 
large  bodies  of  water,  where  the  wash  of  the  waves  lines  the 
shores  with  debris  that  teems  with  minute  insect  life,  snails, 
larvae,  etc;  while  feeding  run  swiftly  about,  with  head  lowered 
and  well  drawn  back,  often  closely  following  the  waves  as  they 
roll  in  and  out.  At  such  times  they  scatter  more  or  less,  but 
are  very  social,  and  quickly  bunch  together  to  rest  or  in  flight, 
which  is  swift  and  graceful,  usually  low  and  near  the  surface  of 
the  water.  In  resting,  often  squat  upon  the  ground;  as  a  rule 
are  not  shy,  and  will  permit  a  near  approach. 

They  have  been  found  breeding  from  the  Arctic  coast  to 
Greenland.  Their  nest  is  a  mere  depression  in  the  ground, 
sparingly  lined  with  old  grasses  and  leaves.  Eggs  usually  four. 
1.4:3x.  92;  brownish  olive  with  faint  blotches  and  spots  of  vary- 
ing shades  of  brown,  thickest  and  somewhat  running  together 
about  the  larger  end;  in  shape,  pyriform. 


186  HISTORY  OF  THE 

GEXUS  LIMOSA  BRISSON. 

"Bill  lengthened,  exceeding  the  tarsus,  slender,  and  curving  gently  upwards, 
grooved  to  near  the  tip,  the  tip  not  attenuated;  tarsus  with  transverse  scutellse 
before  and  behind,  reticulated  laterally;  a  short  basal  membrane  between  the 
middle  and  outer  toes;  tail  short,  even;  bill  much  longer  than  head,  nearly 
equaling  tarsi  and  toes  together,  curving  gently  upwards  from  the  base,  where 
is  is  elevated  and  compressed,  depressed,  however,  at  the  end.  The  grooves  on 
sides  of  bill  and  beneath  extend  nearly  to  the  tip;  the  tip  or  upper  mandible  is 
thickened  and  extends  a  little  beyond  the  lower;  the  gap  is  slight,  not  extend- 
ing beyond  the  base  of  the  culmeu;  the  feathers  on  the  sides  of  the  bill  reach 
forward  to  about  the  same  point,  those  on  the  chin  a  little  farther;  tarsus  more 
than  one  and  one-half  times  the  toes,  twice  the  bare  part  of  the  tibia;  hind  toe 
rather  lengthened;  outer  toe  webbed  as  far  as  end  of  first  joint,  inner  toe  with 
only  a  short  basal  web;  tail  short,  even,  two-fifths  the  wings. 

"In  some  respects,  the  bill  of  this  genus  resembles  that  of  Macrorhamphus, 
the  chief  apparent  difference  being  the  upward  curve  of  the  one  and  its  straigh- 
ness  in  the  other." 

Limosa  fedoa  (LINN.). 

MARBLE  GODWIT. 
PLATE  XI. 

Migratory;  common.  Arrive  early  in  April,  a  few  remain- 
ing until  the  last  of  May;  return  early  in  August,  and  occasion- 
ally linger  until  late  in  the  fall. 

B.  547.     R.  545.     C.  628.     G.  252,     85.     U.  249. 

HABITAT.  North  America  in  general,  breeding  from  Iowa, 
Dakota,  etc.,  to  Alaska;  south  in  winter  to  Guatemala  and  Cuba. 

SP.  CHAR.  "Bill  long,  curved  upwards;  both  mandibles  grooved;  wings 
long;  tail  short;  legs  long;  tibia  with  its  lower  half  naked;  toes  rather  short, 
margined,  and  flattened  underneath;  the  outer  and  middle  toes  united  by  a  rather 
large  membrane.  Entire  upper  parts  variegated  with  brownish  black  and  pale 
reddish,  the  former  disposed  in  irregular  and  confluent  bands,  and  the  latter  in 
spots  and  imperfect  bands;  in  many  specimens  the  black  color  predominating 
on  the  back,  and  the  pale  red  on  the  rump  and  upper  tail  coverts.  Under  parts 
pale  rufous,  with  transverse  lines  of  brownish  black  on  the  breast  and  sides; 
under  wing  coverts  and  axillaries  darker  rufous;  outer  webs  of  primaries  dark 
brown,  inner  webs  light  rufous;  secondaries  light  rufous;  tail  light  rufous,  with 
transverse  bars  of  brownish  black.  Bill  dull  flesh  color  in  its  basal  half,  the 
rest  blackish  brown;  iris  brown;  feet  bluish  gray." 

Stretch  of 
Length.         wing.  Wing.       Tail.        Tarsus.         Bill. 

Male 17.50         31.50          9.00        3.30         2.90         4.00 

Female...     18.50         33.00          9.50        3.55         3.00        4.50 

This  species  associates  in  flocks,  and  inhabits  the  salt  and 
fresh  water  shores,  marshes  and  moist  grounds  upon  the  prairies. 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  187 

It  feeds  upon  crnstacea,  insects,  worms,  larvae,  etc.,  moving 
about  in  a  horizontal  position,  picking  and  probing  as  it  goes. 
Its  flight  is  easy  and  well  sustained,  though  not  very  rapid;  in 
alighting,  raises  the  wings  over  the  back  as  it  touches  the  ground. 
These  birds  as  a  rule  are  shy,  and  keep  well  out  of  reach,  but 
in  case  any  are  wounded,  love  overcomes  fear,  and  with  frantic 
cries  and  tremulous  wings  their  friends  hover  over  and  about 
them,  offering  a  tempting  shot  to  the  merciless  hunter;  for  their 
flesh  is  tender  and  juicy,  and  highly  esteemed.  They  act  in  a 
similar  manner  when  their  nests  or  young  are  approached;  at 
such  times  they  often  drop  to  the  ground,  feign  lameness,  and  in 
various  ways  try  to  divert  your  attention  and  lead  you  away. 

Their  nests  are  usually  placed  on  grassy  grounds;  a  slight  de- 
pression in  the  soil,  worked  out  to  fit  the  body,  and  sparingly 
lined  with  the  old  grasses.  Eggs  usually  four,  olive  drab,  rather 
sparingly  spotted  and  blotched  with  varying  shades  of  umber 
brown  and  pale  purplish  shell  stains,  the  markings  occasionally 
blending  together,  and  thickest  about  the  larger  end;  in  form, 
ovate.  A  set  of  four  eggs,  taken  April  29th,  1878,  from  a  nest 
on  a  marsh,  at  Oakland  Valley,  Iowa,  measure:  2.10x1.57,  2.20 
xl.55,  2.26x1.57,  2.27x1.58. 

Limosa  haemastica  (LINN.). 

HUDSONIAN  GODWIT. 
PLATE  XI. 

Migratory;  rare.  Arrive  about  the  first  of  April  to  middle 
of  May;  return  in  August  and  September. 

B.  548.     R.  545.     C.  629.     G.  253,     86.     U.  251. 

HABITAT.  Nearly  the  whole  of  America;  only  known  to  breed 
in  the  Arctic  regions. 

SP.  CHAR.  "Summer  adult:  Above,  blackish  brown,  irregularly  spotted  and 
barred  with  pale  ochraceous,  the  rump  plain  brownish  black;  upper  tail  coverts 
immaculate  white;  wing  coverts  and  shorter  quills  plain  dark  brownish  gray; 
primaries  brownish  black,  their  shafts  white.  Lower  parts  chestnut  rufous, 
narrowly  barred  with  brownish  black,  the  feathers  of  the  belly,  etc.,  often  tipped 
with  white.  Tail  black,  with  the  base  and  tip  (narrowly)  white.  Lining  of 
wings  and  axillars  plain  smoky  black.  Winter  plumage:  Above,  plain  dull 
brownish  gray;  beneath  white,  the  breast  shaded  with  brownish  gray.  Other 
characters  as  in  summer  dress.  Young:  Somewhat  like  the  winter  plumage,  but 
each  feather  of  dorsal  region  marked  with  a  subterminal  dusky  crescent  and  a 


188  HISTORY  OF  THE 

narrower  terminal  one  of  dull  ochraceous;  beneath,  very  pale  drab  or  dull  light 
buff,  the  abdomen  whitish,  and  the  jugulum  more  grayish.  Bill  grayish  yellow. 
dark  brown  along  the  ridge  of  the  upper  mandible,  and  blackish  toward  the  tips 
of  both;  iris  brown;  feet  light  grayish  blue." 

Stretch  of 
Length.          wing.          Wing.          Tail.        Tarsus.         Bill. 

Male 15.00         26.50         8.40         3.20         2.30         3.00 

Female...      15.50         27.00         8.55         3.40         2.30         3.30 

Iris  dark  brown;  bill  black,  with1  under  mandible  pale  reddish 
brown  at  base;  legs,  feet  and  claws  slaty  black. 

This  species  has  a  remarkable  range,  extending  from  Green- 
land through  both  continents  and  to  the  Falkland  Islands.  It 
has  not  been  observed  on  the  west  side  of  the  Rocky  Mountains 
south  of  northern  Alaska,  but  is  a  regular  migrant  east  of  the 
mountains  to  the  Atlantic.  It  does  not  appear  to  differ  in  its 
habits  from  the  Marble.  The  following,  from  "North  Ameri- 
can Water  Birds,"  Yol.  I,  p.  263,  is  the  only  description  that  I 
can  find  of  their  nests  and  eggs: 

"Mr.  MacFarlane  found  this  species  breeding  in  the  vicinity 
of  Fort  Anderson,  on  the- 9th  of  June.  The  nest  was  on  the 
ground;  was  composed  of  a  few  decayed  leaves  lying  in  a  small 
hole  scooped  in  the  earth,  and  contained  four  eggs.  Other 
nests  were  found  and  birds  obtained  on  the  lower  Anderson 
River.  They  were  mere  depressions  in  the  ground,  lined  with 
withered  leaves. 

"Three  of  the  eggs,  collected  by  Mr.  MacFarlane,  are  in  the 
Smithsonian  collection.  In  two  of  these  the  ground  is  of  a 
deep  raw  umber  color,  or  an  olivaceous  drab.  There  are  no 
well-defined  spots,  but  the  apex  of  the  larger  end  is  deeply 
stained  with  a  dark  burnt  umber  color.  A  few  very  distinct 
spots  of  a  paler  shade  of  this  tint  are  visible  over  the  general 
surface  of  the  eggs.  The  other  egg  has  a  ground  color  of  a 
paler  umber  drab,  and  the  markings  are  quite  distinct.  These 
are  small  irregular  blotches,  longitudinal  in  their  direction,  and 
of  a  deep  burnt  umber  tint.  The  apex  of  the  larger  end  is 
covered  with  a  broad  patch,  in  which  all  the  markings,  of  a  very 
dark  umber,  almost  black,  run  into  each  other.  These  eggs  are 
pyriform  in  shape,  and  measure:  2.15x1.41,  2.12x1.39  and 
2.22x1.40." 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  189 

GENUS  TOTANUS  BECIISTEIN-. 

"Bill  usually  slender,  and  slightly  upturned  terminally,  the  lateral  groove  of 
the  maxilla  extending  about  half  way  to  the  tip.  No  web  between  the  middle 
and  inner  toes.  Tarsus  about  twice  as  long  as  the  middle  toe." 

SUBGENUS  GLOTTIS  KOCH. 

"Bill  a  little  longer  than  middle  toe  with  claw.  Tarsus  over  one  and  one- 
half  times  as  long  as  the  middle  toe  without  claw." 

Totanus  melanoleucus  (GMEL.). 

GREATER  YELLOW-LEGS. 
PLATE  XI. 

Migratory;  common.  Arrive  the  last  of  March  to  first  of 
April;  return  early  in  August,  a  few  remaining  until  late  in  the 
fall. 

B.  539.     R.  548.     C.  633.     G.  254,     87.     U.  254. 

HABITAT.  Nearly  the  whole  of  America;  breeding  only  in 
the  more  northern  portions  of  North  America,  occasionally  as 
far  south  as  Illinois  and  Iowa;  wintering  from  California  and 
the  Gulf  States  southward. 

SP.  CHAK.  '••Adult,  summer  plumage:  Above,  variegated  with  slate  black, 
pale  gray  and  white,  the  former  predominating,  the  latter  in  the  form  of  spots 
along  the  edge  of  the  feathers,  including  the  wing  coverts  and  tertials;  crown 
arid  nape  grayish  white,  widely  streaked  with  dusky;  upper  tail  coverts  white, 
irregularly  barred  with  the  same;  primaries  plain  blackish  slate;  tail  white,  all 
the  feathers  barred  with  dusky,  the  middle  feathers  grayish,  barred  with  dusky, 
the  latter  sometimes  obsolete.  Head,  neck  and  lower  parts  white,  only  the 
abdomen  and  throat  immaculate;  lores,  cheeks,  malar  region,  auriculars  and 
neck  (all  round)  streaked  with  dusky;  breast,  sides  and  flanks  barred  or  trans- 
versely spotted  with  dusky,  the  bars  more  sagittate  on  the  crissum.  Winter 
plumage:  Above,  rather  light  ash  gray,  without  the  black,  but  with  the  white 
spotting  of  the  summer  dress;  foreneck  and  jugulum  more  narrowly  streaked; 
breast  nearly  or  quite  immaculate;  and  sides  and  flanks  faintly  and  irregularly 
marked  with  grayish.  Young,  first  plumage:  Similar  to  the  winter  dress,  but 
darker  and  more  brownish  above,  the  white  spotting  tinged  with  light  brownish 
buff;  lower  parts  similar;  iris  brown;  legs  and  feet  deep  yellow  ( tinged  with 
olive  iu  young)." 

Stretch  of 
Length.          wing.  Wing.          Tail.        Tarsus.          Bill. 

Male 14.75         25.25         7.75         8.30         2.60         2.30 

Female...      14.25         25.00         7.70         3.25         2.60         2.30 

Bill  dark  brown,  with  edge  of  base  greenish  yellow;  claws 
dark  brown. 

This  common  and  well-known  species  frequent  the  marshes, 
muddy  flats  and  shores,  where  they  wade  about  in  the  mud  and 


190  HISTORY  OF  THE 

shallow  waters  in  search  of  minnows,  minute  snails,  worms,  in- 
sect life,  etc.  They  move  about  with  a  quick,  easy  step,  but 
the  jerky,  balancing  motion  of  the  body  gives  them  an  unsteady 
and  not  a  graceful  carriage.  They  are  usually  met  with  in  small 
flocks  or  pairs,  where  they  make  their  presence  known  by  their 
loud  whistling  "Cho-whee-cho-che-cho,"  and  as  the  birds  are 
very  wary  and  the  first  to  give  the  alarm,  they  are  much  dis- 
liked by  the  hunters,  for  their  vociferous  tell-tale  note  puts  all 
other  birds  in  the  vicinity  upon  the  lookout. 

These  birds  have  been  found  breeding  in  various  localities, 
but  I  can  find  no  well-authenticated  description  of  its  nest  and 
eggs.  The  following  seems  to  be  the  most  reliable,  viz. :  Mr. 
Nelson  (in  "Bulletin  of  the  Essex  Institute,"  Yol.  8,  p.  128), 
says: 

"In  June,  1875,  I  found  several  pairs  of  these  birds  about 
the  Calumet  marshes,  where,  from  their  actions,  I  was  certain 
they  were  breeding,  but  was  not  fortunate  enough  to  find  their 
nests.  The  10th  of  June,  1876,  Mr.  Rice  observed  a  pair  about 
a  prairie  slough  near  Evanston.  A  few  days  later  a  set  of  four 
eggs  were  brought  him  from  a  similar  situation  a  few  miles 
northwest  of  that  place,  and  from  the  description  of  the  parent 
bird — driven  from  the  nest  —  he  decided  they  must  belong  to 
this  species.  I  perfectly  agree  with  Mr.  Rice' s  decision,  for  the 
prominent  characteristics  noticed  by  the  collector  are  obviously 
applicable  to  this  bird. 

"The  nest  was  situated  in  a  slight  depression,  at  the  base  of 
a  small  hillock,  near  the  border  of  a  prairie  slough,  and  was 
composed  of  grass  stems  and  blades.  The  eggs  measure,  re- 
spectively: 1.70x1.20,  1.72x1.31,  1.74x1.31,  1. 80x1. 38  inches. 
The  ground  color  is  a  deep  grayish  white,  marked  on  three  eggs 
with  spots  of  dark  brown,  and  on  the  other  egg  with  spots  and 
well  defined  blotches  of  a  considerably  lighter  shade  of  the  same. 
In  addition  there  are  shell  markings  and  obscure  spots  of  lilac. 
The  markings  are  disposed  quite  abundantly  over  the  surface  of 
the  egg,  but  are  more  numerous  about  the  large  end." 

Capt.  Chas.  Bendire  writes  me  that  the  only  eggs  of  this  spe- 
cies in  the  United  States  National  Museum,  believed  to  be  gen- 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  191 

uine,  are  three  poor  specimens  from  Manitoba,  collected  by  Mr. 
E.  Dickinson;  dimensions:  1.75x1.19,  1.85x1.22,  1.68x1.18; 
ground  color  brownish  buff,  distinctly  but  very  irregularly  spotted 
with  rich  vandyke  or  madder  brown;  in  form,  elongate  ovate. 

Totanus  flavipes  (GMEL.). 

YELLOW-LEGS. 
PLATE  XI. 

Migratory;  abundant.  Arrive  in  March,  a  few  remaining  un- 
til the  last  of  May;  return  in  August,  and  tarry  until  early  frosts. 

B.  540.     K.  549.     C.  634.     G.  255,     88.     U.  255. 

HABITAT.  The  whole  of  North  America;  breeding  from  north- 
ern Illinois  (seldom  in  the  United  States),  north  to  within  the 
Arctic  circle;  south  in  winter  into  southern  South  America;  ac- 
cidental in  Europe. 

SP.  CHAR.  "Very  similar  to  T.  melanoleucus,  but  smaller  and  more  slender. 
Bill  rather  longer  than  the  head,  straight,  slender,  rather  compressed;  wing  long, 
pointed;  tail  short;  legs  long,  lower  half  of  the  tibia  naked;  toes  moderate, 
slender,  margined,  the  outer  and  middle  united  at  base.  Adult,  summer  plumage: 
Above,  ashy,  mixed  with  ragged  blotches  of  black,  this  having  a  tendency  to 
form  regular  transverse  bars  on  the  secondaries  and  scapulars.  Crown  and 
nape  with  longitudinal  streaks  of  black  on  a  grayish-white  ground;  upper  tail 
coverts  pure  white,  with  transverse  bars  of  dusky;  tail  white,  the  middle  feath- 
ers ashy,  and  all  with  transverse,  rather  narrow,  bars  of  ash.  Primaries  and 
their  coverts  plain  dusky  black.  Lower  parts  white,  the  jugulum  and  breast 
densely  streaked  with  blackish,  and  the  sides  marked  with  more  transverse 
markings  of  the  same  color.  Winter  plumage:  Above,  ashy,  sometimes  nearly 
unbroken,  but  generally  slightly  variegated  (especially  on  the  scapulars  and  wing 
coverts)  with  transverse  spots  of  dusky,  and  whitish  edgings  and  dots  along  the 
margin  of  the  feathers.  Streaks  almost  absent  from  the  head,  neck  and  jugu- 
lum, which  are  nearly  uniform  light  ashy;  the  chin,  throat  and  supraloral  stripe 
white.  In  other  respects  like  the  summer  plumage.  Young:  Like  the  winter 
adult,  but  the  light  markings  above  more  or  less  tinged  with  pale  brown  or  dull 
ochraceous. 

"This  species  is  exceedingly  similar  to  T.  melanoleucus  in  plumage,  but  differs 
in  the  following  particulars:  In  the  summer  adult  the  upper  parts  are  more  trans- 
versely spotted  with  a  less  amount  of  black,  while  the  lower  parts  are  without 
well-defined  transverse  spots  or  bars  of  black;  in  the  winter  plumage  the  head, 
neck  and  jugulum  are  nearly  uniform  ashy,  instead  of  distinctly  streaked." 

Stretch  of 
Length.         wing.          Wing.          Tail.         Tarsus.         Bill. 

Male 10.50         19.50         6.00         2.55         2.00         1.45 

Female...     11.00        20.00         6.25        2.65         2.00         1.50 

Iris  brown;  bill  black,  with  edge  of  base  greenish  yellow; 
legs  and  feet  bright  yellow;  claws  dark  brown. 


192  HISTORY  OF  THE 

These  birds  are  very  common  in  the- United  States  during 
migration,  east  of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  especially  during  the 
spring  in  the  western  portion;  and,  although  considered  rare  on 
the  Pacific  side,  I  am  inclined  to  think  that  in  suitable  localities 
it  will  prove  to  be  a  regular  and  not  uncommon  migrant.  I 
met  with  it  at  Whatcom,  Washington  (also  at  San  Jose,  Guate- 
mala), Capt.  Chas.  Bendire  reports  it  an  abundant  migrant  in 
Oregon,  and  it  has  been  found  breeding  in  Alaska. 

In  habits,  this  noisy  bird  does  not  appear  to  differ  from  the  pre- 
ceding species,  though  less  watchful  and  more  easily  approached. 

Their  nests  are  mere  depressions  in  the  ground,  occasionally 
lined  with  a  few  leaves  or  grasses.  Eggs  usually  four,  1. 69  x 
1.15;  cream  to  drab  buff,  spotted  and  blotched  irregularly  with 
varying  shades  of  dark  brown  and  purple  shell  stains;  in  shape, 
pyriform. 

SUBGEXUS  HELODROMAS  KAUP. 

"Similar  to  Totanus,  but  smaller,  and  with  middle  toe  nearly  as  long  as  tar- 
sus." 

Tetanus  solitarius  (WILS.). 

SOLITARY  SANDPIPER. 
PLATE  XI. 

Migratory;  common.  Arrive  the  first  of  March  to  middle  of 
April;  a  few  remain  during  the  season.  Probably  breed  in  the 
State. 

B.  541.     K.  550.     C.  637.     G.  256,     89.     TL  256. 

HABITAT.  The  whole  of  temperate  North  America;  breeding 
chiefly  in  the  northern  portion;  winters  in  California,  the  Gulf 
States  and  southward  to  Brazil  and  Peru. 

SP.  CHAR.  "Adult,  in  summer:  Above,  olivaceous  slate,  rather  sparsely 
speckled  with  white,  the  crown  and  nape  indistinctly  streaked  with  the  same; 
outer  upper  tail  coverts  barred  with  white;  primaries  and  primary  coverts  plain 
slate  black.  Tail  white  (the  middle  feathers  dusky),  all  the  feathers  widely 
barred  with  dusky,  these  bars  most  numerous  on  outer  webs,  where  extending  to 
the  base  of  ihe  feathers.  Eyelids,  supraloral  stripe  and  lower  parts  white;  the 
sides  of  the  head,  neck  (all  round)  and  jugulum  streaked  with  brownish  slate; 
remaining  lower  parts  immaculate.  Lining  of  wings  and  axillars  slate  color, 
regularly  barred  with  white.  Winter  plumage:  Similar  to  the  summer  dress,  but 
dark  ashy  above,  less  distinctly  speckled,  and  foreneck  very  indistinctly  streaked, 
or  simply  washed,  with  ashy.  Young :  Above,  grayish  brown  (lighter  and  more 
olivaceous  than  the  adult),  thickly  speckled  with  buff;  crown  and  nape  plain 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  193 

brownish  gray;  checks  and  sides  of  neck  nearly  uniform  gray;  foreneck  streaked 
as  in  the  adult. 

"Bill  greenish  brown  (in  life),  dusky  terminally;  iris  brown;  legs  and  feet 
olive  green  in  adult,  more  grayish  in  young." 

Stretch,  of 
Length.          wing.          Wing.          Tail.         Tarsus.          Bill. 

Male 8.50         16.00         5.20         2.25         1.35         1.25 

Female...       8.75         16.75         5.50        2.30         1.45         1.30 

I  have  met  with  this  species  in  suitable  localities  throughout 
the  United  States,  Mexico  and  Central  America,  but  nowhere  in 
abundance. 

These  birds  inhabit  the  margins  of  sluggish  streams  and  shal- 
low ponds,  preferring  the  wooded  lands  or  shores  skirted  with 
trees,  where  they  wade  about  in  the  mud  and  water,  chasing 
with  open  wings,  or  probing  for,  and  feeding  upon  the  minute 
mollusks,  worms  and  various  forms  of  aquatic  insect  life  that 
abound  in  such  places.  They  have  a  peculiar  way  of  balanc- 
ing the  body,  by  bending  the  knees,  jerking  the  tail  and  bow- 
ing the  head,  much  like  the  Spotted  Sandpiper,  but  in  a  slower 
and  more  dignified  manner,  as  if  proud  of  their  motions;  and, 
notwithstanding  they  are  tattlers  by  name,  differ  from  the  family 
by  being  usually  silent,  seldom  uttering  their  low,  whistling  notes 
except  when  startled  or  about  to  take  wing.  As  the  tendency 
of  nature  is  to  harmonize,  is  it  not  probable  that  their  nature 
has  been  changed  by  the  stillness  and  solitude  that  surrounds 
them  in  their  secluded  retreats?  As  a  rule  the  birds  are  not 
shy,  and,  when  followed,  run  in  an  unconcerned  manner  along 
the  shore,  or  by  short  flights  keep  a  little  ahead,  or  return  to 
the  starting  point  by  circling  back  close  to  and  over  the  water. 
During  the  breeding  season  they  are  very  secretive,  and  al- 
though young  birds  have  often  been  met  with,  their  nests  and 
eggs  have  seldom  been  discovered,  and  in  most  cases  their 
identification  is  doubtful. 

Their  nest  is  a  slight  depression  in  the  soil,  lined  with  a  few 
leaves  or  grasses.  Eggs  said  to  be  from  two  to  four,  1.25x.  88, 
to  1.37x.  95;  ground  color  light  drab,  finely  and  rather  evenly 
spotted  with  dark  brown,  and  a  few  faint  purple  shell  stains; 
in  shape,  pyriform. 

13— ' 


194  HISTORY  OF   THE 

GENUS  SYMPHEMIA  RAFIXKSCJUE. 

"Bill  compressed,  very  thick,  the  ciihnen  rounded.  The  lower  mandible 
scarcely  grooved,  the  upper  grooved  to  about  the  middle.  Culinen  slightly  con- 
vex; gonys  ascending.  Bill  cleft  but  little  beyond  base  of  culmen.  Feathers 
of  sides  of  both  mandibles  falling  short  of  the  nostrils,  the  lower  rather  farther 
forward.  Chin  feathers  reaching  to  middle  of  nostrils.  Bill  longer  than  head: 
about  equal  to  tarsus,  which  is  more  than  one  and  one-half  times  the  middle 
toe;  both  toes  webbed;  the  emargination  of  inner  web  as  far  forward  as  the 
middle  of  basal  joint  of  middle  toe,  the  outer  reaching  nearly  to  the  end.  Bare 
portion  of  tibia  rather  less  than  middle  toe  without  claw.  Tail  nearly  even,  or 
little  rounded,  not  half  the  wings." 

Symphemia  semipalmata  inornata  BREWST. 

WESTERN  WILLET. 
PLATE  XI. 

Not  uncommon.  Arrive  about  the  first  of  May;  a  few  remain 
•during  the  summer  months,  in  the  western  part  of  State,  and 
without  doubt  occasionally  breed  there. 

B. .     R. .     C. .     G. ,      — .     U.  258a. 

HABITAT.  Western  North  America,  east  to  the  Mississippi 
valley,  Gulf  States,  and  sparingly  along  the  coast  of  the  south- 
ern Atlantic  States;  south  in  winter  to  Mexico;  north  to  about 
latitude  56°,  breeding  from  the  Gulf  coast  northward,  chiefly 
within  the  United  States. 

This  subspecies — recently  added  to  the  A.  O.  U.  list  —  proves 
to  be  our  Kansas  bird,  and  not  /£  semipalmata,  as  heretofore 
given.  The  following  descriptions  point  out  the  difference  ex- 
isting, and  upon  which  Mr.  Brewster  based  the  separation,  viz. : 

SP.  CHAK.  Largest  of  American  Scolopacidce,  except  genera  Numenius  and 
Limosa.  Primaries  black,  with  nearly  the  basal  half  white,  producing  a  very 
conspicuous  patch  on  the  spread  wing.  Summer  adult:  Above,  light  brownish 
gray,  streaked  on  the  head  and  neck,  and  spotted  and  barred  on  the  back,  etc.? 
with  blackish;  beneath,  white,  tinged  with  ashy  on  foreneck  and  with  buff  along 
sides,  the  former,  with  jugulum,  spotted  with  dusky,  and  the  latter  barred  with 
the  same;  upper  tail  coverts  white;  tail  ashy,  more  or  less  distinctly  mottled 
transversely  with  a  deeper  shade  of  the  same;  wing  coverts  plain  ash  gray;  axil- 
lars  and  lining  of  wing  plain  sooty  black.  Winter  plumage:  Above,  plain  ash 
gray;  beneath,  immaculate  dull  white,  the  foreneck  shaded  with  grayish.  Young: 
Above,  brownish  gray,  the  feathers  margined  with  pale  ochraceous;  sides  much 
tinged  with  the  same,  and  finely  mottled  transversely  with  grayish.  Bill  black; 
legs  and  feet  grayish.  In  life,  bill  light  blue,  dusky  toward  end;  iris  brown; 
feet  light  blue,  claws  black. 

SUBSP.  CIIAK.  Male  and  female,  breeding  plumage:  Differing  from  8.  semi- 
palmata in  being  larger,  with  a  longer,  slenderer  bill;  the  dark  markings  above 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  195 

fewer,  finer  and  fainter,  on  a  much  paler  (grayish  drab)  ground;  those  beneath 
duller,  more  confused  or  broken,  and  bordered  by  pinkish  salmon,  which  often 
spreads  over  or  suffuses  the  entire  under  parts,  excepting  the  abdomen;  middle 
tail  feathers  either  quite  immaculate  or  very  faintly  barred.  (Brewster.) 

Stretch  of 
Length.          -wing.  Wing.          Tail.         Tarsus.         Bill. 

Male 15.00         28.50         8,25         3.45         2.50         2.50 

Female...      14.50         28.00         8.15         3.25         2.50         2.00 

The  birds  inhabit  the  salt  and  fresh  water  shores  and  marshy 
lands,  where  they  move  with  an  easy,  graceful  carriage;  in  flight 
they  are  swift  and  strong.  Their  food  consists  of  various  small 
forms  of  life  that  such  places  afford;  and,  in  searching  for  the 
same,  I  have  seen  them  turn  over  shells  and  push  aside  pebbles. 

I  have  met  with  this  noisy,  restless  bird  on  the  Pacific  coast, 
at  Altata,  Mexico,  San  Diego,  California,  and  Whatcom,  Wash- 
ington. At  the  latter  place  I  only  noticed  a  pair,  but  found 
them  breeding  in  abundance  on  the  Gulf  coast  of  Texas;  also 
a  few  at  Lake  Como.,  Wyoming.  At  such  times  they  mani- 
fest great  love  and  anxiety  for  their  eggs  and  young,  flying  with 
tremulous  wings  close  about  an  intruder,  continually  uttering 
their  loud,  sharp  ' '  Pill-will-willet, ' '  often  dropping  to  the  ground 
or  alighting  in  trees,  scolding  vehemently  all  the  time  —  no  let 
up.  On  one  occasion  I  had  to  kill  two  pairs  that  were  nesting 
near  a  blind  at  the  edge  of  the  water  where  I  was  secreted,  as 
their  notes  of  alarm  kept  the  rare  birds  I  desired  away. 

Their  nests  are  placed  in  tussocks  of  grass,  usually  near  the 
water's  edge;  they  are  quite  bulky,  and  made  of  grasses  and 
other  growths  at  hand.  Eggs  four;  the  ground  color  varying 
from  buff  to  olive  and  grayish  white,  spotted  and  blotched  — 
thickest  about  the  larger  end,  with  various  shades  of  brown,  and 
shell  stains  of  purple  gray;  in  shape,  pyriform.  A  set  of  four 
eggs,  taken  April  30th,  1882,  near  Corpus  Christi,  Texas,  from 
a  nest  in  tall  grass,  measure:  2.02x1.52,  2.05x1.47,  2.13x1.56, 
2.17x1.58. 

GENUS  BARTRAMIA  LESSOR. 

"Upper  mandible  grooved  laterally  to  within  the  terminal  fourth,  the  lower 
not  quite  so  far.  Culmen  concave  to  near  the  tip,  where  it  is  slightly  decurved; 
gonys  straight.  Mouth  deeply  cleft,  almost  as  far  back  as  the  anterior  cauthus. 
The  culmen  only  about  two-thirds  the  commissure,  shorter  than  the  head  or 
tarsus,  and  about  equal  to  middle  toe  with  claw.  Feathers  extending  much 


196  HISTORY  OF  THE 

farther  forward  on  the  upper  jaw  than  on  the  lower,  although  those  of  chin  reach 
nearly  to  the  end  of  nostrils.  Tarsus  one  and  one-half  times  middle  toe  and 
claw,  the  bare  part  of  the  tibia  not  quite  equal  to  the  middle  toe  above;  outer 
toe  united  at  base  as  far  as  first  joint;  web  of  inner  toe  very  basal.  Tail  long, 
graduated,  more  than  half  the  wings." 

Bartramia  longicauda  (BECHST.). 

BARTRAMIAN  SANDPIPER. 
PLATE  XI. 

Summer  resident;  abundant.  Arrive  the  last  of  March  to 
middle  of  April;  begin  laying  early  in  May;  a  few  remain  until 
the  last  of  September. 

B.  545.     E.  555.     C.  640.     G.  258,     91.     U.  261. 

HABITAT.  Eastern  and  central  North  America,  west  to  Utah 
and  Oregon,  north  to  northern  Alaska  and  northern  provinces 
of  Quebec;  south  in  winter  to  Brazil  and  Peru;  breeds  from 
Pennsylvania,  southern  Kansas  and  Utah  northward  throughout 
its  range;  occasionally  wanders  to  Europe;  accidental  in  Aus- 
tralia. 

SP.  CHAK.  "Bill  about  as  long  as  the  head,  rather  wide  and  flattened  at  base, 
slightly  curved  at  the  tip;  nostrils  with  a  large  membrane;  nasal  groove  long; 
wing  long;  tail  long  for  this  group;  legs  moderate  or  rather  long;  lower  half  of 
the  tibia  naked;  toes  moderate,  the  outer  and  middle  united  by  a  membrane, 
inner  and  middle  free  to  the  base;  hind  toe  small.  Adult:  Above,  grayish 
brown,  the  feathers  paler  and  more  ochraceous  toward  their  edges,  spotted  and 
barred  with  black;  head  and  neck  (except  throat)  streaked  with  blackish;  crown 
blackish,  divided  with  a  mesial  line  of  buff;  throat,  belly  and  crissum  plain 
buffy  white;  axillars  pure  white  and  clear  dusky  slate,  in  regular  bars  of  nearly 
equal  width;  tail  feathers  (except  middle  pair)  creamy  buff,  broadly  tipped  with 
white,  crossed  by  a  broad  subtermiual  black  spot,  and  with  a  few  irregular 
narrow  bars  anterior  to  this;  outer  webs  of  primaries  plain  dusky  slate,  the 
inner  webs  with  wide  transverse  bars  of  white  on  the  outer  quill,  on  the  others 
broken  into  a  confused  mottling.  Rump  and  upper  tail  coverts  nearly  uniform 
blackish,  the  outer  feathers  of  the  latter  with  their  exterior  webs  partly  white. 
Young:  Similar  to  the  adult,  but  the  buff  on  the  head,  jugulum,  wings,  etc., 
much  deeper,  the  streaks  on  the  foreneck  and  jugulum  much  less  distinct,  and 
the  back  plain  black,  the  feathers  bordered  with  buff.  Bill  yellowish  green, 
the  tip  dusky,  the  edges  toward  the  base  yellow;  iris  dark  hazel;  legs  and  tarsi 
light  yellowish  gray,  toes  rather  darker,  claws  brownish  black.  Downy  young: 
Above,  coarsely  and  irregularly  mottled  with  black  on  a  grayish  white  ground, 
tinged  with  light  rusty;  lower  parts  buffy  white,  with  about  three  blackish 
spots  on  the  flanks,  one  beneath  the  eye,  a  smaller  one  on  the  lores,  about  half 
way  between  the  bill  and  the  eye,  and  a  large,  nearly  vertical,  one  behind  the 
ears." 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  197 

Stretch  of 
Length,          wing.  Wing.          Tail.        Tarsus.         Bill. 

Male 11.75         21.50         6.55         3.50         1.90         1.15 

Female...     11.50        21.00        6.50        3.40        1.85        1.10 

This  species,  so  well  adapted  in  structure  for  a  wader,  prefers 
the  upland  prairies  and  fields  for  its  home,  seldom  frequenting 
the  water's  edge.  Its  diet  is  chiefly  grasshoppers,  beetles  and 
crickets,  with  occasionally  small  berries  and  the  tender  buds  of 
plants.  When  fat  the  flesh  is  juicy  and  delicious,  and  they  are 
therefore  much  sought  after  by  the  pot  hunters  for  the  market. 
These  birds  should  be  strictly  protected,  for  they  are  beneficial 
and  in  no  way  harmful.  Their  graceful  carriage,  hovering 
flight  and  peculiar  prolonged,  loud  and  plaintive  whistle  attracts 
attention  and  makes  the  well-known  and  familiar  bird  a  favorite. 
When  hunted  much  they  soon  become  wild,  and  when  approached 
run  through  the  grass,  with  lowering  head,  in  a  skulking,  dodg- 
ing manner,  and  where  the  grass  is  short,  or  the  field  bare,  often 
drop  close  to  the  ground,  but  take  wing  the  moment  they  think 
they  are  observed,  flying  swift  and  high,  with  an  easy  stroke 
of  the  wings,  except  during  the  early  breeding  season,  when 
they  circle  and  hover  about  with  tremulous  wings,  scolding  in- 
cessantly. Before  alighting  the  birds  usually  sail  for  quite  a 
distance,  and  the  moment  they  touch  the  ground  raise  their 
wings  high  and  then  slowly  fold  them  back;  and  though  not 
perchers  proper,  often  alight  upon  a  fence  or  post. 

Their  nests  are  placed  on  the  prairies,  in  a  depression  at  the 
foot  of  a  bunch  of  grass,  and  often  in  open,  exposed  situations; 
in  some  cases  the  bottom  of  the  nest  is  lined  sparingly  and 
loosely  with  grasses.  Eggs  four,  1.75x1.27;  grayish  white  to 
pale  buff,  spotted  with  varying  shades  of  light  to  dark  brown, 
thickest  about  larger  end;  in  shape,  pyriform. 

GENUS  TEYNGITES  CABANIS. 

"Upper  mandible  grooved  to  about  the  terminal  fourth;  the  lower  not  quite 
so  far.  Culmen  and  gonys  about  straight.  Mouth  deeply  cleft  more  than  half 
way  to  the  eye;  the  culmen  about  two-thirds  the  commissure.  Culmen  much 
shorter  than  the  head,  and  about  equal  to  middle  toe  without  claw.  Tarsus 
about  one  and  one-sixth  as  long  as  middle  toe  and  claw.  Bare  part  of  tibia  de- 
cidedly shorter  than  middle  toe  without  claw.  Toes  cleft  to  the  base,  with  only 
a  very  rudimentary  web.  Upper  jaw  feathered  to  the  nostrils;  the  side  of  the 


198  HISTORY  OF  THE 

lower  and  beneath  feathered  much  farther,  or  to  the  end  of  the  nostrils;  the  in- 
terspace of  the  rami  entirely  filled.  Tail  somewhat  graduated,  not  half  the 
wing." 

Tryngites  subruficollis  (VIEILI,.). 

BUFF-BREASTED  SANDPIPER. 
PLATE  XII. 

Migratory;  rare.  Arrive  about  the  first  of  May;  return  early 
in  August. 

B.  540.     R.  556.     C.  641.     G.  259,     92.     U.  262. 

HABITAT.  North  America  in  general,  especially  the  interior; 
breeding  in  the  Arctic  regions;  south  in  winter  to  southern  South 
America;  occasionally  in  Europe. 

SP.  CHAR.  "Bill  shorter  than  head,  straight,  compressed,  narrow  at  the  point; 
nasal  groove  long;  wings  very  long,  the  first  quill  longest;  tertiaries  rather 
shorter;  tail  moderate  or  longer  than  usual  in  this  group;  legs  rather  long, 
lower  third  of  the  tibia  naked;  toes  free  at  base,  flattened  underneath,  and 
slightly  margined;  hind  toe  small.  Upper  parts  pale  and  dull  ochraceous,  with 
an  ashy  tinge;  every  feather  with  a  large  central,  lanceolate,  crescent-shaped, 
or  oblong  spot  of  black,  frequently  with  a  glossy  green  tinge,  especially  on  the 
back  and  shorter  tertials.  Under  parts  light  ochraceous  or  pale  fawn  color, 
many  feathers  tipped  with  white,  and  paler  on  the  flanks  and  abdomen,  on  the 
breast  with  partially  concealed  small  spots  of  black;  axillary  feathers  white. 
Quills  with  their  outer  webs  light  brown,  inner  webs  ashy  white,  marbled  with 
black,  and  narrowly  tipped  with  white;  middle  tail  feathers  brownish  black; 
outer  feathers  lighter,  with  transverse  waved  lines  of  black  on  the  terminal  half, 
and  tipped  with  white;  under  primary  coverts  beautifully  marbled  with  black. 
Bill  greenish  black;  legs  greenish  yellow.  Young:  Generally  similar,  but  the 
upper  parts  with  the  black  and  fawn  color  less  sharply  contrasted,  and  each 
feather  with  a  conspicuous  terminal  border  of  white.  Marbling  on  inner  webs 
of  primaries  and  on  under  primary  coverts  much  more  minute  and  delicate  than 
in  the  adult.  Bill  dull  olive  green,  dusky  toward  the  point;  iris  hazel;  feet  dull 
yellowish  green;  claws  dusky." 

Stretch  of 
Length.          wing.  Wing.         Tail.          Tarsus,         Bill. 

Male 8.50          17.00         5.25         2.50         1.25          .75 

Female...      8.00          16.00         5.00         2.30         1.20          .70 

This  widely-distributed  species  does  not  seem  to  be  common 
anywhere,  except  upon  its  breeding  grounds.  It  is  usually,  like 
the  Bartramian,  found  upon  the  uplands,  and  is  very  similar  in 
its  habits.  Mr.  Murdock  gives  the  following  interesting  de- 
scription of  its  breeding  hahits  at  Point  Barrow,  Alaska: 

"This  is  an  abundant  summer  resident,  and  was  more  plenty 
in  the  season  of  1883  than  it  was  the  year  before. 

"They  arrived  both  seasons  in  a  body  at  about  the  same  date 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  199 

(June  6th  to  8th),  and  were  first  seen  on  the  dry  banks  below 
the  village,  feeding  greedily  on  the  flies  and  beetles  which  were 
out  sunning  themselves. 

"By  the  middle  of  June  they  had  spread  pretty  well  over 
the  dryer  parts  of  the  tundra,  both  above  and  below  the  station. 
They  were  never  seen  on  the  lower,  marshy  portions  of  the  tun- 
dra, but  always  confined  themselves  to  the  high  and  dry  banks, 
or  what  we  call  the  black  tundra. 

"The  eggs,  as  might  be  inferred  from  their  colors,  are  laid 
in  the  latter  locality,  as  a  rule,  where  they  harmonize  well  with 
the  black  and  white  of  the  ground  and  moss.  We  were  unable 
to  find  the  nest  in  1882,  but  the  next  spring  we  collected  the 
eggs  in  considerable  abundance.  Like  the  rest  of  the  waders 
they  build  no  nest,  but  deposit  the  four  eggs,  small  end  down, 
in  a  shallow  depression  in  the  ground,  lined  with  a  little  moss. 
Four  is  the  usual  number  of  eggs  in  a  complete  set,  though  we 
collected  one  set  of  five. 

"During  the  greater  part  of  the  breeding  season,  that  is, 
from  the  time  they  arrive  till  the  end  of  June,  the  males  indulge 
in  curious  antics,  which  we  had  frequent  opportunity  of  ob- 
serving. 

"A  favorite  trick  is  to  walk  along  with  one  wing  stretched 
to  its  fullest  extent  and  held  high  in  air.  I  have  frequently 
seen  solitary  birds  doing  this  apparently  for  their  own  amuse- 
ment, when  they  had  no  spectators  of  their  own  kind.  Two 
will  occasionally  meet  and  'spar'  like  fighting  cocks  for  a  few 
minutes  and  then  rise  together  like  'towering'  birds,  with  legs 
hanging  loose,  for  about  thirty  feet,  then  drifting  off  to  leeward. 
A  single  bird  will  sometimes  stretch  himself  up  to  his  full  height, 
spread  his  wings  forward,  and  puff  out  his  throat,  making  a  sort  of 
clucking  noise,  while  one  or  two  others  stand  by  and  apparently 
admire  him.  They  are  very  silent,  even  during  the  breeding 
season.  When  they  first  arrive  they  are  to  be  found  associating 
with  Actodromas  maculata  for  a  few  days.  After  the  breeding 
season  they  disappear  gradually,  never  gathering  into  flocks, 
but  quietly  slipping  away,  and  none  are  to  be  seen  after  the 
first  week  in  August." 


200  HISTORY  OF  THE 

For  a  full  description  of  their  nests  and  eggs,  I  quote  from 
"North  American  Water  Birds,"  Vol.  I,  p.  308: 

"It  breeds  abundantly  in  the  Anderson  River  region,  where 
a  number  of  its  nests  and  eggs  were  found  by  Mr.  MacFarlane; 
and  from  his  memoranda  in  reference  to  the  nests  and  eggs  of 
this  species,  in  upward  of  twenty  instances,  we  gather  that  the 
nest  is  always  on  the  ground,  and  hardly  distinguishable  from 
that  of  the  Golden  Plover,  being  a  mere  depression  in  the  soil, 
scantily  lined  with  a  few  withered  leaves  and  dried  grasses. 
These  nests  were  all  obtained  on  the  Barren  Grounds,  between 
Horton's  River  and  the  coast,  between  the  26th  of  June  and  the 
9th  of  July.  The  eggs  were  in  every  instance  four  in  number. 
Even  in  July  the  embryos  were  not  far  advanced.  When  the 
nest  was  approached,  the  female  usually  made  a  short,  low  flight, 
to  a  distance  of  about  twelve  yards. 

"The  eggs  of  this  species  are  conspicuously  pyriform  in  shape, 
and  measure  1.51  inches  in  length  by  1.10  in  the  greatest 
breadth.  So  far  as  I  have  noticed  them,  however  much  they 
may  vary  in  certain  minor  respects,  they  all  present  a  remarkable 
uniformity  in  their  general  characteristics  and  appearance.  Their 
ground  color  is  uniformly  an  ashy  drab,  over  which  are  pro- 
fusely spread  rounded  markings,  splashes  and  confluent  blotches 
of  deep  sepia.  The  markings  are  smaller  and  more  rounded  in 
shape  around  the  smaller  end,  and  larger  and  more  confluent 
about  the  other.  The  sepia  tint  is  quite  uniform,  and  the  deeper 
markings  are  mingled  with  washes  of  dilute  purplish  slate.  These 
markings  vary  in  their  shape,  size  and  character,  being  in  some 
large  splashes,  and  in  others  longitudinal,  as  if  made  by  strokes 
of  a  paint  brush." 

GENUS  ACTITIS  ILLIGEB. 

"Upper  mandible  grooved  to  the  terminal  fourth;  the  bill  tapering  and  rather 
acute.  Cleft  of  mouth  only  moderate;  the  culmen  about  five-sixths  the  commis- 
sure. Feathers  extending  rather  farther  on  side  of  lower  jaw  than  upper  the 
former  reaching  as  far  as  the  beginning  of  the  nostrils;  those  of  the  chin  to 
about  their  middle.  Bill  shorter  than  the  head,  straight,  equal  to  the  tarsus, 
which  is  of  the  length  of  middle  toe  and  claw.  Bare  part  of  tibia  half  the  tar- 
sus, outer  toe  webbed  to  first  joint;  inner  cleft  nearly  or  quite  to  the  base.  Tail 
much  rounded,  more  than  half  the  wing." 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  201 

Actitis  macularia  (LINX.). 

SPOTTED  SANDPIPER. 
PLATE  XII. 

Summer  resident;  common;  in  migration,  abundant.  Arrive 
the  middle  of  April  to  first  of  May;  begin  laying  about  the 
middle  of  May;  a  few  remain  into  November. 

B.  543.     R.  557.     C.  638.     G.  260,     93.     U.  263. 

HABITAT.  North  America  in  general;  breeding  throughout 
the  temperate  regions  and  north  to  the  Arctic  coast;  south  in 
winter  to  Brazil  and  lower  Uruguay,  South  America;  occasion- 
ally in  Europe. 

SP.  CHAE.  "Small;  bill  rather  longer  than  the  head,  straight,  slender;  long 
groove  in  both  mandibles;  wing  rather  long,  pointed;  tail  medium,  rounded;  legs 
rather  long,  lower  third  of  the  tibia  naked;  toes  long,  margined,  and  flattened 
underneath,  outer  connected  with  the  middle  toe  by  a  large  membrane,  inner 
very  slightly  connected  to  the  middle  toe.  Adult:  Upper  parts  greenish  ashy, 
with  a  somewhat  metallic  or  bronzed  luster,  and  with  numerous  sagittate,  lance- 
olate and  irregular  (mostly  transverse)  spots  of  brownish  black,  having  the  same 
luster.  Line  over  the  eye  and  entire  under  parts  white,  with  numerous  circular 
and  oval  spots  of  brownish  black  over  the  whole  lower  surface,  smaller  on  the 
throat,  largest  on  the  abdomen.  Primaries  plain  dusky;  tail  dark  ashy,  the  outer 
feathers  with  dusky  and  white  transverse  spots  on  their  terminal  portion;  axil- 
lars  immaculate  white.  Young:  Above,  greenish  ashy,  the  wings  with  narrow 
transverse  bars  of  black  and  ochraceous,  most  numerous  on  the  coverts.  Be- 
neath, white,  without  any  spots  and  with  an  ashy  suffusion  across  the  jugulum. 
Downy  chick:  Above  yellowish  gray,  with  a  narrow  black  dorsal  stripe  from  the 
bill  to  the  tail;  a  narrow  black  line  through  the  eye.  Beneath,  dull  white. 

"Mandible  and  edge  of  the  maxilla  pale  wax  yellow  (in  life);  rest  of  bill 
black;  iris  dark  brown;  tarsi  and  toes  pale  grayish  olive." 

Stretch  of 
Length.          -wing.  Wing.         Tail.        Tarsus.         Bill. 

Male 7.60          13.40          4.15         2.10         .95  .90 

Female .  . .      8.00          13.75          4.25        2.20        .95  .95 

This  well-known  species  is  quite  common  throughout  its 
range,  and  is  at  home  everywhere  along  the  salt  and  fresh 
water  shores,  and  not  like  most  of  the  family  restricted  to  a 
northern  clime  for  its  breeding  grounds.  Its  quick,  peculiar, 
balancing  motions,  caused  by  bending  the  knees  and  keeping 
time  with  the  head  and  .tail,  readily  attract  attention  and  has 
given  the  soubriquet  of  ' '  Teeters  "  or  "  Tipups, ' '  which  can  never 
be  rubbed  out.  Its  flight  is  also  peculiar,  usually  in  a  low, 
coursing  manner  along  the  shore,  with  alternate  motions  of  the 
wings;  at  first  regular  strokes,  then  with  its  long,  pointed  wings 


202  HISTORY  OF  THE 

curving  downward  and  tremulously  vibrating,  it  sails  along,  ut- 
tering its  usual  "Peet-weet,"  as  it  goes. 

Their  food  consists  of  insects  and  small  forms  of  life,  found 
at  or  near  the  water's  edge. 

The  parents  both  assist  in  hatching  and  rearing  of  the  young, 
which  leave  the  nest  and  follow,  soon  after  they  are  hatched. 
They  run  swiftly,  and  it  is  surprising  how  quick  they  will  disap- 
pear at  the  first  note  of  warning,  by  hiding  or  squatting  close 
to  the  ground;  and  in  case  of  real  danger  the  old  birds  flutter 
about  in  great  distress,  and  in  various  ways  try  to  divert  atten- 
tion and  draw  the  intruder  away. 

Their  nests  are  placed  on  the  ground  and  lined  sparingly 
with  grasses  and  leaves;  usually  on  open,  dry  lands  near  water, 
and  in  a  tuft  of  grass  or  under  a  low  bush;  (I  once  found  a 
nest  under  an  old  drift  log.)  Eggs  four,  1.30x.93;  creamy 
buff  to  olive  drab,  spotted  and  blotched  with  dark  brown  and 
shell  markings  of  lilac;  thickest  and  running  somewhat  together 
around  large  end;  in  shape,  pyriform. 


NUMENIUS  BRISSON. 

"Legs  covered  anteriorly  with  transverse  scutellse,  laterally  and  behind  with 
small  hexagonal  scales.  Bill  very  long,  exceeding  the  tibia,  and  curved  down- 
ward from  the  terminal  half;  the  culmen  rounded.  Tip  of  bill  expanded  later- 
ally and  club  shaped.  Grooves  of  bill  not  reaching  beyond  the  middle.  Tertials 
as  long  as  primaries. 

"Bill  variable  in  length,  always  longer  than  tarsus,  sometimes  exceeding  tar- 
sus and  toes;  it  is  nearly  straight  at  the  base,  then  decurviug  quite  rapidly  to  the 
tip,  where  the  upper  mandible  is  thickened  downward  beyond  and  over  the 
lower;  lateral  grooves  occupying  only  the  basal  half  or  third  of  the  bill;  under 
mandible  not  grooved  beneath;  cleft  of  mouth  extending  but  little  beyond  the 
base  of  culmeu.  Feathers  of  head  extending  about  the  same  distance  on  both 
mandibles;  those  of  chin  to  opposite  the  anterior  extremity  of  the  nostrils. 
Tarsi  nearly  twice  as  long  as  middle  toe,  rather  more  than  twice  the  bare  part 
of  tibia,  covered  behind  by  hexagonal  scales  larger  than  the  lateral  ones.  Outer 
toe  webbed  for  its  basal  joint;  inner  for  half  this  distance.  Tail  short,  nearly 
even,  not  quite  half  the  wings.  Tertials  as  long  as  the  primaries." 

Numenius  longirostris  WILS. 

LONG-BILLED  CURLEW. 
PLATE  XII. 

Summer  resident;  rare;  in  migration,  common.  Arrive  about 
April  1st;  begin  laying  early  in  May;  a  few  remain  into  October. 

B.  549.     R.  558.     C.  643.     G.  261,     94.      IT.  '2(14. 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  203 

HABITAT.  The  whole  of  temperate  North  America;  breeding 
from  the  Gulf  coast  and  Arizona  north  within  its  range;  south 
in  winter  to  the  West  Indies  and  Guatemala. 

SP.  CHAR.  "The  largest  American  species  of  this  genus.  Bill  very  long, 
much  curved,  upper  mandible  longer  than  the  under,  somewhat  knobbed  at  the 
tip;  wing  rather  long;  legs  moderate;  toes  united  at  base.  Entire  upper  parts 
pale  rufous,  tinged  with  ashy,  every  feather  with  transverse  and  confluent  bauds 
of  brownish  black,  most  numerous  and  predominating  on  the  back  and  scapulars; 
secondary  quills,  under  wing  coverts  and  axillars  bright  rufous;  primaries  with 
their  outer  webs  brownish  black  and  their  inner  webs  rufous,  with  transverse 
bands  of  black.  Under  parts  pale  rufous,  with  longitudinal  lines  of  black  on 
the  neck  and  sides;  tail  rufous,  tinged  with  ashy,  transversely  barred  with 
brownish  black.  Specimens  vary  to  some  extent  in  the  shade  of  the  rufous 
color  of  the  plumage,  and  very  much  in  the  length  of  the  bill.  The  rufous  color 
is  probably  more  distinct  in  the  young.  Downy  young:  Very  pale  ochraceous, 
with  a  tinge  of  sulphur  yellow,  rather  deeper  below  than  above.  Upper  parts 
marbled  coarsely  and  rather  irregularly  with  black.  Bill  straight,  about  1.40 
inches  long." 

Stretch  of 
Length.          -wing.          Wing.  Tail.        Tarsus.         Bill. 

Male 22.50         37.50         10.25        3.75         3.20         7.00 

Female...     25.00         40.00         11.25        4.00         3.40         7.75 

This  large  species  is  rare  upon  the  Atlantic  coast  north  of  the 
Carolinas,  but  quite  common  elsewhere  westward  to  the  Pacific. 
Its  most  northern  record  that  I  can  find  is  Labrador  and  Van- 
couver's  Island;  but  it  seldom  breeds  north  of  Prince  Edward's 
Island,  Manitoba  and  Oregon. 

These  birds,  as  a  rule,  inhabit  the  muddy  shores  and  moist 
grassy  flats  and  plains,  but  often  frequent  and  breed  upon  the 
uplands,  remote  from  water.  Their  food  consists  of  worms, 
crickets,  beetles,  grasshoppers,  small  snails,  crabs  and  crawfish  — 
the  latter  they  reach  for  with  their  long  bills,  and  pull  them  out 
of  their  holes;  and  I  have  seen  them  probe  for  and  unearth  the 
larvae  of  the  beetles  and  other  forms  of  life  that  in  the  spring 
come  to  or  near  the  surface,  preparatory  to  transformation. 
While  feeding  they  move  about  with  an  easy  carriage. 

Their  flight  is  not  rapid,  but  well  sustained,  with  regular 
strokes  of  the  wings,  and  when  going  a  distance,  usually  high 
and  in  a  triangular  form,  uttering  now  and  then  their  loud,  pro- 
longed whistling  note,  so  often  heard  during  the  breeding  sea- 
son; before  alighting,  suddenly  drop  nearly  to  the  ground,  then 
gather,  and  with  a  rising  sweep  gracefully  alight.  When  at  rest 


204  HISTORY  OF  THE 

usually  stand  on  one  leg,  or  sit  upon  the  ground.  They  are 
very  attentive  to  and  solicitous  for  their  young,  hovering  over 
and  vociferously  scolding  an  intruder,  and  in  various  ways  try 
to  lead  him  away. 

Their  nests  are  placed  on  the  ground  in  a  slight  depression, 
sparingly  lined  with  grasses,  usually  upon  the  high  prairies,  often 
quite  a  distance  from  water.  Eggs  three  or  four.  2.85x1.85; 
creamy  white  to  olive  drab,  spotted  and  blotched  with  lilac  and 
varying  shades  of  brown;  in  form,  rather  ovate,  to  pear  shape. 

Numenius  hudsonicus  LATH. 

HUDSONIAN  CURLEW. 
PLATE  XII. 

Migratory;  rare.  Arrive  the  last  of  April  to  first  of  May; 
return  in  August.  I  have  not  met  with  them  later,  and  think 
they  only  stop  to  rest  on  their  way  south  to  the  seacoast. 

B.  550.     R.  559.     C.  645.     G.  262,     95.     U.  265. 

HABITAT.  Nearly  the  whole  of  America;  breeds  from  north- 
ern Dakota  to  the  Arctic  coast,  and  winters  chiefly  south  of  the 
United  States. 

SP.  CHAR.  "Adult:  Crown  dark  sooty  brown,  divided  longitudinally  by  a 
mesial  stripe  of  buff;  a  narrow  dusky  stripe  on  side  of  head  from  bill  to  ante- 
rior angle  of  the  eye,  continued  back  beneath  the  eye  and  along  upper  edge  of 
auriculars,  separated  from  the  dusky  of  the  crown  by  a  wide,  well-defined  su- 
perciliary stripe  of  light  buff.  Rest  of  head  and  neck  and  entire  lower  parts 
light  buff,  the  chin,  throat  and  abdomen  immaculate,  other  portions,  including 
cheeks,  entire  neck,  jugulum  and  breast,  marked  with  linear  streaks  of  dark 
brown;  axillars  pinkish  buff  or  dilute  cinnamon,  barred  with  dark  brown.  Up- 
per parts  spotted  with  dark  sooty  brown  and  light  buff,  the  latter  prevailing  on 
the  wing  coverts,  the  former  on  the  back;  rump  and  upper  tail  coverts  simi- 
larly spotted;  primaries  dusky,  the  inner  quills  spotted  with  buff." 

Stretch  of 
Length.          -wing.          Wing.  Tail.         Tarsus.         Bill. 

Male 17.00         33.00         9.50         3.75         2.25         3.50 

Female...     18.50         35.00       10.00         4.50         2.30         4.00 

Iris  brown;  bill  olive  black,  under  mandible  pale  reddish  at 
base;  legs  and  feet  dark  greenish  lead  color;  claws  black. 

This  widely  distributed  species  does  not  appear  to  be  very 
abundant  anywhere.  I  have  occasionally  met  with  small  flocks 
of  these  birds  in  nearly  every  locality  where  I  have  collected; 
and  I  have  in  the  "Goss  Ornithological  Collection"  a  male  shot 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  205 

on  Briar  Island,  Nova  Scotia,  and  a  female  shot  at  Neah  Bay, 
Washington. 

In  habits  they  are  not  noticeably  different  from  either  of  the 
other  two  species. 

Their  nests  are  placed  on  the  ground,  a  mere  depression  lined 
sparingly  with  old  grasses  or  leaves.  Eggs  usually  four;  cream 
to  olive  drab,  irregularly  spotted  and  blotched  with  varying 
shades  of  umber  to  slate  brown,  thickest  about  larger  end;  in 
shape,  ovate,  approaching  pyriform.  A  set  taken  in  June, 
1885,  in  northwestern  Dakota,  measure:  2.28x1.59,2.30x1.63, 
2.31x1.68,  2.31x1.69.  Capt  Chas.  Bendire  gives  the  follow- 
ing dimensions  of  eight  specimens  collected  by  Mr.  MacFarlane, 
near  the  Arctic  coast,  in  the  vicinity  of  Anderson  River:  2.25 
xl.57,  2.30x1.60,  2.40x1.60,  2.39x1.59,  2.08x1.54,  2.23x 
1.55,  2.23x1.65,  2.22x1.67. 

Numenius  borealis  (FORST.). 

ESKIMO  CURLEW. 
PLATE  XII. 

Migratory;  abundant.  Arrive  the  last  of  March  to  middle  of 
April;  return  early  in  August,  but  are  not  nearly  so  numerous 
as  in  the  spring,  the  larger  portion  returning  by  the  sea  shore. 

B.  551.     R.  560.     C.  646.     G.  263,     96.     U.  266. 

HABITAT.  Northern  and  eastern  North  America,  breeding  far 
northward;  south  in  winter  to  the  southern  extremity  of  South 
America. 

SP.  CHAR.  "Adult:  Crown  dusky,  streaked  with  buff,  but  without  distinct 
mesial  stripe;  a  dusky  stripe  of  aggregated  streaks  on  side  of  head,  from  bill  to 
and  behind  the  eye;  rest  of  head,  neck  and  entire  lower  parts  light  buff,  the 
cheeks  and  neck  streaked,  the  breast,  sides,  flanks  and  crissum  with  Y-shaped 
markings  of  dusky  brown;  axillars  and  lining  of  wing  pale  cinnamon,  the 
former  narrowly  barred  with  dusky.  Upper  parts  spotted  dusky  and  buff,  the 
wing  coverts  more  grayish  brown,  with  dusky  shaft  streaks;  primaries,  includ- 
ing their  inner, webs,  plain  brownish  dusky.  Rump  and  upper  tail  coverts  spotted 
dusky  and  light  buff.  Tail  brownish  gray,  barred  with  dusky. 

"In  plumage  this  little  Curlew  closely  resembles.  N.  hudsonicus,  but  has  the 
inner  webs  of  the  primaries  finely  and  confusedly  mottled,  instead  of  being 
marked  with  very  distinct  and  regular  ochraceous  spots;  the  breast  with  trans- 
verse V-shaped  markings,  instead  of  linear,  longitudinal  streaks,  while  there  are 
other  differences,  besides  the  important  one  of  size,  which  readily  distinguish 
them." 


206  HISTORY  OF  THE 

Stretch  of 
Length.          wing.  Wing.  Tail.         Tarsus.          Bill. 

Male 13.50         27.50         8.50         3.25         1.75         2.10 

Female...      13.00         27.00         8.30         3.25         1.65         2.10 

Iris  dark  brown;  bill  brownish  black,  base  of  under  mandible 
to  forks  pale  reddish  yellow;  legs  and  feet  dark  greenish  blue; 
claws  black. 

The  only  mention  I  can  find  of  this  species  on  the  Pacific 
coast  south  of  Alaska  is  of  a  single  straggler,  shot  in  September, 
1883,  at  San  Diego,  California,  reported  in  "The  Auk,"  Vol.  1, 
p.  393;  but  east  of  the  Rocky  Mountains  it  is  by  far  the  most 
numerous  of  the  family,  and  during  the  spring  migration  very 
abundant  west  of  the  Mississippi,  where  it  assembles  in  large 
flocks  upon  the  burnt  grounds  and  bare  spots  on  the  prairies,  to 
probe  for  and  feed  upon  the  larvae  and  other  forms  of  life  that 
the  warmth  from  the  sun  brings  early  to  the  surface.  Upon 
their  breeding  grounds,  are  said  to  feed  largely  upon  small  ber- 
ries. Their  soft,  mellow,  whistling  note  is  continually  heard  as 
they  sweep  about  over  their  feeding  grounds  with  regular  strokes 
of  their  wings,  flying  swift  and  low,  only  sailing  when  about  to 
alight;  and  the  moment  their  feet  touch  the  ground  raise  their 
wings  high  and  slowly  fold  them  back,  much  like  the  Bartra- 
mian  Sandpiper.  They  move  about  with  an  easy  step,  ever 
upon  the  lookout,  and  off  at  the  first  alarm;  but,  as  they  are 
slow  to  leave  their  feeding  grounds,  in  circling  about  often  come 
within  easy  shot,  and  when  the  hunters  are  distributed  the  slaugh- 
ter is  often  great.  The  birds  are  beneficial,  and  during  the 
spring  migration  the  farmers  should  see  that  they  are  protected. 

The  following  description  of  their  nest  and  eggs  is  from  the 
"North  American  Water  Birds:" 

"Mr.  MacFarlane  met  with  this  species  breeding  in  great 
abundance  throughout  the  Barren  Grounds  up  to  the  Arctic 
coast,  but  it  was  not  met  with  before  entering  these  grounds. 
The  nests — which  were  found  from  about  June  20th  to  July 
10th — were  in  every  instance  mere  holes  in  the  ground,  lined 
with  a  few  decayed  leaves  and  having  a  thin  sprinkling  of  hay 
in  the  center.  It  was  very  difficult  to  detect  the  nest  of  this 
species,  as  the  parent  bird  glides  off  long  before  a  near  approach, 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  207 

and  the  eggs  closely  resemble  the  grass  in  colors.  This  species 
was  very  numerous  in  the  barrens.  The  female,  soon  after 
leaving  her  nest,  usually  ascends  into  the  air  in  a  straight  line. 
The  young  birds  leave  the  nest  as  soon  as  hatched,  and  when 
approached  hide  themselves  in  the  grass,  and  can  be  found  only 
with  great  difficulty.  Some  were  already  hatched  by  July  12th. 
' '  The  eggs  of  this  species  exhibit  very  great  variations  in  size, 
colors  and  distribution  of  markings.  In  No.  9431  (S.  I.)  the 
ground  is  a  pale  greenish  ash,  with  large  oblique  blotches  of 
different  shades  of  sepia,  the  lighter  inclining  to  a  purplish  slaty 
tint.  In  No.  14099  (S.  I.)  the  ground  is  of  a  deep  muddy  or 
clay  colored  drab.  The  markings  are  chiefly  toward  the  larger 
end,  where  they  are  confluent  on  the  apex,  are  of  an  umber  tint 
varying  in  the  depth  of  the  shade.  In  No.  9432  (S.  I.)  the 
ground  is  a  deep  olivaceous  drab,  and  the  markings,  of  a  very 
dark  sepia  color,  are  in  the  form  of  irregular  small  blotches, 
more  numerous  toward  the  larger  end.  In  No.  11401  the 
ground  is  a  light  ash  green  color,  and  the  markings  are  smaller, 
more  numerous,  more  longitudinal,  and  of  a  much  lighter  shade 
of  sepia.  These  eggs  are  of  an  oblong  oval  shape,  slightly 
pyriform,  one  end  more  rounded  than  the  other,  and  have  an 
average  length  of  about  2.10  inches,  and  a  breadth  at  the  larg- 
est portion  of  1.90  inches." 

FAMILY   CHARADRIID-ffi.     PLOVERS. 

"Small  or  medium  sized  shore  birds  (scarcely  waders),  with  rather  short, 
somewhat  Pigeon-like  bill,  large  round  head,  short  neck,  long  and  pointed 
wiugs,  and  moderately  lengthened  legs,  the  hind  toe  usually  absent. 

"  The  above  superficial  characters  are  sufficient  to  define  the  family  of  Plovers 
as  distinguished  from  the  allied  groups." 

GENUS  CHARADEIUS  LINSLETJS. 

"Size  small  or  medium;  head  without  crest;  plumage  much  speckled  or  spot- 
ted above  and  without  metallic  gloss;  lower  parts  chiefly  black  hi  summer." 

SUBGENUS  SQUATAROLA  CUVIEB. 

• 

"  A  rudimentary  hind  toe;  legs  reticulated  with  elongated  hexagons  anteri- 
orly, of  which  there  are  five  or  six  in  a  transverse  row;  fewer  behind;  first 
primary  longest;  tail  slightly  rounded. " 


208  HISTORY  OF  THE 

Charadrius  squatarola  (Lixx.). 

BLACK-BELLIED  PLOVER. 
PLATE  XII. 

Migratory;  rare.  Arrive  early  in  April  to  late  in  May.  I 
have  no  record  of  their  return;  think  they  go  south  chiefly  by 
the  sea  shores. 

B.  510.     K.  513.     C.  580.     G.  235,     97.     U.  270. 

HABITAT.  Nearly  cosmopolitan,  but  chiefly  in  the  northern 
hemisphere;  breeding  far  north  and  migrating  south  in  winter; 
in  America,  to  Brazil  and  New  Granada. 

SP.  CHAR.  "Bill  and  legs  strong;  wings  long;  a  very  small  rudimentary  hind 
toe.  Summer:  Around  the  base  of  the  bill  to  the  eyes,  neck  before  and  under 
part  of  body  black;  upper  parts  white,  nearly  pure  and  unspotted  on  the  fore- 
head; sides  of  the  neck  and  rump  tinged  with  ashy,  and  having  irregular  trans- 
verse spots  of  brownish  black  on  the  back,  scapulars  and  wing  coverts;  the 
brownish  black  frequently  predominating  on  those  parts,  and  the  rump  also  fre- 
quently with  transverse  bars  of  the  same.  Lower  parts  of  the  abdomen,  tibia  and 
under  tail  coverts  white,  quills  brownish  black,  lighter  on  the  inner  webs,  with 
a  middle  portion  of  their  shafts  white,  and  a  narrow  longitudinal  stride  of  white 
frequently  on  the  shorter  primaries  and  secondaries.  Tail  white,  with  trans- 
verse imperfect  narrow  bands  of  black.  The  black  color  of  the  upper  parts 
generally  with  a  faint  bronze  or  coppery  luster,  and  presenting  a  scale-like  ap- 
pearance; the  brownish  black,  of  the  upper  parts  with  a  greenish  luster.  Bill 
and  legs  black;  iris  brown.  Younger  and  winter  plumage:  Entire  upper  parts 
dark  brown,  with  circular  and  irregular  small  spots  of  white,  and  frequently  of 
yellow,  most  numerous  on  the  wing  coverts;  upper  tail  coverts  white.  Upper 
parts  white,  with  short  longitudinal  lines  and  spots  of  dark  brownish  cinereous 
on  the  neck  and  breast;  quills  brownish  black,  with  a  large  longitudinal  space 
of  white  on  their  inner  webs  and  also  on  the  outer  webs  of  the  shorter  primaries. 
Young:  Upper  parts  lighter,  and  with  the  white  spots  more  irregular  or  less 
rounded;  narrow  lines  on  the  neck  and  breast  more  numerous." 

Stretch  of 
Length.         wing.          Wing.          Tail.        Tarsus.         Bill. 

Male 11.75        25.00         7.50        3.25        1.90        1.20 

Female...     11.50        24.50        7.40        3.25        1.90        1.20 

Iris  brown;  bill  and  claws  black;  legs  and  feet  dark  blue. 

I  have  found  this  species  quite  common  upon  both  coasts, 
but  rare  inland,  where  it  seldom  stops  except  to  rest  in  its  mi- 
gratory flights  to  and  from  its  breeding  grounds;  usually  return- 
ing leisurely  along  the  seacoast.  In  its  habits,  it  is  similar  to 
the  Golden  Plover,  which  in  winter  plumage  it  somewhat  resem- 
bles, but  readily  known  by  its  small  hind  toe,  as  it  is  the  only 
one  of  our  Plovers  that  has  the  same. 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  200 

Wilson  reports  finding  the  birds  breeding  in  Pennsylvania, 
and  Audubon  in  the  mountainous  parts  of  Maryland,  Pennsyl- 
vania and  Connecticut.  From  the  description  given  of  their 
nests  and  eggs  and  their  habits,  they  are  thought  by  some  writ- 
ers to  have  been  mistaken  in  the  identification  of  the  same,  but 
they  certainly  could  not  have  been  in  the  birds  which  they  sup- 
posed laid  the  eggs;  and  they  have  since,  in  a  few  cases,  been 
known  to  summer  within  the  United  States.  Their  natural 
breeding  grounds,  however,  are  within  the  Arctic  regions.  In 
the  early  settlement  of  the  country,  many  birds  were  found 
breeding  south  to  the  Gulf  coast  that  are  now  only  known  to 
breed  far  north. 

Their  nests  are  mere  depressions  in  the  ground,  sparingly 
lined  with  old  grasses.  Eggs  usually  four,  2.04x1.43;  ground 
color  brownish  drab  to  buffy  olive,  blotched  and  speckled  with 
dark  brown  to  a  deep  black  color;  in  shape,  pyriform. 

SUBGENUS  CHARADRIUS  LINNAEUS. 
"No  hind  toe;  axillars  white  or  grayish." 

Charadrius  dominicus  MULL. 

AMERICAN  GOLDEN  PLOVER. 
PLATE  XII. 

Migratory;  abundant.  Arrive  the  last  of  March  to  first  of 
May;  return  the  last  of  July  to  first  of  October. 

B.  503.     R.  515.     C.  581.     G.  236,     98.     U.  272. 

HABITAT.  Nearly  the  whole  of  America;  breeding  in  the 
Arctic  regions;  south  in  winter  to  Patagonia. 

SP.  CHAR.  "Bill  rather  short,  legs  moderate,  wings  long,  no  hind  toe,  tarsus 
covered  before  and  behind  with  small  circular  or  hexagonal  scales.  Summer 
plumage:  Upper  parts  brownish  black,  with  numerous  small  circular  and  irreg- 
ular spots  of  golden  yellow,  most  numerous  on  the  back  and  rump  and  on  the 
upper  tail  coverts,  assuming  the  form  of  transverse  bands  generally;  also  with 
some  spots  of  ashy  white.  Entire  under  parts  black,  with  a  brownish  or  bronzed 
luster;  under  tail  coverts  mixed  or  barred  with  white.  Forehead,  border  of  the 
back  of  the  neck,  under  tail  coverts  and  tibia  white;  axillary  feathers  cinere- 
ous; quills  dark  brown;  middle  portion  of  the  shafts  white,  frequently  extend- 
ing slightly  to  the  webs,  and  forming  longitudinal  stripes  on  the  shorter  quills; 
tail  dark  brown,  with  numerous  irregular  bands  of  ashy  white,  and  frequently 
tinged  with  golden  yellow;  bill  black;  legs  dark  bluish  brown.  Winter  plumage 
(young  and  adult}:  Under  parts  dull  ashy,  spotted  with  brownish  on  the  neck 

—14 


210  HISTORY  OF   THE 

and  breast,  frequently  more  or  less  mixed  with  black;  many  spots  of  the  upper 
parts  dull  ashy  white;  other  spots,  especially  on  the  rump,  golden  yellow. 

"  Specimens  vary  in  the  relative  amount  of  the  black  and  golden  on  the  upper 
parts,  in  the  width  of  the  white  on  the  forehead,  and  other  details  of  coloration." 

Stretch  of 
Length.          -wing.          Wing.          Tail.        Tarsus.          Bill. 

Male 10.25         22.50         7.20          3.00         1.65         .90 

Female...       9.75        21.75         7.00         2.60         1.65         .90 

Iris  dark  brown;  bill  and  claws  black;  legs  and  feet  dark  slate. 

This  well-known  species  is  very  abundant  in  the  United  States 
during  migration,  from  the  Atlantic  to  the  Rocky  Mountains, 
but  rare  on  the  Pacific  side  south  of  Alaska.  Their  natural 
home  is  upon  the  seacoast,  frequenting  occasionally  marshy  or 
wet  grounds,  but  as  a  rule  prefer  the  sandy  beach  and  adjacent 
flats  and  uplands;  they  are  seldom  found  far  inland,  except  dur- 
ing migration.  At  such  times  their  flights,  especially  in  the 
spring,  are  hurried,  direct,  and  in  the  night,  only  stopping  to 
rest  and  feed  during  the  day;  returning  in  a  more  leisurely  man- 
ner and  largely  along  the  sea  shore.  When  upon  the  ground 
these  birds  usually  run  about  on  straight  or  unbended  legs,  with 
their  bodies  in  a  horizontal  position  and  heads  drawn  down 
close  to  the  body;  while  sleeping  or  resting,  usually  sit  down  or 
stand  on  one  leg. 

In  flight  they  are  swift  and  strong,  sweeping  over  the  prairies 
in  a  compact,  wavy  form,  at  times  skimming  close  to  the  ground, 
then  high  in  air,  an  ever-changing,  circling  course,  whistling  as 
they  go;  and  on  alighting  raise  their  wings  until  the  tips  nearly 
touch,  then  slowly  fold  them  back,  a  habit  which  is  quite  com- 
mon with  them  as  they  move  about  on  the  ground. 

Their  food  consists  of  grasshoppers,  beetles  and  many  forms 
of  insect  life,  snails,  Crustacea,  etc. ;  small  berries  also  help  to 
make  up  their  diet. 

The  following  full  and  interesting  description  of  their  nesting 
habits,  eggs,  etc.,  is  taken  from  Mr.  Nelson's  "Report  upon 
Natural  History  Collections  in  Alaska:" 

"About  the  middle  of  May  this  beautiful  Plover  reaches  the 
vicinity  of  Saint  Michael' s.  The  earliest  record  I  have,  for  the 
Territory,  is  May  13th,  specimens  in  my  possession  having  been 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  211 

secured  at  Fort  Reliance,  on  the  Upper  Yukon,  at  this  date.  As 
the  breeding  season  approaches,  it  is  found  as  one  of  the  com- 
monest breeding  waders  over  the  grass  and  moss-grown  country 
extending  along  the  shore  of  Behring  Sea.  In  some  cases  they 
have  deposited  their  eggs  by  the  first  of  June. 

"They  are  in  full  breeding  dress,  and  are  a  beautiful  sight  as 
they  glide  about  on  easy  wing,  or  feed  over  the  marshy  flats. 
Their  soft,  clear  call  note  gives  evidence  of  the  rich  song  to  be 
heard  later.  They  soon  pair  and  disperse,  so  that  within  a 
few  days  after  the  main  arrival  their  nests  may  be  looked  for. 
Their  nests  are  generally  in  small  depressions  which  may  be 
found  among  the  moss  and  dried  grass  of  a  small  knoll,  and  at 
times  a  slight  structure  is  made  of  dried  grass.  The  grass,  and, 
perhaps,  a  few  dead  leaves  of  the  dwarf  willow  are  arranged  in 
a  circular,  saucer-shaped  form,  about  four  or  five  inches  across, 
and  contain  four  eggs,  which  have  a  pale  yellowish  ground 
color,  with  very  dark,  well-defined  umber  brown  spots  scattered 
rather  profusely  over  the  shell,  especially  about  the  larger  end. 
One  set  of  eggs  measures:  1.98  by  1.35,  2.09  by  1.30,  2.00  by 

1.30,  2.08  by  1.33.     This  set  of  eggs  was  obtained  at  Stuart 
Island,  in  June.     Three  odd  specimens  measure  respectively: 
1.90  by  1.25,  1.92  by  1.38,  and  1.86  by  1.29.     A  second  set, 
obtained  in  June,  1880,  near  Saint  Michael's,  measures  2.00  by 

1.31,  2.09  by  1.26,  and  2.02  by  1.29.     The  ground  color  is 
very  uniform,  the  only  variation  being  to  a  slight  buffy  shade, 
in  some  instances,  and  a  slight  increase,  or  decrease,  in  the 
abundance  of  dark  markings."      [In  shape,  pyriform.] 

"The  male  at  this  season  has  a  brighter  plumage  than  the 
female,  and  in  places  little  frequented  by  man  be  becomes  very 
unsuspicious;  near  villages,  however,  he  is  always  on  the  look- 
out, and  is  difficult  to  approach  even  when  he  is  found  by  his 
nest.  Toward  the  end  of  May  and  during  the  first  of  June  the 
male  utters  a  clear,  rich  song,  which  is  frequently  heard  during 
the  twilight  of  the  short  Arctic  nights. 

' '  The  courtship  of  this  handsome  bird  is  carried  on  very  quietly, 
and  I  have  witnessed  no  demonstration  of  anger  or  quarreling 
among  the  rivals.  When  two  are  satisfactorily  mated  they 


212  HISTORY  OF  THE 

quickly  go  about  their  nesting,  after  which  each  pair  limits  its 
range  to  the  immediate  vicinity  of  its  treasures." 

GENUS  .ffiGIALITIS  BOIE. 

"  Size  medium  or  small;  head  without  crest,  and  plumage  without  metallic 
gloss  above.  Bill  variable,  but  usually  shorter  than  middle  toe,  or,  if  longer, 
very  slender;  tarsus  less  than  twice  as  long  as  middle  toe." 

SUBGENUS  OXYECHUS  REICHENBACH. 

Tail  at  least  half  as  long  as  the  wing,  extending  half  its  length,  or  more, 
beyond  tip  of  closed  wings;  graduated  for  more  than  length  of  inner  toe  with- 
out claw;  rump  and  upper  tail  coverts  ochraceous;  chest  crossed  by  two  black 
bands.  (Ridgicay.) 

JEgialitis  vocifera  (Lix^.). 

KILLDEEB. 
PLATE  XII. 

Summer  resident;  abundant.  Arrive  the  last  of  February  to 
first  of  April:  begin  laying  about  the  middle  of  April;  remain 
until  late  in  the  fall. 

B.  504.     R.  516.     C.  584.     G.  237,     99.     TJ.  273. 

HABITAT.  The  whole  of  temperate  North  America;  breeding 
throughout  its  range;  wintering  from  the  Gulf  coast  and 
southern  California,  south  into  northern  South  America. 

SP.  CHAR.  "Adult:  Pileum,  and  upper  parts  generally,  grayish  brown,  in- 
clining to  umber;  rump  and  upper  tail  coverts  ochraceous  rufous,  lighter  on  the 
latter.  Forehead  and  broad  superciliary  stripe,  throat,  nuchal  collar  and  lower 
parts  white.  Fore  part  of  the  crown,  loral  stripe  continued  toward  the  occiput, 
collar  round  neck  and  band  across  breast  black.  Primaries  dusky,  the  inner 
quills  marked  on  outer  webs  with  white.  Tail  chiefly  pale  ochraceous  rufous, 
variegated  with  white,  dusky  and  grayish  chiefly  toward  the  end.  Bill  black; 
iris  dark  brown;  eyelids  (in  life)  orange  red  or  scarlet;  legs  and  feet  pale  pink- 
ish grayish,  or  pale  grayish  yellow.  Young:  Similar  to  the  adult,  but  feathers 
of  the  upper  parts  more  or  less  conspicuously  margined  with  pale  rusty  or  ful- 
vous. Downy  young:  Upper  parts  generally,  including  pileum,  light  grayish 
brown,  the  two  areas  of  this  color  bounded  all  round  by  black,  a  wide  collar  of 
which  crosses  the  jugulum  and,  extending  across  the  nape  beneath  a  broad, 
white  collar,  completely  encircles  the  neck;  a  broad  bar  of  velvety  black  down 
the  middle  of  the  humeral  region,  and  a  narrow,  more  interrupted  stripe  of  the 
same  down  the  rump.  Forehead,  throat,  lower  parts  generally,  'hand  wing' 
and  posterior  border  of  the  humerus  pure  white;  the  flanks  and  crissum  more 
Isabella  color;  a  narrow  black  line  running  from  the  rictus  to  the  eye." 

Stretch  of 
Length.  wing.  Wing.         Tail.         Tarsus.         Sill. 

Male 10.50         20.50         6.60         4.00         1.45  .75 

Female...     10.00        20.00         6.50         4.00         1.45  .75 

This  noisy,  familiar  species  frequents  alike  the  high  prairies, 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  213 

the  low  lands,  margins  of  streams  or  pools  of  water;  in  fact, 
appears  to  be  at  home  wherever  it  may  alight.  As  a  rule  it 
is  easily  approached,  not  being  either  wise  or  timid.  While 
collecting  in  the  winter  of  1889,  at  Coatapec,  Mexico,  a  pair 
carne  daily  to  feed  and  dress  up  their  feathers  beside  a  little 
run  or  gutter  in  the  center  of  the  narrow  paved  street  opposite 
my  room  in  the  hotel,  regardless  of  the  people  on  the  side- 
walks, only  running  or  dodging  to  avoid  a  person  crossing,  or 
to  keep  out  of  the  way  of  the  pack  mules,  etc.,  that  are  almost 
continually  passing;  and  it  is  not  uncommon  for  the  birds  to 
alight  upon  our  streets  and  within  our  dooryards.  Upon  the 
ground  they  run  swiftly,  but  with  too  stiff  legs  to  be  graceful, 
often  squatting  to  rest  or  hide. 

The  parent  birds  both  assist  in  hatching  and  raising  the 
young,  and  are  very  solicitous  and  demonstrative  in  their  efforts 
to  protect  them;  and,  in  doing  so,  beautifully  display,  with  quiv- 
ering wings  and  fan-spread  tail,  their  varied  colors.  Upon  the 
wing  they  are  swift  and  easy,  and  at  all  times  make  known  their 
approach  and  presence  in  a  vociferous  manner.  Their  food 
consists  chiefly  of  insect  life. 

Their  nests  are  placed  on  the  dry  ground,  in  a  small  depres- 
sion, usually  beneath  a  bunch  of  grass  or  weeds,  in  the  vicinity 
of  streams  and  pools  of  water,  lined  sparingly  with  bits  of  old 
grass  or  weeds,  chiefly  about  the  edges.  Eggs  usually  four, 
1.45x1.05;  buff  to  drab  white,  spotted  and  blotched  with  um- 
ber and  blackish  brown;  thickest  about  larger  end;  pyriform  in 
shape,  very  obtuse  at  larger  end  and  sharply  pointed  at  the 

other. 

SUBGENUS  ^GIALITIS  BOIE. 

Tarsus  less  than  twice  as  long  as  bill,  measured  from  anterior  point  of 
loral  feathering;  chest  with  a  black,  grayish  or  rusty  band,  sometimes  inter- 
rupted in  the  middle  portion.  (Ridgway.) 

.fljgialitis  semipalmata  BOXAP. 

SEMIPALMATED  PLOVER. 
PLATE  XH. 

Migratory;  not  uncommon.  Arrive  in  April  to  middle  of 
May;  begin  to  return  early  in  August,  occasionally  remaining' 
until  late  in  the  fall. 


214  HISTORY  OF  THE 

B.  507.     R.  517.     C.  586.     G.  238,     100.     U.  274. 

HABITAT.  The  whole  of  North  America;  breeding  chiefly 
within  the  Arctic  regions;  winters  from  California  and  the  Gnlf 
coast,  south  to  Brazil  and  Peru. 

SP.  CHAR.  "  Small;  wings  long;  toes  connected  at  base,  especially  the  outer 
to  the  middle  toe.  Front,  throat,  ring  around  the  neck  and  entire  under  parts 
white;  a  band  of  deep  black  across  the  breast,  extending  around  the  back  of  the 
neck  below  the  white  ring.  Band  from  the  base  of  the  bill,  and  under  the  eye, 
and  wide  frontal  baud  above  the  white  band,  black.  Upper  parts  ashy  brown; 
quills  brownish  black,  with  their  shafts  white  in  a  middle  portion,  and  occasion- 
ally a  lanceolate  white  spot  along  the  shafts  of  the  shorter  primaries;  shorter 
tertiaries  edged  with  white;  greater  coverts  tipped  with  white.  Middle  feathers 
of  the  tail  ashy  brown,  with  a  wide  subterminal  band  of  brownish  black,  and 
narrowly  tipped  with  white;  two  outer  tail  feathers  white,  others  intermediate, 
like  the  middle,  but  widely  tipped  with  white.  Bill  orange  yellow  at  base, 
black  terminally;  legs  pale  flesh  color.  Female:  Similar,  but  rather  lighter  col- 
ored. Young:  With  the  black  replaced  by  ashy  brown,  the  feathers  of  the  upper 
parts  bordered  with  paler.  Downy  young:  Above,  pale  grayish  brown,  mottled 
with  black;  a  frontal  crescent,  broad  nuchal  collar  and  entire  lower  parts  white." 

Stretch  of 
Length.         wing.          Wing.          Tail.        Tarsus.          Bill. 

Male 7.10          15.20         4.75         2.30  .95  .52 

Female...      7.00          15.00         4.70        2.20          .95  .50 

This  species  is  quite  common  in  suitable  localities  throughout 
the  continent;  breeding  north  into  Greenland.  They  are  often 
met  with  upon  low,  marshy  grounds,  but  seem  to  prefer  the 
sandy  shores  and  barren  lands,  where  they  run  about  in  a  swift 
but  uncertain  manner,  suddenly  stopping  to  pick  up  an  insect  or 
any  minute  form  of  life  that  exists  upon  their  feeding  grounds; 
and  though  gregarious,  move  about  in  a  silent,  unsocial  manner, 
regardless  of  each  other;  but  the  moment  they  are  startled, 
spring  into  the  air  with  a  whistling,  warning  note,  quickly  bunch 
together,  and  sweep  swiftly  away,  scattering,  without  stopping 
to  look,  the  moment  they  alight,  as  if  forgetful  of  the  scare,  and 
heedless  of  danger. 

Their  nests  are  mere  cavities  in  the  ground,  lined  occasionally 
with  a  few  withered  leaves  or  grasses.  Eggs  usually  four, 
1.26x.  94;  pale  dull  buff  to  olive  buff,  irregularly  speckled  and 
spotted,  chiefly  about  the  larger  end,  with  dark  brown  or  black; 
in  shape,  rather  pyriform. 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  215 

JEgialitis  meloda  circumcincta  RIDGW. 

BELTED  PIPING  PLOVER. 

In  my  first  catalogue  I  entered  this  bird  in  the  list  to  be 
looked  for  in  the  State.  I  have  met  with  them  in  Texas,  and 
they  are  known  to  breed  north  of  us,  and  it  is  strange  they  have 
not  been  found,  as  this  is  about  the  center  of  their  natural  range. 
I  therefore  think  it  safe  to  add  them  to  our  list  as  migratory 
birds. 

B. .     R.  520.     C.  588.     G. ,     — .     U.  277a. 

HABITAT.  The  Mississippi  valle}7,  and  north  to  Lake  Winni- 
peg (occasionally  east  to  the  Atlantic  coast);  breeding  from 
northern  Illinois  and  Nebraska  northward;  wintering  on  the 
Gulf  coast  and  southward.  . 

SP.  CHAR.  "Adult  male:  Forehead,  lores,  michal  collar  and  lower  parts 
white.  In  summer  a  band  across  fore  part  of  crown,  and  one  around  the  lower 
neck  (forming  a  continuous  pectoral  band),  black  or  dusky.  In  winter  these 
markings  replaced  by  light  brownish  gray;  head  above  and  upper  parts  of  body 
light  brownish  cinereous;  rump  and  upper  tail  coverts  lighter,  and  often  nearly 
white;  quills  dark  brown,  with  a  large  portion  of  their  inner  webs  and  shafts 
white;  shorter  primaries  with  a  large  portion  of  their  outer  webs  white;  tail  at 
base  white,  and  with  the  outer  feathers  white;  middle  feathers  with  a  wide' sub- 
terminal  band  of  brownish  black,  and  tipped  with  white;  bill  orange  at  base, 
tipped  with  black  ( in  winter  almost  wholly  black );  legs  orange  yellow.  Female: 
Similar  to  the  male,  but  with  the  dark  colors  lighter  and  less  in  extent.  Young: 
No  black  band  in  front;  collar  around  the  neck  ashy  brown." 

I  have  no  measurements  of  this  bird.  Mr.  Ridgway,  in  "Amer- 
ican Naturalist,"  Yol.  8,  p.  109,  gives  the  following  dimensions 
of  an  adult  male:  "Wing,  4.60;  tail,  2.30;  culmen,  .50;  tarsus, 
.85;  middle  toe,  .55.  Type,  No.  9035,  male  ad.,  Nat.  Mus., 
Loup  Fork  of  the  Platte,  July  8;  Dr.  F.  V.  Hay  den.  Length,  6£; 
extent,  14  J." 

As  their  name  indicates,  these  birds  have  a  soft,  low,  piping 
note,  which  they  utter  not  only  upon  the  wing  but  occasionally 
as  they  run  about  upon  the  ground,  and,  during  the  early  breed- 
ing season,  a  peculiar,  loud,  .prolonged,  musical  call,  that  readily 
attracts  attention.  I  say  in  the  breeding  season,  because,  when 
I  met  with  them  on  the  Gulf  coast,  I  did  not  hear  it  until  the 
early  spring.  In  other  respects,  their  habits  are  not  noticeably 
different  from  the  Semipalmated. 

Their  nests  are  without  lining,  a  mere  depression  in  the  sand. 


216  HISTORY  OF  THE 

Eggs  usually  four,  1.27x.95;  ground  color  light  gray  to  creamy 
buff,  finely  and  rather  sparsely  speckled  or  dotted  with  blackish 
brown  and  purplish  gray;  in  shape,  abruptly  pyriform. 

JEgialitis  nivosa  CASS. 

SNOWY  PLOVEB. 
PLATE  XH. 

Summer  resident  on  the  salt  plains  along  the  Cimarron  River, 
in  the  Indian  Territory,  the  northern  limits  of  which  extend 
across  the  State  line  into  southern  Comanche  county;  quite  com- 
mon. Arrive  about  the  first  of  May;  begin  laying  the  last  of 
May. 

B.  509.     R.  521.     C.  591.     G. ,      — .     TJ.  278. 

HABITAT.  Western  North  America,  north  into  northern  Cali- 
fornia, east  to  Kansas,  Texas  and  Cuba;  south  in  winter  to  Chili. 

SP.  CHAR.  "Bill  slender,  wholly  deep  black,  as  long  as  the  middle  toe. 
Adult  male:  Forehead,  superciliary  region,  indistinct  nuchal  collar  and  entire 
lower  parts  pure  white;  a  band  across  the  fore  part  of  the  crown,  auriculars  and 
transverse  patch  on  each  side  of  the  breast  black.  Upper  parts  rather  light 
brownish  gray,  the  crown  and  occiput  usually  tinged  with  light  reddish  buff. 
Primaries  dusky,  with  white  shafts,  the  inner  quills  marked  with  white;  inner 
secondaries  almost  wholly  white.  Two  outer  tail  feathers  wholly  white,  the 
rest  growing  gradually  darker  to  the  inner  pair,  which  are  wholly  dusky.  Adult 
female:  Similar  to  male,  but  the  black  markings  less  distinct  (sometimes  nearly 
obsolete).  Bill  and  eyelids  deep  black;  iris  deep  brown;  legs  dull  slate  color; 
toes  black;  interior  of  mouth  fleshy  white.  Young:  More  ashy  above,  the  black 
markings  replaced  by  ashy;  feathers  of  the  upper  parts  indistinctly  bordered 
with  whitish.  Downy  young:  Above,  pale  grayish  buff,  interrupted  by  a  white 
nuchal  collar,  the  whole  of  the  colored  portion  irregularly  mottled  with  black. 
Forehead,  lower  parts  and  'hand  wing'  white.  A  distinct  postocular  streak  of 
dusky." 

The  Kansas  birds,  and  specimens  since  collected  by  Mr.  Sen- 
nett,  in  Texas,  are  lighter  in  color,  and  present  a  more  bleached 
appearance  than  the  California  specimens  examined;  but,  as  the 
birds  vary  somewhat  in  shadings,  it  is  probable  that  with  a  larger 
number  before  us  the  difference  would  be  less  apparent,  and  re- 
move the  thought  at  first  entertained,  that  they  were  entitled  to 
sub-specific  separation. 

Stretch  of 
Length.          -wing.  Wing.  Tail.         Tarsus.         Bill. 

Male 6.60          13.50         4.10         1.95          .95  .60 

Female..         6.50          13.20         4.00         1.80          .95  .60 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  217 

Iris  dark  brown;  bill  and  claws  black;  legs  and  feet  bluish 
gray. 

A  strictly  marine  bird,  one  only  found  inland  upon  the  salt, 
sandy  plains  or  along  the  shores  of  salt  water;  breeding  within 
their  range  as  far  south  as  Cuba. 

Their  food  consists  of  Crustacea  and  various  minute  forms  of 
life.  They  are  similar  in  actions  to  the  Semipalmated,  and  fully 
as  silent;  at  least  I  never  heard  one  utter  a  note  except  as  the 
young  are  approached — when  they  are  very  demonstrative  —  or 
when  suddenly  flushed,  which,  in  the  breeding  season,  is  very 
difficult  to  do,  as  they  prefer  to  escape  by  running,  dodging,  and 
squatting  the  moment  they  think  they  are  out  of  danger,  in  hopes 
that  you  will  pass  them  unobserved,  as  the  sandy  lands  they  in- 
habit closely  resemble  their  plumage  in  color,  and  you  will  cer- 
tainly do  so  should  you  look  away  or  fail  to  go  directly  to  the 
spot. 

June  18th,  1886,  (the  first  discovery  of  the  birds  east  of  Great 
Salt  Lake),  I  found  them  nesting  and  with  young  upon  the  salt 
plains,  as  located  above,  and  startled  one  from  her  nest;  a  mere 
depression  worked  out  in  the  sand  to  fit  the  body.  It  was  with- 
out lining,  and  nothing  near  to  shelter  or  hide  it  from  view.  It 
contained  three  eggs  (a  full  set),  nearly  ready  to  hatch;  dimen- 
sions: 1.20x.90,  1.20x.89,  1.22x.89;  ground  color  pale  olive 
drab  (approaching  a  light  clay  color,  with  a  greenish  tint),  rather 
evenly  and  thickly  marked  with  irregular-shaped,  ragged-edged 
splashes  and  dots  of  blackish  brown;  in  shape,  rather  pyriform. 

SUBGEXUS  PODASOCYS  COUES. 

"Bill  rather  small  and  slender  (much  as  in  Oxyechus),  but  longer  than  the 
middle  toe;  tarsus  considerably  more  than  twice  as  long  as  the  middle  toe.  Tail 
short,  even,  scarcely  reaching  to  the  ends  of  the  folded  wings.  Plumage  ex- 
ceedingly plain." 

.SJgialitis  montana  (  TOWNS.). 

MOUNTAIN  PLOVER. 
PLATE  XII. 

Summer  resident  in  western  to  middle  Kansas;  common.  Ar- 
rive about  the  first  of  April;  begin  laying  early  in  May;  return 
late  in  the  fall. 

B.  505.     Pv.  523.     C.  592.     G.  239.     101.     U.  281. 


218  HISTORY  OF  THE 

HABITAT.  "Western  North  America;  east  into  Texas  and  Da- 
kota; north  to  the  British  possessions;  wintering  in  Southern 
California,  Texas  and  southward;  accidental  in  Florida. 

SP.  CHAR.  "Adult,  breeding  plumage:  Wide  frontal  crescent,  superciliary 
stripe  and  entire  lower  parts  white,  purest  on  the  forehead,  of  a  more  or  less 
soiled  tint  beneath,  the  jugulum  shaded  with  light  grayish  brown,  most  distinct 
laterally,  where  insensibly  merging  into  the  color  of  the  upper  parts.  Fore  part 
of  the  crown  and  stripe  from  the  rictus  to  the  eye  (across  lores)  black.  Rest 
of  upper  parts  uniform  light  grayish  brown,  the  remiges  and  tail  dusky;  shafts 
of  primaries  white.  Adult,  in  spring:  Similar  to  the  above,  but  upper  parts 
and  jugulum  tinged  with  light  buffy  ochraceous.  Adult  and  young,  in  winter: 
More  strongly  tinged  with  buff,  both  above  and  below;  the  black  markings  of 
the  head  wanting.  Young,  first  plumage:  All  the  feathers  of  the  upper  parts 
distinctly  bordered  with  light  buff;  whole  side  of  head  and  neck  and  entire  jug- 
ulum deep  light  creamy  buff.  Downy  young:  Above,  brownish  buff  mottled 
with  black,  this  forming  a  distinct  marbling  on  the  crown  and  occiput,  where 
the  ground  color  is  lighter  and  clearer  buff.  Lower  parts  pale  buff,  immaculate. 

"There  is  considerable  individual  variation  in  the  extent  and  distinctness  of 
black  on  the  head  in  fully  adult  birds,  some  specimens  having  the  whole  crown 
black,  while  in  others  this  color  is  limited  to  a  crescentic  mark  just  behind  the 
white  of  the  forehead;  in  some  examples  the  black  loral  stripe  is  barely  indi- 
cated." 

Stretch  of 
Length.  wing.         Wing.          Tail.        Tarsus.         Bill. 

Male 8.80         .18.25         5.75         2.60         1.50  .90 

Female...      9.25          19.50         6.00         2.70         1.60  .90 

Iris  dark  brown;  bill  and  claws  black;  legs  pale  brown;  feet 
dark  brown. 

These  birds  inhabit  high  prairies  and  sterile  plains,  rather  than 
the  mountains  as  their  name  indicates,  and  seldom  frequent  the 
water's  edge  or  low,  wet  grounds;  in  other  respects  their  habits 
do  not  materially  differ  from  others  of  the  family. 

Their  note  is  a  rather  low,  pleasing  whistle.  Their  food  is 
chiefly  grasshoppers.  I  have  found  them  breeding  in  Kansas, 
Colorado  and  Wyoming,  and  they  no  doubt  breed  within  the 
United  States  throughout  their  range. 

Their  nest  is  a  slight  depression  in  the  ground,  lined  sparingly 
with  the  leaves  of  grasses.  Eggs  usually  three  or  four,  1.47x 
l.llj  deep  olive  to  brownish  drab,  sprinkled  with  fine  dots  of 
blackish  brown  and  neutral  tints;  pyriform  in  shape,  but  not  so 
sharply  pointed  as  other  species  of  this  genus.  A  set  of  three 
eggs,  collected  in  Wyoming,  June  6th,  1886,  measure:  1.47x 
1.06,  1.52x1.13,  1.53x1.10. 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  219 


ORDER  CALLING. 

GALLINACEOUS  BIRDS. 

"Bill  generally  short,  stout,  convex,  with  an  obtuse  vaulted  tip,  corneous  ex- 
cept in  the  nasal  fossa,  and  without  restriction  in  its  continuity.  Nostrils  scaled 
or  feathered.  Tomiaof  upper  mandible  overlapping.  Frontal  feathers  forming 
re-entraut  outline  at  the  base  of  upper  mandible.  Legs  usually  feathered  to 
the  tarsus  or  beyond.  Hallux  elevated,  with  a  few  exceptions  (e.  g.,  Cracidce  and 
Megapodidce)  smaller  than  the  anterior  toes,  occasionally  wanting  (as  in  the 
Hemipods).  Tarsus  (when  not  feathered)  generally  broadly  scutellate.  Front 
toes  commonly  webbed  at  base.  Claws  blunt,  little  curved.  Wings  strong, 
short,  and  concavo-convex.  Rectices  commonly  more  than  twelve.  Head 
small.  Plumage  usually  after  shafted.  Carotids  double,  except  Turnicidce  and 
Megapodidce.  No  intrinsic  syringeal  muscles.  Sternum  very  deeply,  generally 
doubly,  notched.  Palate  schizoguathous.  Chiefly  polygamous.  Prsecocial  and 
ptilopa3dic." 

SUBOEDEE  PHASIANI.     PHEASANTS,  GEOUSE,  PAE- 

TRIDGES,    QUAILS,    ETC. 

Hind  toe  small,  short  (much  less  than  half  as  long  as  lateral  toes),  and  in- 
serted above  the  level  of  the  anterior  toes.  (Ridgway.) 

FAMILY  TETRAONID^l.     GROUSE,  PARTRIDGES,  ETC. 

Tarsi  without  spurs;  head  entirely  feathered  (except  sometimes  over  eyes), 
and  tail  not  vaulted.  (Ridgway.) 

SUBFAMILY  PERDICINJE.     PARTRIDGES. 

Tarsi  and  nasal  fossae  entirely  naked;  sides  of  toes  not  pectinated;  smaller 
(wing  less  than  6.00).  (Ridgway.) 

GENUS  COLINUS  LESSOR. 

"Bill  stout;  head  not  conspicuously  crested;  tail  short,  scarcely  more  than 
half  the  wing,  composed  of  moderately  soft  feathers;  wings  normal;  legs  devel- 
oped, the  toes  reaching  considerably  beyond  the  tip  of  the  tail;  the  lateral  toes 
short,  equal,  their  claws  falling  decidedly  short  of  the  base  of  the  middle  claw." 

Colinus  virginianus  (LINN.). 

BOB- WHITE. 
PLATE  XIII. 

Resident;  abundant  from  the  eastern  to  the  middle  portion 
of  the  State,  moving  westward  and  increasing  with  its  settle- 
ment. Begin  laying  the  last  of  April. 


220  HISTORY  OF  THE 

B.  471.     R.  480.     C.  571.     G.  22.3,     102.     U.  289. 

HABITAT.  Eastern  United  States;  north  into  Lower  Canada; 
south  to  the  Gulf  States;  west  to  Dakota,  Kansas,  Indian  Ter- 
ritory and  eastern  Texas. 

SP.  CHAR.  "Forehead,  and  line  through  the  eye  and  along  the  side  of  the 
neck,  with  chin  and  throat,  white.  A  band  of  black  across  the  vertex,  and  ex- 
tending backwards  on  the  sides,  within  the  white,  and  another  from  the  maxilla 
beneath  the  eye,  and  crossing  on  the  lower  part  of  the  throat;  the  under  parts 
are  white,  tinged  with  brown  anteriorly;  each  feather  with  several  narrow,  ob- 
tuse, V-shaped  bands  of  black;  the  fore  part  of  back,  the  side  of  the  breast,  and 
in  front  just  below  the  black  collar,  of  a  dull  pinkish  red;  the  sides  of  body  and 
wing  coverts  brownish  red;  the  latter  almost  uniform,  without  indication  of 
mottling;  scapulars  and  upper  tertials  coarsely  blotched  with  black,  and  edged 
internally  with  brownish  yellow;  top  of  head  reddish;  the  lower  part  of  neck, 
except  anteriorly,  streaked  with  white  and  black;  primary  quills  unspotted 
brown;  tail  ash.  Female:  With  the  white  markings  of  the  head  replaced  by 
brownish  yellow;  the  black  ones  with  brownish.  Young:  Head  ashy,  with  a 
narrow  postocular  white  stripe,  and  the  crown  spotted  with  black;  throat  whit- 
ish; beneath  pale  dingy  ashy,  with  whitish  shaft  streaks,  and  without  black 
bars  or  other  markings;  above  reddish  or  olivaceous  drab,  the  feathers  with 
whitish  shaft  streaks,  and  a  large  black  spot,  mostly  on  upper  web.  Chick: 
Head  dingy  buff;  an  auricular  dusky  elongated  spot,  and  a  vertical  patch  of 
chestnut  rufous,  widening  on  the  occiput." 

Stretch  of 
Length.  wing.          Wing.          Tail.         Tarsus.         Bill. 

Male 10.00         15.00         4.45         2.70         1.25  .55 

Female...       9.50         14.70         4.85         2.65         1.25  .50 

Iris  brown;  bill  dark  brown,  usually  pale  brown  at  base  of 
under  mandible;  legs  and  feet  pale  bluish  to  brownish  gray; 
claws  black. 

This  familiar  species  is  generally  known  in  the  New  England 
and  Middle  States  as  the  Quail,  and  in  the  Southern  States  as 
the  Partridge.  These  names  belong  to  other  and  quite  different 
—  though  closely  allied  —  birds.  At  the  suggestion  of  Profes- 
sor Baird,  "Bob-white,"  its  cheerful  call  note,  has  become  its 
accepted  and  present  name.  The  birds  appear  to  thrive  best  in 
the  presence  of  man,  and,  were  they  protected  and  fed  during 
our  cold  winters,  would  soon  become  quite  tame.  They  often 
nest  near  our  dwellings.  In  the  spring  of  1867,  I  was  shown, 
on  Owl  Creek,  Woodson  county,  Kansas,  a  nest  containing  nine- 
teen eggs.  It  was  placed  in  the  dooryard,  and  not  over  twenty- 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  221 

five  yards  from  the  house;  several  dogs  were  running  about  the 
yard,  and  the  house  cat  was  purring  in  the  doorway.  Fearing 
the  eggs  would  be  destroyed,  I  suggested  the  building  of  a  high, 
tight  fence  around  the  nest.  "Oh  !  "  said  the  farmer,  "that  is 
not  necessary;  our  cats  and  dogs  will  not  harm  them,  for  they 
know  them  well,  as  they  have  for  a  long  time  run  about  with 
the  chickens,  and  feed  with  them  from  food  thrown  from  the 
door  step."  I  am  confident  if  man  was  as  friendly  to  the  birds 
as  they  are  to  man,  that  they  would  soon  become  thoroughly 
domesticated.  Trapped  and  hunted  as  they  are,  with  dog  and 
gun,  it  is  not  strange  that,  as  a  whole,  they  remain  timid  and 
mistrustful,  and,  were  they  not  naturally  birds  of  civilization, 
would  rapidly  disappear  with  the  settlement  of  a  country.  As 
it  is,  they  seem  to  realize  that  man  is  only  at  times  their  enemy, 
and  that  his  cultivated  fields  afford  them  a  safe  resort  from 
their  many  other  enemies,  and  insure  a  more  certain  and  boun- 
tiful supply  of  food  than  found  elsewhere. 

In  the  destruction  of  injurious  insects,  and  the  seeds  of  weeds, 
upon  which  they  largely  feed,  they  more  than  doubly  repay  for 
the  few  grains  eaten  prior  to  the  harvest. 

Their  flesh  is  highly  esteemed,  and  to  the  wing  shot  a  most 
attractive  game  bird.  When  startled,  rise  with  a  loud  whirring 
sound;  in  flight  very  swift,  low,  and  direct;  a  rather  laborious 
effort,  dropping  back  into  the  first  inviting  cover.  They  do  not, 
like  our  Prairie  Hens,  collect  in  large  flocks,  but  move  about 
in  small  coveys  or  family  groups;  pairing  during  the  breeding 
season,  and,  although  not  strictly. true  to  each  other  in  their 
marriage  relations,  are  very  attentive  and  share  alike  in  the 
duties  of  protecting  and  rearing  the  young. 

Their  nests  are  placed  on  the  ground,  in  a  depression,  usually 
in  the  grass  upon  the  prairies,  sometimes  in  a  thicket,  tinder  a 
low  bush;  composed  of  grasses,  and  usually  arched  over,  with 
entrance  on  the  sides.  Eggs  fifteen  to  twenty,  1.20x.  97;  pure 
white;  in  shape,  pyriform.  Nests  found  with  a  larger  number 
of  eggs,  I  think  the  product  of  two  or  more  females. 


222  HISTORY  OF  THE 

Colinus  virginianus  texanus  (LAWR.). 

TEXAN  BOB- WHITE. 
PLATE  XIII. 

This  southwestern  race,  as  a  bird  of  Western  Kansas,  rests  on 
two  specimens  —  adult  females  —  in  the  U.  S.  National  Museum, 
collected  May  27th,  1864,  by  Dr.  Elliott  Coues,  on  the  Kepub- 
lican  Kiver,  in  the  northwestern  part  of  the  State.  I  have 
been  informed  by  military  men  and  hunters  that  Bob-whites 
were  occasionally  seen  on  the  Cirnarron  Kiver,  south  of  Fort 
Dodge,  from  1862  to  1866.  This  was  long  before  our  birds, 
in  following  up  the  settlements,  had  reached  the  central  portion 
of  the  State,  and  it  is  safe  to  conclude  that  the  birds  found 
there  were  of  this  variety;  and  that  they  reached  that  vicinity 
by  following  the  old  military  trail  north  through  the  Indian 
Territory,  for  the  grains  scattered  along  the  route  and  at  feed- 
ing and  camping  places.  Of  late  years  the  trail  has  been  little 
used,  and  as  the  country  was  without  a  settlement  their  disap- 
pearance can  be  accounted  for  on  the  grounds  that  they  have 
been  destroyed  by  enemies,  or,  for  want  of  food  and  shelter, 
could  not  survive  the  cold  winters. 

B.  472.     R.  480&.     C.  573.     G. ,     .     U.  289Z>. 

HABITAT.  Northeastern  Mexico,  western  Texas,  and  occasion- 
ally north  to  western  Kansas. 

SP.  CHAR.  "General  appearance  that  of  G.  virginianus.  Chin,  throat,  fore- 
head and  strip  over  the  eye  white.  Stripe  behind  the  eye,  continuous  with  a 
collar  across  the  lower  part  of  the  throat,  black.  Under  parts  white,  with  zig- 
zag transverse  bars  of  black.  Above,  pale  brownish  red,  strongly  tinged  with 
ash,  the  feathers  all  faintly  though  distinctly  mottled  with  black;  the  lower 
back,  scapulars  and  tertials  much  blotched  with  black,  the  latter  edged  on  both 
sides  and  to  some  extent  transversely  barred  with  brownish  white.  Secondaries 
with  transverse  bars  of  the  same  on  the  outer  web.  Wing  coverts  coarsely  and 
conspicuously  barred  with  blackish.  Lower  part  of  neck  (except  before)  streaked 
with  black  and  white. 

"Female  with  the  white  of  the  head  changed  to  brownish  yellow;  the  black 
of  the  head  wanting." 

Stretch  of 
Length.          -wing.          Wing.  Tail.        Tarsus.         Bill. 

Male 9.25          14.25         4.25         2.50         1.15          .55 

Female...      9.00         14.00        4.20        2.40        1.15         .50 

Iris  brown;  bill  and  claws  black;  legs  and  feet  olive  gray. 
This  bleached  and  smaller  form  (one  of  several)  does  not  in 
its  habits  differ  from  the  more  eastern  or  typical  Bob-white. 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  223 

A  set  of  seven  eggs,  collected  in  the  spring  of  1882,  at  Corpus 
Christi,  Texas,  measure:  1.15x.92,  1.13x.94,  1.04x.98,  1.20x 
.95,  1.10x.94,  1.07x89,  1.12x.95. 

SUBFAMILY  TETRAONIJS^E.      GROUSE. 

At  least  upper  half  of  tarsus  feathered  (usually  feathered  to  toes);  nasal 
fossae  densely  feathered;  sides  of  toes  pectinated  in  winter  (the  points  deciduous 
in  summer).  (Ridgway.) 

GENUS  BONASA  STEPHENS. 

Lower  portion  of  tarsus  completely  naked;  tail  nearly  as  long  as  wing,  fan 
shaped;  sides  of  neck  with  a  broad  tuft  or  ruff  of  soft,  broad-webbed  feathers. 
(Ridgway.) 

Bonasa  umbellus  (LINN.). 

RUFFED  GROUSE. 
PLATE  XIII. 

A  resident  in  the  eastern  portion  of  the  State  prior  to  its  set- 
tlement; but,  being  a  bird  of  the  woods,  its  range  was  confined 
to  the  timber  skirting  the  streams,  and,  upon  the  settlement  of 
the  same,  they  quickly  disappeared,  as  the  tramping  and  brows- 
ing of  the  cattle  during  the  winters  destroyed  the  undergrowth, 
their  favorite  resorts,  and  left  them  no  longer  a  hiding  place  or 
natural  home.  Much  of  the  wooded  land  is  now  under  fence, 
and  where  not  pastured  the  growth  is  dense,  and  I  feel  confident 
that,  if  introduced  and  protected,  they  would  soon  become  a 
permanent  resident  in  every  inviting  grove. 

B.  465.     R.  473.     C.  565.     G.  218,     103.     U.  300. 

HABITAT.  Eastern  United  States,  north  to  Massachusetts  and 
southern  Wisconsin  (north  of  this  range  the  Canadian  Ruffed 
Grouse);  west  to  the  edge  of  the  Great  Plains;  south  to  Georgia, 
Tennessee,  Arkansas,  etc. 

SP.  CHAR.  "Above,  ochraceous  brown  finely  mottled  with  grayish;  the 
scapulars  and  wing  coverts  with  pale  shaft  streaks,  the  rump  and  upper  tail 
coverts  with  medial  cordate  spots  of  pale  grayish.  Tail  ochraceous  rufous,  nar- 
rowly bordered  with  black,  crossed  terminally  with  a  narrow  band  of  pale  ash. 
then  a  broader  one  of  black,  this  preceded  by  another  ashy  one.  Throat  and 
foreneck  ochraceous.  Lower  parts  mixed  whitish  and  buff,  the  latter  chiefly  be- 
neath the  surface,  with  broad,  transverse  bars  of  dilute  brown,  these  mostly 
concealed  on  the  abdomen.  Lower  tail  coverts  pale  ochraceous,  each  with  a 
terminal  deltoid  spot  of  white  bordered  with  dusky.  Neck  tufts  brownish 
black.  Length,  18.00;  wing,  7.20;  tail,  7.00.  Female:  Smaller,  and  with  the 
neck  tufts  less  developed,  but  colors  similar.  Young:  Brown  above  and  dingy 


224  HISTORY  OF  THE 

white  beneath;  a  rufous  tinge  on  the  scapulars.  Feathers  of  the  jugulum, 
back,  scapulars  and  wing  coverts  with  broad,  medial  streaks  of  light  ochra- 
ceous,  and  black  spots  on  the  webs;  jugulum  with  a  strong  buff  tinge.  Sec- 
ondaries and  wing  coverts  strongly  mottled  transversely.  Head  dingy  buff,  the 
upper  part  more  rusty;  a  postocular  or  auricular  dusky  patch,  and  a  tuft  of 
dusky  feathers  on  the  vertex.  Chick:  Above,  light  rufous,  beneath,  rusty 
white;  uniform  above  and  below;  a  dusty  postocular  streak,  inclining  down- 
wards across  the  auriculars.  Bill,  whitish." 

Sir-etch  of 
Length.          wing.  Wing.        Tail.        Tarsus.         Bill. 

Male 18.00         23.50         7.25         6.50         1.65  .70 

Female...     16.50        22.50         6.75         5.50         1.60  .65 

Iris  brown;  bill  light  brown,  with  base  of  under  pale;  feet 
grayish  brown;  claws  dark  brown. 

This  beautiful  game  bird,  erroneously  (but  generally)  known 
as  Partridge  in  the  Northern  States,  ^nd  as  Pheasant  in  the 
Southern  States,  inhabits  the  thickets  and  edges  of  the  wooded 
lands.  Its  food  consists  of  insect  life,  seeds,  berries,  and  ten- 
der buds;  the  latter  is  its  chief  food  during  the  winter  and 
early  spring  months.  When  on  the  ground  it  moves  about  with 
outspread  tail  and  a  dignified  step.  When  startled,  it  rises 
with  a  whirring  sound  of  the  wings;  at  other  times,  in  a  noise- 
less manner.  Its  flights  are  low  and  short,  but  swift  as  an  ar- 
row. 

The  birds  begin  to  pair  early  in  the  spring,  and  commence 
laying  the  last  of  April  to  first  of  May.  During  the  fall  and 
winter  months  they  are  usually  found  alone  or  in  family  groups, 
never  in  large  flocks. 

The  peculiar  drumming  noise  of  the  male,  heard  during  the 
early  breeding  season  and  occasionally  until  late  in  the  fall,  has 
led  to  much  controversy  as  to  the  cause  producing  the  same,  and 
the  conclusions  reached  are  various,  viz.,  ''striking  the  wings 
against  a  log,  the  body,  the  air,  etc.,"  but  by  many  it  is  believed 
to  be  vocal,  and  for  this  reason  it  was  given  its  generic  name, 
Bonasa,  from  bonasus,  a  wild  bull.  From  observation,  I  am 
led  to  believe  the  sound  comes  chiefly  if  not  wholly  from  the 
quick,  downward  strokes  of  its  short,  concave  wings  upon  the 
air;  a  thrilling  motion  of  joy,  like  the  flapping  of  the  rooster  as 
he  crows. 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  225 

Their  nests  are  placed  on  the  ground,  in  groves  and  at  the 
edge  of  timber;  a  place  worked  out  to  fit  the  body,  and  rather 
sparingly  and  loosely  lined  with  grasses  and  leaves.  Eggs  seven 
to  twelve,  1.55x1.15;  cream  white,  occasionally  faintly  blotched 
with  drab  or  buff;  in  form,  oval  approaching  pyriform. 

GENUS  TYMPANUCHUS  GLOGER. 

"Tail  of  eighteen  feathers,  short,  half  the  lengthened  wings;  the  feathers 
stiffened  and  more  or  less  graduated.  Bare,  inflatable  air  sac  of  the  neck  con- 
cealed by  a  tuft  of  long,  stiff,  lanceolate  feathers;  an  inconspicuous  crest  on  the 
vertex.  Tarsi  feathered  only  to  near  the  base,  the  lower  joint  scutellate.  Cul- 
men  between  the  nasal  fossae  scarcely  one-third  the  total  length." 

Tympanuchus  americanus  (REICH.). 

PRAIRIE  HEN. 
PLATE  XIII. 

Common  in  the  eastern  to  middle  portion  of  the  State,  and 
spreading  westward  with  its  settlement.  Formerly  abundant, 
but  rapidly  decreasing  in  numbers,  and,  unless  the  law  protect- 
ing them  is  strictly  enforced,  especially  so  far  as  it  relates  to 
trapping,  they  will  soon  become  exterminated;  for  during  the 
extreme  cold  winters,  when  the  ground  is  covered  with  snow, 
hunger  overcomes  their  fear,  and  the  last  one  is  easily  entrapped. 

B.  464.     R.  477.     C.  563.     G.  219,     104.     U.  305. 

HABITAT.  Prairies  of  the  Mississippi  valley,  east  to  Indiana 
and  Kentucky;  north  to  Manitoba;  west  to  eastern  Dakota; 
south  to  Texas  and  Louisiana.  (The  eastern  bird,  T.  cupido,  un- 
til of  late  supposed  to  be  this  species,  is  now  apparently  extinct, 
except  on  the  island  of  Martha's  Vineyard. ) 

SP.  CHAE.  "Male:  Ground  color  above,  ochraceous  brown,  tinged  with  gray- 
ish; beneath  white,  the  feathers  of  the  jugulum  dark  rusty  chestnut  beneath  the 
surface.  Head  mostly  deep  buff.  Upper  parts  much  broken  by  broad,  trans- 
verse spots  or  irregular  bars  of  deep  black,  this  color  predominating  largely 
over  the  lighter  tints.  Primaries  and  tail  plain  dusky;  the  former  with  round- 
ish spots  of  pale  ochraceous  on  outer  webs,  the  latter  very  narrowly  tipped  with 
white.  Lower  parts  with  irregular,  continuous,  sharply-defined,  broad  bars  or 
narrow  bands  of  clear  dusky  brown.  A  broad  stripe  of  plain,  brownish  black 
on  side  of  head,  beneath'  the  eye,  from  rictus  to  end  of  auriculars;  a  blotch  of 
the  same  beneath  the  middle  of  the  auriculars  and  the  top  of  the  head  mostly 
blackish,  leaving  a  broad  superciliary  and  maxillary  stripe,  and  the  whole  throat 
immaculate  buff.  Neck  tufts  3.50  inches  long,  deep  black;  the  longer  ones  uni- 
form, the  shorter  with  only  the  edge  black,  the  whole  middle  portion  pale  buff. 
—15 


226  HISTORY  OF   THE 

shading  into  deep  reddish  rusty  next  to  the  black.  Female:  Similar,  but  with 
shorter  and  inconspicuous  cervical  tufts.  Youny:  Above,  including  tail,  yellow- 
ish brown;  feathers  with  conspicuous  white  shaft  streaks  and  large  blotches  of 
deep  black.  Outer  webs  of  primaries  with  whitish  spots.  Top  of  head  rusty 
brown,  with  a  black  vertical  and  a  dusky  auricular  patch.  Lower  parts  yellow- 
ish white,  with  irregularly-defined,  transverse,  grayish  brown,  broad  bars;  an- 
teriorly more  spotted,  the  jugulum  tinged  with  brown.  Chick:  Bright  lemon 
buff,  tinged  on  sides  and  jugulum  with  reddish;  upper  parts  much  washed  with 
rusty.  A  narrow  auricular  streak,  blotched  on  the  vertex  and  occiput,  a  stripe 
across  the  shoulder,  and  blotches  down  the  middle  of  the  back  and  rump,  deep 
black." 

Stretch  of 
Length.  -wing.          Wing.  Tail.         Tarsus.          Bill. 

Male 18.25         29.50         9.00         4.25         1.80          .65 

Female...     17.25         28.00         8.50         3.90         1.75          .60 

Iris  brown;  bill  and  claws  dark  brown;  feet  yellowish. 

This  familiar  game  bird  inhabits  our  fertile  prairies,  seldom 
frequenting  the  timbered  lands,  except  during  sleety  storms,  or 
when  the  ground  is  covered  with  snow.  Its  flesh  is  dark,  and 
it  is  not  very  highly  esteemed  as  a  table  bird. 

During  the  early  breeding  season  they  feed  largely  upon 
grasshoppers,  crickets  and  other  forms  of  insect  life,  but  after- 
ward chiefly  upon  our  cultivated  grains,  gleaned  from  the  stub- 
ble in  autumn  and  the  corn  fields  in  winter;  they  are  also  fond 
of  tender  buds,  berries  and  fruits.  They  run  about  much  like 
our  domestic  fowls,  but  with  a  more  stately  carriage.  When 
flushed,  rise  from  the  ground  with  a  less  whirring  sound  than 
the  Ruffed  Grouse  or  Bob-white,  and  their  flight  is  not  as  swift, 
but  more  protracted,  and  with  less  apparent  effort,  flapping  and 
sailing  along,  often  to  the  distance  of  a  mile  or  more.  In  the 
fall  the  birds  collect  together,  and  remain  in  flocks  until  the 
warmth  of  spring  quickens  their  blood,  and  awakes  the  passions 
of  love;  then,  as  with  a  view  to  fairness  and  the  survival  of  the 
fittest,  they  select  a  smooth,  open  courtship  ground,  (usually 
called  a  "scratching  ground,")  where  the  males  assemble  at  the 
early  dawn,  to  vie  with  each  other  in  courage  and  pompous  dis- 
play, uttering  at  the  same  time  their  love  call,  a  loud  booming 
noise;  as  soon  as  this  is  heard  by  the  hen  birds  desirous  of  mating, 
they  quietly  put  in  an  appearance,  squat  upon  the  ground,  appar- 
ently indifferent  observers,  until  claimed  by  victorious  rivals, 
which  they  gladly  accept,  and  receive  their  caresses.  I  have 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  227 

often  lain  and  watched  their  amorous  actions,  described  in  so 
life-like  a  manner  by  Audubon.  His  statement  that  the  van- 
quished and  victors  alike  leave  the  grounds  to  search  for  the 
females  is  true,  but  he  omits  to  state  that  many  -are  present,  and 
mate  upon  the  '  '  scratching  grounds.  '  '  The  birds  are  not  strictly 
true  to  each  other  during  the  love  season,  and  this  is  true  of 
most  birds  when  the  assistance  of  the  male  is  not  required  in 
hatching  and  rearing  of  the  young. 

Their  nests  are  placed  on  the  ground  in  the  thick  prairie  grass, 
and  at  the  foot  of  bushes  on  the  barren  ground;  a  hollow 
scratched  out  in  the  soil,  and  sparingly  lined  with  grasses  and  a 
few  feathers.  Eggs  eight  to  twelve,  1.68x1.25;  tawny  brown, 
sometimes  with  an  olive  hue,  and  occasionally  sprinkled  with 
brown;  in  form,  rather  oval.  A  set  of  nine  eggs,  collected  at 
Pewaukee,  Wisconsin,  May  27th,  1883,  measure:  1.65x1.27, 
1.64x1.24,  1.66x1.22,  1.69x1.23,  1.62x1.24,  1.69x1.28,  1.61x 
1.27,  1.64x1.26,  1.64x1.25. 


Tympanuchus  pallidicinctus 

LESSER  'PRAIRIE  HEN. 
PLATE  XIII. 

Resident  in  the  southern  part  of  the  State;  rare. 

B.  -  .     R.  477«.     C.  564.     G.  220,     105.     U.  307. 

HABITAT.  Not  fully  known.  Eidgway  says:  "Eastern  bor- 
ders of  the  Great  Plains,  from  Nebraska  (?),  southwestern 
Kansas,  southwestern  Missouri  (?),  and  western  part  of  Indian 
Territory  to  western  Texas."  I  have  only  met  with  the  birds 
in  the  Indian  Territory  and  southeastern  Kansas. 

SP.  CHAR.  "Much  smaller  and  lighter  in  color  than  T.  americanus.  Upper 
parts  rather  evenly  barred  with  narrow,  pale  brownish  to  dusky  and  pale  gray- 
ish, ochraceous.  Beneath,  whitish  with  narrow  bars  of  pale  brown;  iris  brown; 
bill  dark  brown;  feet  yellow;  claws  brownish  black." 

Stretch  of 
Length.         wing.  Wing.          Tail.        Tarsus.         Bill. 

Male  .....     16.70        27.25         8.25         4.00         1.60          .60 
Female...     15.60        26.50        8.10        3.65        1.60         .58 

The  above  description  and  measurements  are  taken  from  a 
pair  of  birds  in  the  "Goss  Ornithological  Collection,"  captured 
in  Neosho  county,  Kansas. 


228  HISTORY  OF  THE 

This  small,  bleached  species  does  not  differ  in  habits  from 
our  common  Prairie  Hen,  T.  americanus. 

GEXUS  PEDIOC^TES  BAIRD. 

"Tail  short,  graduated;  exclusive  of  the  much  lengthened  middle  part, 
where  are  two  feathers  ( perhaps  tail  coverts),  with  parallel  edges  and  truncated 
ends  half  the  full  rounded  wing;  tarsi  densely  feathered  to  the  toes  and  between 
the  bases;  neck  without  peculiar  feathers;  culmen  between  the  nasal  fossae  not 
half  the  total  length." 

Pediocaetes  phasianellus  campestris  RIDGW. 

PRAIRIE  SHARP-TAILED  GROUSE. 
PLATE  XIII. 

A  common  resident  in  the  western  part  of  the  State.  For- 
merly met  with  occasionally  in  the  eastern  portion,  but,  being  a 
bird  of  the  wild  prairies  and  the  open  woodlands,  it  is  gradu- 
ally retreating  westward  as  the  settlements  advance,  and  will 
soon  be  a  rare  bird,  to  be  looked  for  only  in  the  sand  hills  and 
unsettled  portions  of  the  State. 

B.  — .     R. .     C. .     G.  221,*     106.     TJ.  308&. 

HABITAT.  Plains  and  prairies  east  of  the  Kocky  Mountains; 
east  to  Wisconsin;  north  to  Manitoba;  south  to  New  Mexico. 

COMMON  CHARACTERS  OF  THE  SPECIES.  Adult  male:  Above,  varied  with 
irregular  spotting  and  barring  of  black  and  brownish;  wing  coverts  with  large 
roundish  white  spots,  and  scapulars  streaked  medially  with  same;  outer  webs  of 
quills  spotted  with  white;  beneath,  white,  varied  with  mostly  V-shaped  marks 
of  dusky,  chiefly  on  anterior  and  lateral  portions.  Adult  female:  Similar  to 
male  but  somewhat  smaller,  and  with  middle  tail  feathers  shorter.  Young: 
Above  brownish,  spotted  and  barred  with  black  and  conspicuously  streaked 
with  white;  outer  webs  of  quills  spotted  with  white;  lower  parts  dull  whitish, 
the  chest,  breast,  sides  and  flanks  spotted  with  dusky.  Downy  young:  Bright 
buffy  yellow,  the  upper  parts  tinged  with  light  rusty  and  coarsely  marbled  with 
black;  a  small  black  spot  on  middle  of  crown,  and  several  larger  black  mark- 
ings on  occiput  and  hirid  neck,  but  fore  part  of  head,  all  round,  immaculate. 
(Ridgway.) 

SP.  CHAR.  Lighter  colored,  the  general  color  of  upper  parts  buffy  grayish 
or  light  brownish  of  various  shades,  always  predominating  over  black  markings, 
the  white  markings  on  scapulars  and  wings  not  conspicuously  contrasted  with 
the  general  color;  feathering  of  feet  pale  brownish  gray.  Ground  color  above 
more  rusty  or  ochraceous.  (Ridgicay.) 


Male  

Length. 
18.25 

Stretch  of 
wing. 

28.25 

Wing. 
8.50 

Tail. 
5.25 

Tarsus. 
1.72 

Bill. 
.87 

Female  .  .  . 

17.50 

26.50 

8.00 

4.75 

1.70 

.80 

*  Entered  in  first  catalogue  as  P.  phasianus  columbianus  (  ORD.  ). 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  229 

Iris  and  feet  brown;  bill  and  claws  dark  brown  to  dusky. 

This  bird  inhabits  the  open  prairies  during  the  summer 
months,  retiring  in  winter  to  the  ravines  and  wooded  lands; 
and  when  the  snow  is  deep  and  the  weather  severe,  often  hide 
and  roost  beneath  the  snow.  They  feed  chiefly  on  grasshop- 
pers, seeds,  buds,  blossoms,  berries,  etc. 

Their  flesh  is  lighter  in  color  and  more  highly  esteemed  than 
that  of  the  Prairie  Hen.  When  walking  about  on  the  ground 
they  stand  high  on  their  legs,  with  their  sharp-pointed  tail 
slightly  elevated,  and,  when  flushed,  rise  with  a  whirring  sound 
of  the  wings,  uttering  as  they  go  a  guttural ' '  Kuk,  kuk,  kuk, ' '  and 
swiftly  wing  themselves  away  in  a  direct  course.  The  birds  have 
several  cackling  notes,  and  the  males  a  peculiar  crowing  or  low 
call,  that  in  tone  sounds  somewhat  like  the  call  of  the  Turkey. 
In  the  early  spring,  as  the  love  season  approaches,  they  select  a 
mound  or  slight  elevation  on  the  open  prairies  for  a  courtship 
ground,  where  they  assemble  at  early  dawn,  the  males  dancing 
and  running  about  in  a  circle  before  the  females,  in  a  most  ludi- 
crous manner,  facing  each  other  with  lowering  head,  raised 
feathers  and  defiant  looks,  crossing  and  recrossing  each  other's 
paths  in  a  strutting,  pompous  way,  seldom  fighting,  each  acting 
as  if  confident  of  making  the  greatest  display,  and  thus  to  win  the 
admiration  of  and  capture  the  hen  of  his  choice.  These  meet- 
ings and  dances  are  kept  up  until  the  hens  cease  laying  and  be- 
gin to  sit.  The  hens  attend  wholly  to  the  hatching  and  rearing 
of  the  young,  and  are  attentive  and  watchful  mothers. 

Their  nests  are  placed  in  a  tuft  of  grass  or  under  a  low,  stunted 
bush;  a  hollow  worked  out  in  the  ground  to  fit  the  body,  usually 
lined  with  a  few  blades  of  grass  arranged  in  a  circular  form. 
Eggs  six  to  thirteen,  1.67x1.24;  varying  from  light  clay  or  drab 
to  olive  brown,  often  plain,  but  generally  speckled  with  fine  dot- 
tings  of  dark  brown;  in  form,  rather  pointed  oval. 

FAMILY  PHASIANID^.     PHEASANTS,  ETC. 

Hind  toe  small,  short  (much  less  than  half  as  long  as  lateral  toes),  and  in 
serted  above  the  level  of  the  anterior  toes.  Tarsi  with  spurs;  head  naked,  or 
else  tail  long  and  vaulted.  (Ridgway.) 


230  HISTORY  OF   THE 

SUBFAMILY  MELEAGRIN^E.     TURKEYS. 

"Bill  moderate;  the  nasal  fossae  bare.  Head  and  neck  without  feathers,  but 
with  scattered  hairs  arid  more  or  less  carunculatecl,  an  extensible,  fleshy  process 
on  the  forehead,  but  no  development  of  the  bone.  Tarsus  armed  with  spurs  in 
the  male.  Hind  toe  elevated.  Tail  nearly  as  long  as  the  wing,  truncate,  of  more 
than  twelve  feathers." 

GENUS  MELEAGrRIS  LINN.EUS. 

"Legs  with  transverse  scutellse  before  and  behind;  reticulated  laterally. 
Tarsi  with  spurs.  Tail  rounded,  rather  long,  usually  of  eighteen  feathers. 
Forehead  with  a  depending,  fleshy  cone.  Head  and  the  upper  half  of  the  neck 
without  feathers.  Breast  of  male  in  most  species  with  a  long  tuft  of  bristles." 

Meleagris  gallopavo  LINN. 

WILD  TURKEY. 
PLATE  XIV. 

An  abundant  resident  in  the  early  settlement  of  the  State, 
but  now  nearly  extinct.  Begin  laying  early  in  April. 

B.  457.     R.  470.     C.  554.     G.  217,     108.     U.  310. 

HABITAT.  Eastern  United  States;  north  to  southern  Canada; 
south  to. Florida  and  eastern  Texas;  west  along  the  timbered 
streams  to  the  edge  of  the  Great  Plains.  The  Mexican  Turkey, 
M-  gallopavo  mexicana,  occurs  southwest  of  the  limits  as  given. 

SP.  CHAR.  "The  naked  skin  of  the  head  and  neck  is  blue;  the  excrescences 
purplish  red;  the  legs  red.  The  feathers  of  the  neck  and  body  generally  are 
very  broad,  abruptly  truncate,  and  each  one  well  defined  and  scale-like;  the  ex- 
posed portion  coppery  bronze,  with  a  bright  coppery  reflection  in  some  lights  —  in 
the  specimens  before  us,  chiefly  on  the  under  parts.  Each  feather  is  abruptly 
margined  with  velvet  black,  the  bronze  assuming  a  greenish  or  purplish  shade 
near  the  line  of  junction,  and  the  bronze  itself  sometimes  with  a  greenish  reflec- 
tion in  some  lights.  The  black  is  opaque,  except  along  the  extreme  tip,  where 
there  is  a  metallic  gloss.  The  feathers  of  the  lower  back  and  rump  are  black, 
with  little  or  no  copper  gloss.  The  feathers  of  the  sides  behind,  and  the  coverts, 
upper  and  under,  are  of  a  very  dark  purplish  chestnut,  with  purplish  metallic 
reflections  near  the  end,  and  a  subterminal  bar  of  black;  the  tips  are  of  the 
opaque  purplish  chestnut  referred  to.  The  concealed  portion  of  the  coverts  is 
dark  chestnut,  barred  rather  finely  with  black;  the  black  wider  than  the  inter- 
spaces. The  tail  feathers  are  dark  brownish  chestnut,  with  numerous  transverse 
bars  of  black,  which,  when  most  distinct,  are  about  a  quarter  of  an  inch  wide 
and  about  double  their  interspaces;  the  extreme  tip  for  about  half  an  inch  is 
plain  chestnut,  lighter  than  the  ground  color;  and  there  is  a  broad  subterminal 
bar  of  black  about  two  inches  wide  on  the  outer  feathers,  and  narrowing  to  about 
three-quarters  of  an  inch  to  the  central  ones.  The  innermost  pair  scarcely  shows 
this  band,  and  the  others  are  all  much  broken  and  confused.  In  addition  to  the 
black  bars  on  each  feather,  the  chestnut  interspaces  are  sprinkled  with  black. 


BIRDS  OF  K AX  SAX.  231 

Tlit-  black  bauds  are  all  most  distinct  on  the  inner  webs;  the  interspaces  are 
considerably  lighter  below  than  above. 

"There  are  no  whitish  tips  whatever  to  the  tail  or  its  coverts.  The  feathers 
on  the  middle  of  the  belly  are  downy,  opaque,  and  tipped  obscurely  with  rusty 
whitish. 

••The  wing  coverts  are  like  the  back;  the  quills,  however,  are  blackish  brown, 
with  numerous  transverse  bars  of  white  half  the  width  of  the  interspaces.  The 
exposed  surface  of  the  wings,  however,  and  most  of  the  inner  secondaries,  are 
tinged  with  brownish  rusty,  the  uppermost  ones  with  a  dull  copper  or  greenish 
gloss. 

"The  female  differs  in  smaller  size,  less  brilliant  color,  absence  generally  of 
bristles  on  the  breast  and  of  spur,  and  a  much  smaller  fleshy  process  above  the 
base  of  the  bill." 

Stretch  of 
Length.          wing.          Wing.          Tail.         Tarsus.         Bill. 

Male 47.00         63.50        20.50       15.00        6.75         1.05 

Female...     37.00         53.00        16.50       12.50        5.25  .90 

Iris  brown;  bill  from  base  to  front  of  nostrils  dusky,  rest  pale 
horn  color;  legs  purplish  red;  feet  a  shade  darker,  with  bottoms 
dusky;  claws  pale  horn  color. 

This  noble  bird,  the  pride  of  the  forest,  was  formerly  abund- 
ant throughout  its  range,  but  now  extinct  in  the  New  England 
States  and  fast  disappearing  westward,  though,  still  quite  abund- 
ant in  portions  of  the  Southern  States  and  of  the  Indian  Ter- 
ritory. I  am  quite  familiar  with  the  habits  of  this  beautiful 
species,  but  feel  that  I  cannot  improve  upon  the  minute  and 
interesting  description  as  given  by  Audubon,  and  therefore 
quote  from  the  same. 

"I  shall  describe  the  manners  of  this  bird  as  observed  in  the 
countries  where  it  is  most  abundant,  and  having  resided  for 
many  years  in  Kentucky  and  Louisiana,  may  be  understood  as 
referring  chiefly  to  them. 

"The  Turkey  is  irregularly  migratory  as  well  as  irregularly 
gregarious.  With  reference  to  the  first  of  these  circumstances, 
I  have  to  state,  that  whenever  the  mast  of  one  portion  of  the 
country  happens  greatly  to  exceed  that  of  another,  the  Turkeys 
are  insensibly  led  towards  the  spot  by  gradually  meeting  in 
their  haunts  with  more  fruit  the  nearer  they  advance  towards 
the  spot  where  it  is  most  plentiful.  In  this  manner  flock  follows 
after  flock,  until  one  district  is  entirely  deserted,  while  another 
is,  as  it  were,  overflowed  by  them.  But,  as  these  migrations 


232  HISTORY  OF  THE 

are  irregular,  and  extend  over  a  vast  expanse  of  country,  it  is 
necessary  that  I  should  describe  the  manner  in  which  they  take 
place. 

"About  the  beginning  of  October,  when  scarcely  any  of  the 
seeds  and  fruits  have  yet  fallen  from,  the  trees,  these  birds  as- 
semble in  flocks,  and  gradually  move  towards  the  rich  bottom 
lands  of  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi.  The  males,  or,  as  they  are 
more  commonly  called,  the  gobblers,  associate  in  parties  of  from 
ten  to  a  hundred,  and  search  for  food  apart  from  the  females; 
while  the  latter  are  seen  either  advancing  singly,  each  with  its 
brood  of  young,  then  about  two-thirds  grown,  or  in  connection 
with  other  families,  forming  parties  often  amounting  to  seventy 
or  eighty  individuals,  all  intent  on  shunning  the  old  cocks, 
which,  even  when  the  young  birds  have  attained  this  size,  will 
fight  with,  and  often  destroy  them  by  repeated  blows  on  the 
head.  Old  and  young,  however,  all  move  in  the  same  course, 
and  on  foot,  unless  their  progress  is  interrupted  by  a  river,  or  the 
hunter's  dog  forces  them  to  take  wing.  When  they  come  upon 
a  river,  they  betake  themselves  to  the  highest  eminences,  and 
there  often  remain  a  whole  day,  or  sometimes  two,  as  if  for  the 
purpose  of  consultation.  During  this  time  the  males  are  heard 
gobbling,  calling  and  making  much  ado,  and  are  seen  strutting 
about,  as  if  to  raise  their  courage  to  a  pitch  befitting  the  emer- 
gency. Even  the  females  and  young  assume  something  of  the 
same  pompous  demeanor,  spread  out  their  tails,  and  run  round 
each  other,  purring  loudly,  and  performing  extravagant  leaps. 
At  length,  when  the  weather  appears  settled,  and  all  around  is 
quiet,  the  whole  party  mount  to  the  tops  of  the  highest  trees, 
whence,  at  a  signal,  consisting  of  a  single  cluck,  given  by  a 
leader,  the  flock  takes  flight  for  the  opposite  shore.  The  old 
and  fat  birds  easily  get  over,  even  should  the  river  be  a  mile  in 
breadth;  but  the  younger  and  less  robust  frequently  fall  into 
the  water  —  not  to  be  drowned,  however,  as  might  be  imagined. 
They  bring  their  wings  close  to  their  body,  spread  out  their  tail 
as  a  support,  stretch  forward  their  neck,  and,  striking  out  their 
legs  with  great  vigor,  proceed  rapidly  towards  the  shore;  on 
approaching  which,  should  they  find  it  too  steep  for  landing, 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  233 

they  cease  their  exertions  for  a  few  moments,  float  down  the 
stream  until  they  come  to  an  accessible  part,  and  by  a  violent 
effort  generally  extricate  themselves  from  the  water.  It  is  re- 
markable that  immediately  after  thus  crossing  a  large  stream, 
they  ramble  about  for  some  time  as  if  bewildered.  In  this  state 
they  fall  an  easy  prey  to  the  hunter. 

"When  the  Turkeys  arrive  in  parts  where  the  mast  is  abund- 
ant, they  separate  into  smaller  flocks,  composed  of  birds  of  all 
ages  and  both  sexes,  promiscuously  mingled,  and  devour  all 
before  them.  This  happens  about  the  middle  of  November. 
So  gentle  do  they  sometimes  become  after  these  long  journeys, 
that  they  have  been  seen  to  approach  the  farm  houses,  associate 
with  the  domestic  fowls,  and  enter  the  stables  and  corn  cribs  in 
quest  of  food.  In  this  way,  roaming  about  the  forests,  and 
feeding  chiefly  on  mast,  they  pass  the  autumn  and  part  of  the 
winter."  [During  the  summer  months  the  birds  usually  leave 
the  timber  lands  in  the  morning,  and  wander  far  out  upon  the 
prairies,  in  search  of  grasshoppers,  etc.,  returning  at  eve  to  their 
favorite  roosting  places  in  the  branches  of  the  tall  trees,  pre- 
ferring those  that  overhang  the  streams.] 

"As  early  as  the  middle  of  February,  they  begin  to  experi- 
ence the  impulses  of  propagation.  The  females  separate  and 
fly  from  the  males.  The  latter  strenuously  pursue,  and  begin 
to  gobble  or  to  utter  notes  of  exultation.  The  sexes  roost  apart, 
but  at  no  great  distance  from  each  other.  When  a  female  utters 
a  call  note,  all  the  gobblers  within  hearing  return  the  sound, 
rolling  note  after  note,  with  as  much  rapidity  as  if  they  intended 
to  emit  the  last  and  the  first  together,  not  with  spread  tail,  as 
when  fluttering  round  the  females  on  the  ground,  or  practicing 
on  the  branches  of  the  trees  on  which  they  have  roosted  for  the 
night,  but  much  in  the  manner  of  the  domestic  Turkey,  when 
an  unusual  or  unexpected  noise  elicits  its  singular  hubbub.  If 
the  call  of  the  female  comes  from  the  ground,  all  the  males  im- 
mediately fly  towards  the  spot,  and  the  moment  they  reach  it, 
whether  the  hen  be  in  sight  or  not,  spread  out  and  erect  their 
tail,  draw  the  head  back  on  the  shoulders,  depress  their  wings 
with  a  quivering  motion,  and  strut  pompously  about,  emitting 


234  HISTORY  OF   THE 

at  the  same  time  a  succession  of  puffs  from  the  limgs,  and 
stopping  now  and  then  to  listen  and  to  look.  But  whether 
they  spy  the  female  or  not,  they  continue  to  puff  and  strut, 
moving  with  as  much  celerity  as  their  ideas  of  ceremony  seem 
to  admit.  While  thus  occupied  the  males  often  encounter 
each  other,  in  which  case  desperate  battles  take  place,  ending 
in  bloodshed,  and  often  in  the  loss  of  many  lives,  the  weaker 
falling  under  the  repeated  blows  inflicted  upon  their  heads  by 
the  stronger. 

"I  have  been  much  diverted,  while  watching  two  males  in 
fierce  conflict,  by  seeing  them  move  alternately  backwards  and 
forwards,  as  either  had  obtained  a  better  hold,  their  wings  droop- 
ing, their  tails  partly  raised,  their  body  feathers  ruffled,  and  their 
heads  covered  with  blood.  If,  as  they  thus  struggle  and  gasp 
for  breath,  one  of  them  should  lose  his  hold,  his  chance  is  over, 
for  the  other,  still  holding  fast,  hits  him  violently  with  spurs  and 
wings,  and  in  a  few  minutes  brings  him  to  the  ground.  The 
moment  he  is  dead,  the  conqueror  treads  him  under  foot,  but, 
what  is  strange,  not  with  hatred,  but  with  all  the  motions  he 
employs  in  caressing  the  female. 

"When  the  male  has  discovered  and  made  up  to  the  female 
(whether  such  combat  has  previously  taken  place  or  not),  if  she 
be  more  than  one  year  old  she  also  struts  and  gobbles,  turns 
round  him  as  he  continues  strutting,  suddenly  opens  her  wings, 
throws  herself  towards  him,  as  if  to  put  a  stop  to  his  idle  delays, 
lays  herself  down,  and  receives  his  dilatory  caresses.  If  the 
cock  meets  a  young  hen,  he  alters  his  mode  of  procedure.  He 
struts  in  a  different  manner,  less  pompously  and  more  energet- 
ically, moves  with  rapidity,  sometimes  rises  from  the  ground, 
taking  a  short  flight  around  the  hen,  as  in  the  manner  of  some 
Pigeons,  the  Eed-breasted  Thrush  and  many  other  birds,  and  on 
alighting  runs  with  all  his  might,  at  the  same  time  rubbing  his 
tail  and  wings  along  the  ground,  for  the  space  of  perhaps  ten 
yards.  He  then  draw's  near  the  timorous  female,  allays  her 
fears  by  purring,  and,  when  she  at  length  assents,  caresses  her. 

"When  a  male  and  female  have  thus  come  together,  I  believe 
the  connection  continues  for  that  season,  although  the  former 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  235 

by  no  means  confines  his  attention  to  one  female,  as  I  have  seen 
a  cock  caress  several  hens,  when  he  happened  to  fall  in  with 
them  in  the  same  place,  for  the  first  time.  After  this  the  hens 
follow  their  favorite  cock,  roosting  in  his  immediate  neighbor- 
hood, if  not  on  the  same  tree,  until  they  begin  to  lay,  when  they 
separate  themselves  in  order  to  save  their  eggs  from  the  male, 
who  would  break  them  all  for  the  purpose  of  protracting  his 
sexual  enjoyments.  The  females  then  carefully  avoid  him,  ex- 
cept during  a  short  period  each  day.  After  this  the  males  be- 
come clumsy  and  slovenly,  if  one  may  say  so,  cease  to  fight 
with  each  other,  give  up  gobbling  or  calling  so  frequently,  and 
assume  so  careless  a  habit  that  the  hens  are  obliged  to  make  all 
the  advances  themselves.  They  yelp  loudly  and  almost  contin- 
ually for  the  cocks,  run  up  to  them,  caress  them,  and  employ 
various  means  to  rekindle  their  expiring  ardour. 

"Turkey  cocks  when  at  roost  sometimes  strut  and  gobble, 
but  I  have  more  generally  seen  them  spread  out  and  raise  their 
tail,  and  emit  the  pulmonic  puff,  lowering  their  tail  and  other 
feathers  immediately  after.  During  clear  nights,  or  when  there 
is  moonshine,  they  perform  this  action  at  intervals  of  a  few 
minutes  for  hours  together,  without  moving  from  the  same  spot, 
and  indeed  sometimes  without  rising  on  their  legs,  especially 
toward  the  end  of  the  love  season.  The  males  now  become 
greatly  emaciated,  and  cease  to  gobble,  their  breast  sponge  be- 
coming flat.  They  then  separate  from  the  hens,  and  one  might 
suppose  that  they  had  entirely  deserted  their  neighborhood. 
At  such  seasons  I  have  found  them  lying  by  the  side  of  a  log, 
in  some  retired  part  of  the  dense  woods  and  cane  thickets,  and 
often  permitting  one  to  approach  within  a  few  feet.  They  are 
then  unable  to  fly,  but  run  swiftly,  and  to  a  great  distance.  A 
slow  turkey  hound  has  led  me  miles  before  I  could  flush  the 
same  bird.  Chases  of  this  kind  I  did  not  undertake  for  the 
purpose  of  killing  the  bird,  it  being  then  unfit  for  eating,  and 
covered  with  ticks,  but  with  the  view  of  rendering  myself  ac- 
quainted with  its  habits.  They  thus  retire  to  recover  flesh  and 
strength,  by  purging  with  particular  '  species  of  grasses,  and 
using  less  exercise.  As  soon  as_  their  condition  is  improved. 


236  HISTORY  OF  THE 

the  cocks  come  together  again  and  recommence  their  rambles. 
Let  us  now  return  to  the  females. 

"About  the  middle  of  April,  when  the  season  is  dry,  the  hens 
begin  to  look  out  for  a  place  in  which  to  deposit  their  eggs. 
This  place  requires  to  be  as  much  as  possible  concealed  from 
the  eye  of  the  crow,  as  that  bird  often  watches  the  Turkey  when 
going  to  her  nest,  and,  waiting  in  the  neighborhood  until  she 
has  left  it,  removes  and  eats  the  eggs.  The  nest,  which  con- 
sists of  a  few  withered  leaves,  is  placed  on  the  ground,  in  a 
hollow  scooped  out,  by  the  side  of  a  log,  or  in  the  fallen  top  of 
a  dry,  leafy  tree,  under  a  thicket  of  sumach  or  briers,  or  a  few 
feet  within  the  edge  of  a  canebrake,  but  always  in  a  dry  place. 
The  eggs,  which  are  of  a  dull  cream  color,  sprinkled  with  red 
dots,  sometimes  amount  to  twenty,  although  the  more  usual 
number  is  from  ten  to  fifteen.  When  depositing  her  eggs,  the 
female  always  approaches  the  nest  with  extreme  caution, 
scarcely  ever  taking  the  same  course  twice;  and  when  about  to 
leave  them,  covers  them  carefully  with  leaves,  so  that  it  is  very 
difficult  for  a  person  who  may  have  seen  the  bird  to  discover 
the  nest." 

Their  nests  are  placed  on  the  ground,  in  dense  thickets,  often 
under  an  old  log  or  tree  top,  in  a  place  scratched  out  to  fit  the 
body,  and  lined  loosely  and  sparingly  with  grasses,  weeds  and 
leaves.  Eggs  ten  to  fifteen,  2.50x1.85;  buff  white,  speckled 
and  spotted  with  rusty  brown;  in  form,  somewhat  oval,  but 
rather  pointed  at  small  end,  and  obtuse  at  the  other. 


ORDER  COLUMB^E. 

PIGEONS. 

"Bill  straight,  compressed,  horny  at  the  vaulted  tip,  which  is  separated  by  a 
constriction  from  the  soft  membranous  basal  portion.  Nostrils  beneath  a  soft, 
tumid  valve.  Tomia  of  the  mandibles  mutually  apposed.  Frontal  feathers 
sweeping  in  strongly  convex  outline  across  base  of  upper  mandible.  Legs  feath- 
ered to  the  tarsus  or  beyond.  Hallux  incumbent  (with  few  exceptions),  and 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  237 

front  toes  rarely  webbed  at  base.  Tarsus  with  small  scutella  in  front,  or  oftener 
reticulate,  the  envelope  rather  membranous  than  corneous.  Head  very  small. 
Plumage  without  aftershafts.  One  pair  of  syringeal  muscles.  Sternum  doubly 
notched  or  notched  and  fenestrate  on  each  side.  Carotids  double.  Palate  schiz- 
oguathous.  Monogamous  and  highly  altricial  and  ptilopsedic." 

FAMILY   COLTIMBID^E.    PIGEONS. 

"  The  basal  portion  of  the  bill  covered  by  a  soft  skin,  in  which  are  situated 
the  nostrils,  overhung  by  an  incumbent  fleshy  valve,  the  apical  portion  hard  and 
convex.  The  hind  toe  on  the  same  level  with  the  rest;  the  anterior  toes  with- 
out membrane  at  the  base.  Tarsi  more  or  less  naked;  covered  laterally  and 
behind  with  hexagonal  scales." 

GENUS  ECTOPISTES  SWAINSON. 

"Head  very  small.  Bill  short,  black;  culmen  one-third  the  rest  of  the  head; 
feathers  of  the  chin  running  very  far  forward;  gonys  very  short.  Tarsi  very 
short,  half  covered  anteriorly  by  feathers.  Inner  lateral  claw  much  larger  than 
outer,  reaching  to  the  base  of  the  middle  one.  Tail  very  long  and  excessively 
cuneate;  above  as  long  as  the  wings.  First  primaries  longest.  Black  spots  on 
scapulars;  a  black  and  a  rufous  spot  on  inner  webs  of  tail  feathers." 

Ectopistes  migratorius  (LINN,). 

PASSENGER  PIGEON. 
PLATE  XIV. 

Irregular  summer  resident;  rare;  a  few  to  my  knowledge 
breed  occasionally  in  the  Neosho  valley.  Arrive  early  in  March; 
begin  laying  by  the  middle  of  April. 

B.  448.     R.  459.     C.  543.     G.  215,     109.     TL  315. 

HABITAT.  Eastern  North  America,  from  Hudson' s  Bay  south- 
ward, and  west  to  the  Great  Plains;  casually  westward  to  Ne- 
vada and  Washington;  Cuba. 

Sp.  CHAR.  "Tail  with  twelve  feathers.  Upper  parts  generally,  including 
sides  and  body,  head  and  neck,  and  the  chin,  blue.  Beneath,  purple  brownish 
red,  fading  behind  into  a  violet  tint.  Anal  region  and  under  tail  coverts  bluish 
white.  Scapulars,  inner  tertials  and  middle  of  back  with  an  olive  brown  tinge; 
the  wing  coverts,  scapulars  and  inner  tertials  with  large,  oval  spots  of  blue 
black  on  the  inner  webs,  mostly  concealed,  except  on  the  latter.  Primaries 
blackish,  with  a  border  of  pale  bluish,  tinged  internally  with  red.  Middle  tail 
feathers  brown;  the  rest  pale  blue  on  the  outer  web,  white  internally;  each  with 
a  patch  of  reddish  brown  at  the  base  of  the  inner  web,  followed  by  another  of 
black.  Sides  and  back  of  neck  richly  glossed  with  metallic  golden  violet  or 
reddish  purple.  Tibia  bluish  violet.  Bill  black.  Feet  lake  red.  The  female 
is  smaller,  much  duller  in  color,  more  olivaceous  above;  beneath,  pale  ash  in- 
stead of  red,  except  a  tinge  on  the  neck;  the  jugulum  tinged  with  olive,  the 
throat  whitish." 


238  HISTORY  OF  THE 

Stretch  of 
Length.          wing.          Wing.  Tail.         Tarsus.          Bill. 

Male 17.00         24.00         8.40         8.25         1.05  .65 

Female...      16.00         23.00         8.00         8.00         1.05  .60 

Iris  red;  bill  and  claws  black;  legs  and  feet  lake  red. 

This  species  —  commonly  called  the  Wild  Pigeon  —  so  abund- 
ant formerly,  is  fast  disappearing,  though  still  to  be  found  in 
numbers  within  the  Indian  Territory  and  portions  of  the  South- 
ern States.  They  are  irregular  wanderers,  the  gypsies  among 
birds;  their  natural  home,  however,  is  within  the  wooded  lands, 
and  they  are  therefore  seldom  met  with  upon  the  broad  prairies. 

The  following  interesting  description  of  these  birds  is  from 
"North  American  Land  Birds,"  Vol.  Ill,  p.  370: 

"The  Wild  Pigeon  appears  to  be  almost  entirely  influenced 
in  its  migrations  by  the  abundance  of  its  food,  excepting  in  those 
parts  of  the  country  in  which  it  has  not  been  known  to  remain 
during  the  winter.  Even  in  these  movements  it  is  largely  in- 
fluenced by  instinctive  considerations  of  food.  Evidently  the 
temperature  has  but  little  to  do  with  their  migrations,  as  they 
not  unfrequently  move  northward  in  large  columns  as  early  as 
the  7th  of  March,  with  a  thermometer  twenty  degrees  below  the 
freezing  point.  In  the  spring  of  1872  a  large  accumulation  of 
these  birds  took  place  early  in  March,  in  the  eastern  portion  of 
New  York.  They  were  present  in  the  forests  about  Albany,  and 
were  taken  in  such  immense  numbers  that  the  markets  of  New 
York  and  Boston  were  largely  supplied  with  them. 

"As  early  as  the  10th  of  March  they  were  ascertained  to  have 
in  their  ovaries  full-grown  eggs  ready  for  exclusion.  In  Ken- 
tucky they  have  been  known,  according  to  Audubon,  to  remain 
summer  and  winter  in  the  same  district  for  several  successive 
years,  in  consequence  of  great  abundance  of  food,  while  in  other 
parts  of  the  State  none  were  to  be  met  with.  They  suddenly 
disappeared  as  soon  as  the  beechmast  had  become  exhausted, 
and  did  not  return  for  a  long  period. 

"The  Wild  Pigeons  are  capable  of  propelling  themselves  in 
long-continued  flights,  and  are  known  to  move  with  an  almost 
incredible  rapidity,  passing  over  a  great  extent  of  country  in  a 
very  short  time.  It  is  quite  a  common  and  well-ascertained 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  239 

fact  that  Pigeons  are  captured  in  the  State  of  New  York  with 
their  crops  still  filled  with  the  undigested  grains  of  rice  that 
must  have  been  taken  in  the  distant  fields  of  Georgia  or  South 
Carolina,  apparently  proving  that  they  must  have  passed  over 
the  intervening  space  within  a  very  few  hours.  Audubon  esti- 
mates the  rapidity  of  their  flight  as  at  least  a  mile  a  minute. 

"The  Wild  Pigeons  are  said  to  move,  in  their  flight,  by 
quickly-repeated  flaps  of  the  wings,  which  are  brought  more  or 
less  near  to  the  body,  according  to  the  degree  of  velocity  re- 
quired. During  the  love  season  they  often  fly  in  a  circling 
manner,  supporting  themselves  with  both  wings  angularly  ele- 
vated. Before  alighting  they  break  the  force  of  their  flight  by 
repeated  flappings. 

"Their  great  powers  of  flight,  and  the  ability  thus  given  to 
change  at  will  their  residence,  and  their  means  of  renewing  a 
supply  of  food,  are  also  thought  to  be  seconded  by  a  remarkable 
power  of  vision,  enabling  them  to  discover  their  food  with  great 
readiness.  Mr.  Audubon  states  that  he  has  observed  flocks  of 
these  birds,  in  passing  over  a  sterile  part  of  the  country,  fly  high 
in  the  air,  with  an  extended  front,  enabling  them  to  survey  hun- 
dreds of  acres  at  once.  When  the  land  is  richly  covered  with 
food,  or  the  trees  well  supplied  with  mast,  they  fly  low  in  order 
to  discover  the  part  most  plentifully  supplied. 

"In  its  movements  on  the  ground,  as  also  when  alighted  on 
the  branches  of  trees,  the  Wild  Pigeon  is  remarkable  for  its  ease 
and  grace.  It  walks  on  the  ground  and  also  on  the  limbs  of 
trees  with  an  easy,  graceful  motion,  frequently  jerking  its  tail 
and  moving  its  neck  backward  and  forward. 

"Mr.  Audubon  states  that  in  Kentucky  he  has  repeatedly 
visited  one  of  the  remarkable  roosting-places  to  which  these 
birds  resort  at  night.  This  one  was  on  the  banks  of  Green 
River,  and  to  this  place  the  birds  came  every  night  at  sunset, 
arriving  from  all  directions,  some  of  them  from  the  distance  of 
several  hundred  miles,  as  was  conjectured  from  certain  observa- 
tions. The  roost  was  in  a  portion  of  the  forest  where  the  trees 
were  of  great  magnitude.  It  was  more  than  forty  miles  in 
length,  and  averaged  three  in  breadth.  It  had  been  occupied 


240  HISTORY  OF  THE 

as  a  roost  about  a  fortnight  when  he  visited  it.  Their  dung 
was  several  inches  deep  on  the  ground.  Many  trees  had  been 
broken  down  by  their  weight,  as  well  as  many  branches  of 
the  largest  and  tallest  trees.  The  forest  seemed  as  if  it  had 
been  swept  by  a  tornado.  Everything  gave  evidence  that  the 
number  of  birds  resorting  to  that  part  of  the  forest  must  be  im- 
mense. A  large  number  of  persons  collected  before  sunset  to 
destroy  them,  provided  with  torches  of  pine  knots,  and  armed 
with  long  poles  and  guns.  The  Pigeons  began  to  collect  after 
sunset,  their  approach  preceded,  even  when  they  were  at  a  dis- 
tance, by  a  noise  like  that  of  a  hard  gale  at  sea  sounding  in  the 
rigging  of  a  vessel.  As  the  birds  passed  over  him,  they  created 
a  strong  current  of  air.  The  birds  arrived  by  thousands,  fires 
were  alighted,  and  the  work  of  destruction  commenced.  Many 
were  knocked  down  by  the  pole  men.  In  many  cases  they  col- 
lected in  such  solid  masses  on  the  branches  that  several  of  their 
perches  gave  way  and  fell  to  the  ground,  in  this  way  destroying 
hundreds  of  the  birds  beneath  them.  It  was  a  scene  of  great 
confusion  and  continued  until  past  midnight,  the  Pigeons  still 
continuing  to  arrive.  The  sound  made  by  the  birds  at  the  roost 
could  be  heard  at  the  distance  of  three  miles.  As  day  ap- 
proached, the  noise  in  some  measure  subsided;  and  long  before 
objects  were  distinguishable  the  Pigeons  began  to  move  off,  and 
before  daylight  all  that  were  able  to  fly  had  disappeared.  The 
dead  and  wounded  birds  were  then  collected  and  piled  into 
heaps  by  those  who  had  assembled  for  the  purpose. 

"Though  for  the  most  part  living,  moving  and  feeding  to- 
gether in  large  companies,  the  Wild  Pigeon  mates  in  pairs  for 
purposes  of  breeding.  They  have  several  broods  in  the  season, 
and  commence  nesting  very  early  in  the  spring,  the  time  being 
considerably  affected  by  the  amount  of  food." 

Their  nests  are  placed  on  trees,  and  in  communities;  a  slight 
platform  structure  of  twigs,  without  any  material  for  lining  what- 
ever. Eggs  twor  1.45x1.05;  white;  in  form,  varying  from  el- 
liptical to  oval. 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS. 

GENUS  ZENAIDURA  BONAPARTE. 

"Bill  weak,  black;  culmen  from  frontal  feathers  about  one-third  the  head 
above.  Tarsus  not  quite  as  long  as  middle  toe  and  claw,  but  considerably  longer 
than  the  lateral  ones;  covered  anteriorly  by  a  single  series  of  scutellse.  Inner 
lateral  claw  considerably  longer  than  outer  and  reaching  to  the  base  of  middle. 
Wings  pointed;  second  quill  longest;  first  and  third  nearly  equal.  Tail  very 
long,  equal  to  the  wings;  excessively  graduated  and  cuneate,  of  fourteen  feath- 
ers." 

Zenaidura  macroura  (LINN.). 

MOURNING  DOVE. 
PLATE  XIV. 

Summer  resident;  abundant;  an  occasional  winter  sojourner 
in  the  southern  part  of  the  State.  Begin  laying  the  last  of  April. 

B.  451.     R.  460.     C.  544.     G.  216,     110.     U.  316. 

HABITAT.  The  whole  of  temperate  North  America,  north  to 
the  British  possessions,  south  to  the  West  Indies  and  Panama. 

SP.  CHAK.  "Tail  feathers  fourteen.  Above,  bluish,  although  this  is  overlaid 
with  brownish  olive,  leaving  the  blue  pure  only  on  top  of  the  head,  the  exterior 
of  the  wings  and  the  upper  surface  of  the  tail,  which  is  even  slightly  tinged 
with  this  color.  The  entire  head,  except  the  vertex,  the  sides  of  the  neck,  and 
the  under  parts  generally,  light  brownish  vinaceous,  strongly  tinged  with  purple 
on  the  breast,  becoming  lighter  behind  and  passing  into  brownish  yellow  or 
creamy  ochraceous  on  the  anal  region,  tibia3  and  under  tail  coverts.  Sides  of 
the  neck  with  a  patch  of  metallic  purplish  red.  Sides  of  body  and  insides  of 
wings  clear  light  blue.  Wing  coverts  and  scapulars  spotted  with  black  (mostly 
concealed),  and  a  small  oblong  patch  of  the  same,  with  a  steel-blue  reflection, 
below  the  ear.  Tail  feathers  seen  from  below  blackish,  the  outer  web  of  outer- 
most white,  the  others  tipped  with  the  same,  the  color  becoming  more  and  more 
bluish  to  the  innermost,  which  is  brown.  Seen  from  above,  there  is  the  same 
gradation  from  white  to  light  blue  in  the  tips;  the  rest  of  the  feather,  however, 
is  blue,  with  a  bar  of  black  anterior  to  the  light  tip,  which  runs  a  little  forward 
along  the  margin  and  shaft  of  the  feather.  In  the  sixth  feather  the  color  is 
uniform  bluish,  with  this  bar;  the  seventh  is  without  a  bar.  Bill  black,  the 
angle  of  the  mouth  carmine.  Female:  Smaller,  and  with  less  red  beneath. 
Bare  orbits  pale  blue,  with  a  green  tint;  iris  dark  brown;  feet  lake  red.  Young: 
With  the  feathers  of  the  upper  parts  and  jugulum  margined  with  paler;  the 
tints  more  brownish." 

Stretch  of 
Length.          wing.          Wing.  Tail.         Tarsus.          Bill. 

Male 12.50         18.00         5.90         5.75  .85  .60 

Female...     11.00        17.50        5.75        4.25          .80          .55 

Iris  dark  brown;  bill  black;  legs  and  feet  lake  red;  claws 
horn  blue. 

This  familiar  bird  is  extensively  distributed  throughout  the 
United  States,  from  southern  New  England  and  Washington 

—16 


242  HISTORY  OF   TllK 

southward;  breeding  throughout  its  range.  It  adapts  itself  read- 
ily to  its  surroundings,  and  is  as  much  at  home  on  the  dry  plains 
as  in  the  clearings  of  the  moist  woodlands.  Its  plumage  does 
not  appear  to  be  affected  by  the  climate.  I  have  specimens  in 
the  "Goss  Ornithological  Collection"  shot  at  Neah  Bay,  Wash- 
ington, San  Pedro,  Martir  Isle,  Gulf  of  California,  and  in  Kansas, 
and  have  shot  the  birds  in  New  England,  and  in  southern  Cen- 
tral America,  and  so  far  fail  to  find  any  difference  in  coloration 
that  will  hold  good. 

Its  food  consists  of  insects,  berries  and  grains,  the  latter 
gleaned  chiefly  from  the  fields.  It  is  a  harmless  bird,  that  by  its 
innocent  ways  readily  wins  the  heart  and  protection  of  man. 
Its  flight  is  vigorous  and  strong,  and  the  rapid  strokes  of  its 
wings  cause  a  whistling  sound.  During  the  pairing  season  the 
male  often  circles  and  sails  above  his  mate,  with  tail  expanded, 
and  upon  the  ground  struts  about  with  nodding  head,  and 
feathers  spread  in  a  graceful  manner.  His  mournful  cooing 
love  note,  so  pleasing  to  the  female,  wafts  to  my  ears  one  of 
the  saddest  sounds  in  nature.  The  birds  while  mated  are  true 
and  devoted  to  each  other.  At  the  close  of  the  breeding  season 
they  collect  together  in  small  flocks,  usually  family  groups. 

Their  nests  are  placed  on  the  forks  of  low,  horizontal 
branches  of  trees,  on  grape  vines,  and  upon  the  ground;  when 
built  off  the  ground,  a  loose,  slight  platform,  constructed  of  twigs, 
a  few  stems  of  grass,  and  leaves.  Eggs  two,  1.12x.85;  white; 
in  form,  elliptical  to  oval. 


ORDER  RAPTORES. 

BIRDS  OF  PREY. 

"Bill  usually  powerful,  adapted  for  tearing  flesh,  strongly  decurved  and 
hooked  at  the  end,  furnished  with  a  cere  in  which  the  nostrils  open.  Feet 
strongly  flexible,  with  large,  sharp  and  much-curved  claws,  gradually  narrowed 
from  base  to  tip,  convex  on  the  sides,  that  of  the  second  toe  larger  than  that  of 
the  fourth  toe,  and  the  hinder  not  smaller  than  the  second  one.  Feet  never 
permanently  zygodactyle,  though  fourth  toe  often  versatile;  anterior  toes  com- 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  243 

monly  with  one  basal  web;  hallux  considerable  and  completely  incumbent  (ex- 
cept Cathartidce).  Legs  feathered  to  the  suffrage  or  beyond.  Rectrices  twelve 
(with  rare  exceptions).  Primaries  sinuate  or  emarginate  (with  rare  exceptions). 
Sternum  singly  or  doubly  notched  or  feuestrate.  Palate  desmognathous, 
Carotids  double.  Syrinx  wanting,  or  developed  with  only  one  pair  of  muscles. 
Altricial;  the  young  being  weak  and  heldless,  yet  ptilopsedic,  being  down  at 
birth." 

SUBOKDER  SARCORHAMPHI.     AMERICAN  VULTURES. 

Head  entirely  naked,  or  else  only  partially  covered  with  down  (in  young); 
nostrils  longitudinal;  a  distinct  web  between  inner  and  middle  toes,  at  base; 
hind  toe  short,  elevated,  the  feet  wholly  unfit  for  grasping.  (Ridgway.) 

FAMILY  CATHARTID^l.      AMERICAN  YULTUEES. 

"Whole  head,  and  sometimes  the  neck,  naked;  eyes  prominent,  and  not 
shaded  by  a  superciliary  shield.  Cere  much  elongated,  much  depressed  anteri- 
orly below  the  very  arched  cnlmen;  nostrils  longitudinal,  horizontal,  the  two 
confluent  or  perforated.  Middle  toe  very  long,  and  hind  one  much  abbreviated. 
A  web  between  the  base  of  the  inner  and  middle  toes." 

GEJSTJS  CATHARTES  ILLIGEB. 

"Size  medium,  the  wings  and  tail  well  developed,  the  remiges  very  long  and 
large.  Head  and  upper  portion  of  the  neck  naked;  the  skin  smooth,  or  merely 
wrinkled;  a  semicircular  patch  of  antrorse  bristles  before  the  eye.  Nostril  very 
large,  with  both  ends  broadly  rounded,  occupying  the  whole  of  the  nasal  orifice. 
Cere  contracted  anteriorly,  and  as  deep  as  broad;  lower  mandible  not  so  deep 
as  the  upper.  Plumage  beginning  gradually  on  the  neck,  with  broad,  rounded, 
normal  feathers.  Ends  of  primaries  reaching  beyond  the  end  of  the  tail;  third 
or  fourth  quill  longest;  outer  five  with  inner  webs  appreciably  sinuated.  Tail 
much  rounded;  middle  toe  slightly  longer  than  tarsus.  Sexes  alike." 


Cathartes  aura 

TURKEY  VULTURE. 
PLATE  XIV. 

Summer  resident;  abundant;  occasionally  seen  in  winter. 
Begin  laying  the  last  of  April. 

B.  1.     R.  454.     C.  537.     G.  213,     111.     U.  325. 

HABITAT.  Nearly  the  whole  of  temperate  and  tropical  Amer- 
ica, from  New  England,  Manitoba,  British  Columbia  and  Wash- 
ington southward,  including  the  West  Indies,  to  Falkland  Islands 
and  Patagonia. 

SP.  CHAR.  Adult:  Neck  and  lower  parts  uniform  dull  black;  upper  parts 
blackish,  with  a  greenish  and  violet  gloss,  the  feathers  of  the  back,  the  scapulars 
and  wing  coverts  with  margins  broadly  (but  not  abruptly)  light  grayish  brown; 
edge  of  secondaries  light  grayish  brown,  varying  to  light  ashy;  shafts  of  quills 


244  HISTORY  OF  THE 

and  tail  feathers  pale  brown,  varying  to  yellowish  white;  bill  chalk  white:  iris 
grayish  brown;  naked  skin  of  head  and  upper  neck  ( in  life)  dull  livid  crimson, 
brightening  to  lake  red  on  cere,  the  lores  and  top  of  head  sometimes  with  whit- 
ish, wart-like  papillae.  Young:  Similar  to  adult,  but  bill  blackish,  and  naked 
skin  of  head  and  neck  livid  dusky,  and  the  brownish  margins  to  wing  coverts, 
etc.,  less  distinct.  Downy  young:  Covered  with  pure-white  cottony  down,  the 
head,  however,  naked,  and  sallow  dusky.  (Ridgway.) 

Stretch  of 
Length.          wing.  Wing.          Tail.         Tarsus.         Bill. 

Male 27.50         70.00        22.00       11.50        2.30         1.00 

Female...     27.00         68.00        21.00       11.25        2.30         1.00 

A  young  female,  in  the  "Goss  Ornithological  Collection," 
reared  in  confinement  and  killed  December  10th,  measures: 
26.25,  66.50,  20.00,  10.50,  2.25,  .90. 

This  Yulture  is  one  of  the  greatest  scavengers  of  nature.  A 
very  abundant  bird,  especially  in  the  warmer  climates,  where  its 
presence  is  of  incalculable  value  as  a  gormandizer  of  the  gar- 
bage, filth  and  carrion  that  taint  the  air  and  breed  disease.  Were 
it  not  for  their  valuable  services,  it  would  be  hard  to  tolerate 
their  disgusting,  filthy  habits  and  ungainly  ways  upon  the  ground 
and  perch.  In  the  air,  however,  as  it  sails  and  circles  high 
above  us,  with  scarcely  an  apparent  effort,  we  are  forced  to  ad- 
mit that  it  is  a  magnificent  sight,  and  to  inwardly  say,  ' '  Long 
live  the  purifiers  of  the  air. ' '  I  have  raised  the  young  (downy 
little  fellows)  from  the  nest,  feeding  them  wholly  upon  fresh 
meat,  and  find  that  the  rank  odor  of  the  body  is  not  produced 
by  the  food  it  eats,  but  from  natural  causes,  like  the  smell  or 
musk  of  many  animals. 

These  birds  are  mute,  their  only  noise  a  hiss,  like  the  sound 
from  hot  iron  being  dropped  into  water.  Cowardly  birds,  that 
make  no  defense  at  their  capture,  but  will  occasionally,  when 
approached,  raise  their  feathers,  stamp  their  feet  like  sheep,  and 
hiss. 

Their  nests  are  placed  on  rocky  ledges  and  in  hollow  trees 
and  stumps.  Eggs  two,  laid  on  the  bare  rocks  or  debris;  no 
lining ;  2 . 70  x  1 . 90  ;  grayish  white,  variously  and  unevenly 
blotched  and  splashed  with  light  to  dark  reddish  brown  and 
purplish  drab;  in  form,  rounded  oval. 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  245 

GENUS  CATHARISTA  VIEILLOT. 

"Size  of  Catkartes,  but  more  robust,  with  shorter  wings  and  very  different 
flight.  Wings  with  the  reuiiges  abbreviated,  the  primaries  scarcely  reaching  to 
the  middle  of  the  tail.  Tail  even,  or  faintly  emargiuated.  Head  aud  upper 
portion  of  neck  naked,  the  feathers  extending  farther  up  behind  than  in  front; 
naked  skin  of  the  side  of  the  neck  transversely  corrugated;  no  bristles  before 
the  eye.  Nostrils  narrow,  occupying  only  about  the  posterior  half  of  the  nasal 
orifice,  its  anterior  end  contracted  and  acute.  Cere  not  contracted  anteriorly, 
but  the  upper  and  lower  outline  parallel;  much  depressed,  or  broader  than  deep. 
Plumage  beginning  gradually  on  the  neck  with  normal  or  broad  and  rounded 
feathers.  Fourth  or  fifth  quill  longest;  outer  five  with  inner  webs  sinuated. 
Tarsus  longer  than  middle  toe." 

Catharista  atrata  (BARTR.). 

BLACK  VULTURE. 
PLATE  XIV. 

Summer  resident;  rare.  Dr.  George  Lisle,  of  Chetopa,  (a 
close  observer,)  wrote  me,  in  the  spring  of  1883,  that  the  birds 
were  quite  common  and  breeding  there  fifteen  or  twenty  years 
ago,  but  now  quite  scarce;  that  he  saw  three  of  the  birds  in  the 
fall  of  1882  at  a  slaughter  pen,  with  Turkey  Buzzards;  that  in 
1858  he  found  a  nest. with  two  eggs  in  an  old,  hollow,  broken 
stump.  And  Dr.  Lewis  Watson  reports  the  capture  of  one  at 
Ellis,  March  27th,  1885. 

B.  3.     K.  455.     C.  538.     G.  214,     112.     U.  326. 

HABITAT.  The  whole  of  tropical,  and  warmer  temperate, 
America;  north  to  North  Carolina  and  the  lower  Mississippi 
valley;  casually  to  Maine,  New  York,  Illinois,  Dakota,  etc. ; 
south  to  Chili  and  the  Argentine  Republic.  (Apparently  want- 
ing in  California  and  western  Mexico.) 

SP.  CHAR.  "Form  heavy;  the  wings  aud  tail  short,  the  latter  square;  the 
remiges  and  rectrices  very  hard  and  stiff.  Bill  strong,  the  mandibles  broader 
than  deep,  and  of  about  equal  depth,  the  terminal  hook  well  developed;  upper 
and  lower  outlines  of  the  cere  parallel  and  nearly  straight.  Nostril  narrow,  its 
anterior  end  contracted  and  pointed.  Adult:  Bill  blackish,  the  point  horny 
white;  naked  skin  of  the  head  and  upper  part  of  the  neck  blackish.  Entire 
plumage  continuous,  perfectly  uniform  dull  black;  primaries  becoming  grayish 
basally  (more  hoary  whitish  on  their  under  surface),  their  shafts  pure  white  for 
their  whole  length." 

Measurements  of  a  pair  of  birds  in  the  ' '  Goss  Ornithological 
Collection:" 


246  HISTORY  OF  THE 

Stretch  of 
Length.          wing,  Wing,         Tail*       Tarsus.         Bill. 

Male 26.50         59.00        17.20        8,50         3.10          .95 

Female...     26.00         58.50        17.00        8.00         3.10          .90 

Iris  light  reddish  brown;  bill  pale  olive  blue,  tips  whitish; 
cere  and  claws  black:  legs  and  feet  grayish  blue. 

This  species  has  a  much  less  extended  distribution  than  the 
Turkey  Vultures,  but  it  largely  outnumbers  them  in  the  tropical 
regions,  its  natural  habitat;  although  quite  a  hardy  bird,  as 
it  occasionally  winters  in  the  southern  part  of  the  Indian  Ter- 
ritory. I  have  a  pair  in  the  "Goss  Ornithological  Collection," 
shot  in  February,  at  Limestone  Gap,  Choctaw  Nation,  where 
they  have  bred  in  the  crevices  of  the  rocks  for  years.  These 
birds  are  also  much  stouter  built,  and,  if  possible,  more  awk- 
ward upon  the  ground,  from  which  they  heavily  rise,  in  a  run- 
ning, leaping  manner;  and  in  flight  more  laborious,  flapping 
and  sailing  as  they  go.  They  are  occasionally  known  to  kill 
young  pigs  and  chickens,  but  their  value  as  scavengers  saves 
them.  About  the  cities  they  become  as  tame  as  our  domestic 
fowls,  feeding  with  the  same  and  perching  and  roosting  upon 
the  housetops;  and  I  have  seen  them  following  and  riding  upon 
carts  loaded  with  offal,  and  fearlessly  feeding  from  the  dump, 
or  a  carcass,  with  mongrel  curs  that,  strange  to  say,  never  harm 
them. 

Their  nests  are  placed  on  the  ground,  and  in  old,  hollow  logs 
and  crevices  of  rocks.  Begin  laying  about  the  middle  of  April. 
Eggs  two,  laid  on  the  bare  ground  and  rotten  wood,  no  mate- 
rial of  any  kind  used  for  lining;  3.00x2.00;  dull  yellowish  to 
bluish  white,  spotted  and  blotched  irregularly,  in  some  cases 
sparingly,  on  others  thickly,  with  umber  to  dark  reddish  brown; 
in  form,  rounded  oval. 

SUBORDER  FALCONES.     VULTURES,  FALCONS,  HAWKS, 
BUZZARDS,  EAGLES,  HARRIERS,  KITES,  ETC. 

Head  entirely  feathered,  or  only  partially  naked;  nostrils  vertical  or  round- 
ish; no  web  between  inner  and  middle  toes;  hind  toe  well  developed,  with  Jaw, 
sharp  claws,  inserted  at  the  same  level  with  anterior  toes,  the  feet  especially 
adapted  for  grasping.  (Ridgway.) 

Eyes  lateral,  not  surrounded  by  disks  of  radiating  feathers;  cere  exposed; 
outer  toe  not  reversible  (except  in  Pandion).  (Ridyway.) 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  247 

FAMILY  FALCONID^E.     VULTURES,  FALCONS,  HAWKS, 
EAGLES,  ETC. 

"Eyes  directed  laterally,  and  eyelids  provided  with  lashes.  Toes  invariably 
naked,  and  tarsus  usually  naked  and  scutellate  (feathered  only  in  Aquila  and 
Archibuteo).  Outer  toe  not  reversible  (except  in  Pandion).  Head  never  with 
ear  tufts  and  never  wholly  naked  (except  in  the  Vulturince  of  the  old  world)." 

SUBFAMILY  ACCIPITRIN^E.      KITES,  BUZZARDS,  HAWKS,  GOS- 
HAWKS, EAGLES,  ETC. 

Outer  toe  not  reversible;  claws  graduated  in  size  from  the  largest  (that  of 
hind  toe)  to  the  smallest  (that  of  outer  toe),  broader  and  (except  in  Elanus) 
grooved  on  under  side.  (Ridgway.) 

Nostril  not  circular,  nor  linear  and  oblique,  with  the  upper  end  the  posterior 
one,  nor  with  central  bony  tubercle.  (Ridgway.) 

GENUS  ELANOIDES.  VIEIIXOT. 

"Form  swallow-like,  the  tail  excessively  lengthened  and  forked,  and  the 
wings  extremely  long.  Bill  rather  small  and  narrow;  commissure  faintly  sinu- 
ated;  iipper  outline  of  the  lower  mandible  very  convex,  the  depth  of  the  man- 
dible at  the  base  being  about  half  that  through  the  middle;  gonys  drooping 
terminally,  nearly  straight.  Side  of  the  head  densely  feathered  close  up  to  the 
eyelids.  Nostril  ovoid,  obliquely  vertical.  Feet  small  but  robust;  tarsus  about 
equal  to  middle  toe,  covered  with  large,  very  irregular  scales;  toes  with  trans- 
verse scutellse  to  their  base;  claws  short  but  strongly  curved;  grooved  beneath, 
their  edges  sharp.  Second  or  third  quill  longest;  first  shorter  than,  equal  to 
or  longer  than  the  fourth;  two  outer  primaries  with  inner  webs  siuuated.  Tail 
with  the  outer  pair  of  feathers  more  than  twice  as  long  as  the  middle  pair." 

Elanoides  forficatus  (LIXN.). 

SWALLOW-TAILED   KITE. 
PLATE  XV. 

Irregular  summer  resident  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  State; 
some  seasons  common,  others  rare.  Arrive  the  first  of  May; 
begin  laying  the  last  of  May.  A  few  remain  until  late  in  the  fall. 

B.  34.     R.  426.     C.  493.     G.  197,     113.     U.  327. 

HABITAT.  Tropical  and  warm  temperate  America;  north  to 
Wisconsin,  Minnesota,  Dakota.  (Western  Manitoba.  Seton. )  Cas- 
ually to  Pennsylvania  and  southern  New  England;  accidental 
in  England. 

SP.  CHAR.  "Adult,  male  and  female:  Whole  head  and  neck,  lining  of  wings, 
broad  band  across  the  rump  and  entire  lower  parts  pure  white;  iuterseapulars 
and  lesser  wing  coverts  rich,  dark,  soft,  bronzed  purplish  black;  rest  of  upper 
parts,  including  lower  part  of  rump,  upper  tail  coverts  and  tail  more  metallic 


248  HISTORY  OF  THE 

slaty  black;  feathers  somewhat  greenish  basally,  more  bluish  terminally,  with 
a  peculiar  soft,  milky  appearance,  and  with  very  smooth,  compact  surface;  ter- 
tials  almost  entirely  white,  black  only  at  tips;  white  on  under  side  of  wing 
occupying  all  the  coverts  and  the  basal  half  of  the  secondaries.  Younger: 
Similar,  but  with  the  beautiful  soft,  purplish  bronze  black  of  shoulders  and  back 
less  conspicuously  different  from  the  more  metallic  tints  of  the  upper  parts. 
Young:  The  black  above  less  slaty,  with  a  brownish  cast,  and  with  a  quite 
decided  gloss  of  bottle  green;  secondaries,  primary  coverts,  primaries  and  tail 
feathers  finely  margined  terminally  with  white;  feathers  of  the  head  and  neck 
with  fine  shaft  lines  of  black." 

Stretch  of 
Length.          wing.  Wing.          Tail.         Tarsus.         Bill.         Cere. 

Male 22.75         47.75        15.25        13.00        1.25         .75         .32 

Female...     23.50         51.00        16.50        13.75        1.25         .80         .32 

Iris  black;  bill  bluish  black,  paler  at  base;  cere  and  edges  of 
eyelids  light  blue;  legs  and  feet  pale  blue,  with  a  greenish 
tinge;  claws  bluish  flesh  color. 

I  have  met  with  this  elegant  bird  in  various  localities  with- 
in its  range,  usually  in  small  flocks,  seldom  in  abundance  —  a 
graceful  picture  of  ease  and  motion  in  the  air,  but  almost  help- 
less upon  the  ground,  their  legs  being  too  short  for  locomotion; 
their  feet,  however,  are  well  adapted  for  grasping  and  perching. 
Their  food  consists  chiefly  of  grasshoppers,  beetles,  lizards  and 
snakes,  which  they  catch  with  ease,  with  their  claws,  while  on 
the  wing,  and  devour  as  they  sail  along.  On  the  arrival  of  the 
birds  upon  the  breeding  grounds,  they  devote  several  days  to 
courtship  and  mating,  and  in  selecting  a  place  for  their  nests. 
The  males  assist  in  building  the  nest,  alternate  in  sitting  and  in 
feeding  the  young,  and,  in  fact,  appear  as  attentive  as  the  fe- 
males.* 

April  27th,  1876  (the  earliest  arrival  noticed),  a  pair  put  in 
an  appearance  at  Neosho  Falls,  and  as  they  continued  to  circle 
in  their  graceful  flights  over  the  same  grounds  —  the  edge  of 
the  prairie  and  timber  on  the  Neosho  Kiver — I  became  satisfied 
that  their  nesting  place  would  be  selected  within  the  circle,  and 
I  devoted  my  leisure  moments  to  watching  their  movements. 
On  the  5th  of  May  they  were  joined  by  another  pair,  and  later 
in  the  day,  to  my  great  surprise  and  joy,  two  pairs  of  Missis- 

*  I  once  saw  a  pair  of  these  birds  in  the  act  of  copulation.  They  were  sitting  on  a  small, 
horizontal  limb,  close  together  and  facing  each  other,  when,  quick  as  a  flash,  the  female  turned 
or  backed  under  the  limb,  the  male  meeting  her  from  the  top. 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  249 

sippi  Kites  appeared  and  also  joined  in  the  circling  flights.  It 
was  a  beautiful  and,  to  me,  exciting  sight  to  watch  their  various 
motions  and  coquetting  evolutions,  sailing  high  in  the  air,  swoop- 
ing down  with  partially-closed  wings,  skimming  along  the  prairie, 
lost  for  a  moment  in  the  woods,  ascending  in  spiral  flights, 
gliding  from  slow  to  swift  and  swift  to  slow,  without  a  flit  or 
break,  like  Swallows.  For  grace  and  symmetry  of  action  I 
would  rank  them  first  among  the  aerial  birds,  attaching  the  blue 
ribbon  to  the  Swallow-tailed.  Unfortunately,  I  was  called  away 
on  the  8th,  and  did  not  return  until  the  18th.  At  first  I  thought 
the  birds  had  left,  but  I  soon  occasionally  noticed  one  here  and 
there  flying  low  down  and  often  disappearing  in  the  tree  tops. 
I  lost  no  time,  but  hastened,  with  glass  and  gun  in  hand,  for  the 
timber  embraced  in  their  former  flights,  and  in  a  short  time  had 
the  pleasure  of  finding  a  pair  of  the  Swallow-tailed  Kites  build- 
ing a  nest  in  the  top  of  a  large  hickory  tree,  the  nest  being 
about  two-thirds  completed;  by  cautiously  approaching  and  ly- 
ing down  behind  a  fallen  tree,  I  was  enabled  to  watch  them 
unobserved,  and,  with  the  aid  of  the  glass,  to  plainly  see  them 
at  their  work.  When  either  came  to  the  nest  alone  with  a  stick, 
it  would  place  it  hurriedly  upon  the  nest,  but  when  both  met  at 
the  nest  they  would  at  once  commence  fussing  about,  pulling  at 
the  sticks  and  trying  to  arrange  the  material,  first  one  getting 
upon  the  nest  and  then  the  other,  turning  around  as  if  trying  to 
fit  a  place  for  the  bodies.  I  think  at  one  time  they  must  have 
worked  at  least  ten  minutes  trying  to  weave  in  or  place  in  a  sat- 
isfactory manner  a  stripping  from  the  inner  bark  of  the  cotton- 
wood.  As  builders  they  are  not  a  success. 

Their  nests  are  placed  in  the  small  branches  near  the  tops  of 
tall  trees,  composed  of  sticks  loosely  interwoven,  and  lined 
sparingly  with  the  soft,  ribbon-like  strippings  from  the  inner 
bark  of  decaying  or  dead  cottonwood  trees.  Eggs  usually  two 
(I  have  never  found  more;  according  to  Audubon,  four  to  six; 
and  Capt.  Chas.  Bendire  reports  the  finding  of  four  in  a  nest), 
1.87x1.50;  cream  white,  irregularly  spotted  and  blotched  with 
dark  reddish  brown,  running  often  largely  together  towards 
small  end;  in  form,  rather  oval. 


250  HISTORY  OF  THE 

GEXUS  ICTINIA  VIEILLOT. 

"Form  Falcon-like;  the  neck  short,  wings  long  and  pointed,  the  primaries  and 
rectrices  strong  and  stiff,  and  the  organization  robust.  Bill  short  and  deep,  the 
commissure  irregularly  toothed  and  notched;  gonys  very  convex,  ascending 
terminally;  cere  narrow;  nostril  very  small,  nearly  circular;  feet  small  but 
robust;  tarsus  about  equal  to  middle  toe,  with  a  distinct  frontal  series  of  broad 
transverse  scutellae;  claws  rather  short,  but  strongly  curved,  slightly  grooved 
beneath,  their  edges  sharp.  Third  quill  longest;  first  of  variable  proportion 
with  the  rest.  Tail  moderate,  the  feathers  wide,  broader  terminally,  and  emar- 
giuated." 

Ictinia  mississippiensis  (  WILS.). 

MISSISSIPPI  KITE. 
PLATE  XV. 

Summer  resident;  quite  common  on  the  Medicine  River  and 
its  tributaries;  rare  in  other  portions  of  the  State.  Arrive  by 
the  first  of  May;  begin  laying  the  last  of  May. 

B.  36.     R.  428.     C.  491.     G.  198,     114.     U.  329. 

HABITAT.  Southern  United  States,  east  of  the  Rocky  Mount- 
ains; north  to  South  Carolina,  southern  Illinois,  Kansas,  etc. ; 
casually  to  Pennsylvania,  Wisconsin  and  Iowa;  south  through 
eastern  Mexico  to  Guatemala. 

SP.  CHAR.  "Adult  male:  Head,  neck,  secondaries  and  entire  lower  parts 
plumbeous  ash,  becoming,  by  a  gradual  transition,  lighter  on  the  head  and  sec- 
ondaries, where  the  shade  is  pale  cinereous,  the  head  anteriorly,  and  the  tips  of 
the  secondaries,  being  silver  white.  Lores  and  eyelids  black.  Rest  of  the 
plumage  dark  plumbeous,  approaching  plumbeous  black  on  the  lesser  wing 
coverts,  primaries  and  upper  tail  coverts,  the  tail  being  nearly  pure  black.  Pri- 
maries with  an  indistinct  narrow  concealed  stripe  of  chestnut  rufous  on  the 
outer  webs,  and  larger  spots  of  the  same  on  the  inner  webs;  feathers  of  the 
head,  neck  and  lower  parts  abruptly  pure  white  beneath  the  surface,  this  show- 
ing in  partially  exposed  spots  on  the  pectoral  region  and  crissum.  Scapulars 
also  with  large  concealed  white  spots.  Shafts  of  primaries  and  tail  feathers 
black  on  both  sides.  Adult  female:  Similar  to  the  male,  but  head  and  seconda- 
ries decidedly  darker,  hardly  approaching  light  ash;  scarcely  any  trace  of 
rufous  on  the  primaries,  none  at  all  on  outer  webs;  shafts  of  tail  feathers  white 
on  under  side.  Bill,  cere,  eyelids  and  interior  of  mouth  deep  black;  iris  deep 
lake  red;  rictus  orange  red;  tarsi  and  toes  pinkish  orange  red;  lower  part  of 
tarsus  and  large  scutellse  of  toes  dusky.  Immature  male,  transition  plumage: 
Similar  to  the  adult  female,  but  the  white  spots  on  basal  portion  of  pectoral  and 
crissal  feathers  distinctly  exposed;  secondaries  not  lighter  than  the  rest  of  the 
wing.  Tail  feathers  with  angular  white  spots  extending  quite  across  the  inner 
webs,  producing  three  distinct  transverse  bands  when  viewed  from  below. 
Inner  web  of  outer  primary  mostly  white  anterior  to  the  emargination.  Color 
of  bill,  etc.,  as  in  the  adult,  but  interior  of  mouth  whitish,  and  the  iris  less  pure 
carmine.  Young  female,  first  plumage:  Head,  neck  and  lower  parts  white, 


lilliDS  OF  KANSAS.  251 

with  a  yellowish  tinge;  this  most  perceptible  on  the  tibise.  Each  feather  with 
a  medial  longitudinal  ovate  spot  of  blackish  brown,  more  reddish  on  the  lower 
parts.  The  chin,  throat,  and  a  broad  superciliary  stripe,  are  immaculate  white. 
Lower  tail  coverts  each  with  a  medial  acuminate  spot  of  rusty,  the  shafts  black. 
Upper  parts  brownish  black;  wing  coverts,  scapulars  and  interscapulars,  feath- 
ers of  the  rump,  and  the  upper  tail  coverts,  narrowly  bordered  with  ochra- 
ceous  white,  and  with  concealed  quadrate  spots  of  the  same;  primary  coverts, 
secondaries  and  primaries  sharply  bordered  terminally  with  pure  white.  Tail 
black  (faintly  whitish  at  the  tip),  with  three  (exposed)  obscure  bands  of  a  moie 
slaty  tint;  this  changing  to  white  on  the  inner  webs,  in  the  form  of  angular 
spots  forming  the  bands.  Lining  of  the  wing  pale  ochraceous,  transversely 
spotted  with  rusty  rufous;  under  primary  coverts  with  transverse  spots  of 
white." 

Stretch  of 
Length.          iving.  Wing.          Tall.        Tarsus.         Bill.  Cere. 

Male 14.25         35.75        11.50        6.00         1.35  .65          .25 

Female...     14.50         36.25        11.75        6.85         1.35          .66          .25 

Iris  lake  red;  bill,  cere  and  claws  black;  legs  red;  upper  parts 
of  feet  brownish  red,  bottoms  yellowish.  Young:  Iris  brown- 
ish red;  legs  and  feet  brownish. 

This  species  is  common  in  portions  of  the  lower  Mississippi  val- 
ley, westward  into  Texas  and  the  Indian  Territory.  The  birds  in- 
habit the  timber  skirting  the  streams  upon  our  prairies.  Their 
motions  in  the  air  are  graceful  and  easy,  sailing  and  circling  for 
hours,  in  search  of  grasshoppers  and  other  insects,  and  I  have 
seen  them  swoop  down,  and,  with  their  claws,  snatch  lizards  from 
the  ground,  rocks  and  old  logs,  sometimes  stopping  to  eat  them, 
but,  as  a  rule,  feeding  on  the  wing.  I  never  saw  them  chase 
or  disturb  other  birds,  and,  upon  dissection,  have  failed  to  find  a 
feather.  The  birds  do  not  appear  to  fear  them  in  the  least, 
many  nesting  upon  their  breeding  grounds. 

Their  nests  are  placed  in  the  forks  from  the  main  body  of  the 
trees,  or  in  the  forks  of  the  larger  limbs.  They  range  in  height 
from  twenty-five  to  fifty  feet  from  the  ground,  and  are  built  of 
sticks,  and  lined  with  leaves  and  green  twigs  in  leaf.  Without 
the  green  twigs  they  would  be  taken  for  the  nests  of  the  com- 
mon Crow.  In  the  spring  of  1887,  I  collected,  on  the  Medicine 
River,  in  Barber  county,  Kansas,  seven  sets  of  eggs  (two  a  full 
set),  that  measure  as  follows:  1st,  1.55x1.33,  1.52x1.36;  2d, 
1.76x1.48.  1.65x1.35;  3d,  1.70x1.39,  1.56x1.35;  4th,  1.70x 
1.37,  1.68^x1.30;  5th,  1.75x1.30;  6th,  1.54x1.31,  1.45x1.24; 


252  HISTORY  OF  THE 

7th,  1.70x1.38,  1.68x1.43;  in  color  white,  or  rather  bluish  white, 
without  markings  or  shell  stains;  in  form,  roundish. 

GENUS  CIRCUS  LACEPEDE. 

"Form  very  slender,  the  wings  and  tail  very  long,  the  head  small,  bill  weak, 
and  feet  slender.  Face  surrounded  by  a  ruff  of  stiff,  compact  feathers,  as  in  the 
Owls  (nearly  obsolete  in  some  species).  Bill  weak,  much  compressed;  the  upper 
outline  of  the  cere  greatly  ascending  basally,  and  arched  posteriorly,  the  com- 
missure with  a  faint  lobe;  nostril  oval,  horizontal.  Loral  bristles  fine  and 
elongated,  curving  upwards,  their  ends  reaching  above  the  top  of  the  cere.  Su- 
perciliary shield  small,  but  prominent.  Tarsus  more  than  twice  the  middle  toe, 
slender,  and  with  perfect  frontal  and  posterior  continuous  series  of  regular  trans- 
verse scutellse;  toes  slender,  the  outer  longer  than  the  inner,  claws  strongly 
curved,  very  acute.  Wings  very  long,  the  third  or  fourth  quills  longest;  first 
shorter  than  the  sixth;  outer  three  to  five  with  inner  webs  sinuated.  Tail  very 
long,  about  two-thirds  the  wing,  rounded." 

Circus  hudsonius  (LINN.). 

MARSH  HAWK. 
PLATE  XV. 

Resident;  abundant.     Begin  laying  about  the  first  of  May. 

B.  38.     K.  430.     C.  489.     G.  199,     115.     U.  331. 

HABITAT.  The  whole  of  North  America;  south  in  winter  to 
Panama,  Bahamas  and  Cuba. 

SP.  CHAR.  Adult  male:  Head,  neck,  chest  and  upper  parts  uniform  light 
bluish  gray,  the  occiput  darker  and  streaked  with  whitish,  tinged  with  rusty; 
longer  quills  blackish  toward  the  tips;  upper  tail  coverts  plain  white;  tail  bluish 
gray,  mottled  with  white  toward  base,  narrowly  tipped  with  white,  crossed  near 
end  by  a  broad  blackish  band,  and,  anterior  to  this,  by  five  to  seven  narrower 
and  less  distinct  dusky  bands;  the  inner  webs  whitish,  with  the  bands  more 
distinct,  and  sometimes  tinged  with  rusty;  under  surface  of  wing  (except  termi- 
nal third  or  more  of  quills),  and  lower  parts  from  breast  backward,  white,  the 
larger  under  wing  coverts  and  lower  parts  with  more  or  less  numerous  trans- 
verse (usually  cordate)  spots  of  rusty  or  brown.  Adult  female:  Above,  dusky 
brown,  the  head  and  neck  streaked,  the  lesser  wing  coverts  spotted,  and  feath- 
ers of  rump  edged,  with  rusty;  upper  tail  coverts  plain  white;  tail  brown,  paler 
at  tip,  and  crossed  by  six  or  seven  very  regular  and  distinct  bands  of  blackish; 
the  brownish  spaces  becoming  gradually  paler  and  more  rusty  to  outer  feathers, 
which  are  more  ochraceous;  sides  of  head  light  dull  buffy,  with  a  dusky  stripe 
behind  eye;  feathers  of  'facial  disk'  buff,  each  with  a  median  streak  of  brown; 
chin,  throat,  and  lower  parts  generally,  dull  buffy  whitish,  varying  to  deeper 
dull  buffy,  striped  (except  on  chin  and  throat)  with  brown,  the  stripes  becoming 
gradually  much  narrower  posteriorly.  Young:  Above,  blackish  brown,  the 
head  and  neck  streaked  and  lesser  wing  coverts  spotted  with  deep  rusty;  upper 
tail  coverts  white,  tinged  more  or  less  with  ochraceous;  tail  crossed  by  four 
broad  bands  of  black,  the  interspaces  being  dark  brown  on  middle  feathers, 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  253 

changing  gradually  to  ochraceous  on  outer  feathers;  ear  coverts  uniform  rich 
dark  brown;  feathers  of  'facial  disk'  dark  brown,  broadly  edged  with  rufous; 
lower  parts  rich  rusty  ochraceous,  growing  gradually  paler  posteriorly,  the 
breast  and  sides  narrowly  and  (usually)  indistinctly  streaked  with  darker,  but 
elsewhere  immaculate.  Downy  young:  Entirely  pale  cinnamon  buffy,  tinged 
with  grayish  on  back,  and  becoming  almost  white  on  lower  parts.  (Ridgway.) 

Stretch  of 
Length.         wing.          Wing.        Tail.         Tarsus.        Bill.        Cere. 

Male 18.00        41.50        13.25        8.90        2.90         .65        .80 

Female...     21.00        45.50        15.00      10.25         3.00        .70        .30 

Iris  brown;  bill  horn  blue,  light  at  base;  cere  greenish  yellow; 
legs  and  feet  yellow;  claws  black. 

This  widely-distributed  species  (a  sort  of  connecting  link  be- 
tween the  Hawks  and  Owls)  has  been  found  breeding  as  far 
north  as  Hudson's  Bay  and  Alaska,  and  they  no  doubt  occa- 
sionally breed  northward  within  their  range.  I  have  found 
them  breeding  in  Lower  California,  but  south  of  the  United 
States  and  northern  Mexico  they  are  not  common,  and  as  a  rule 
only  winter  sojourners.  The  birds  frequent  the  low  lands  and 
marshes,  not  from  choice,  I  imagine,  but  because  the  food  they 
seek  is  the  most  abundant  there;  for  they  appear  alike  at  home 
upon  the  plains,  in  localities  where  the  lizards  and  small  rodents 
abound. 

Its  flight  is  low  and  not  swift,  but  very  light  and  buoyant, 
flapping  and  sailing  as  it  courses  over  the  ground,  often  hover- 
ing with  vibrating  wings  as  it  catches  sight  of  some  unlucky 
rodent,  lizard,  frog  or  bird  in  the  grass  beneath;  never  giving 
chase,  but  dropping  upon  its  prey,  and  eating  it  where  caught, 
unless  in  a  very  exposed  situation,  when  it  flies  to  a  more  se- 
cluded place  upon  the  ground.  The  birds  often  alight  upon  a 
fence  post,  but  seldom  in  trees,  but  I  never  saw  one  attempt  to 
feed  upon  its  prey  from  a  perch.  In  food  habits  they  are  not 
particular;  a  sort  of  scavenger,  that  readily  feeds  upon  the  car- 
cass of  a  bird  or  fish — in  fact,  nothing  seems  to  come  amiss. 

These  birds  as  a  whole  are  very  beneficial,  though  occasion- 
ally killing  a  stray  chicken,  but  seldom  venturing  within  the 
door  yard;  and  they  have  not  the  courage  to  tackle  a  full  grown 
fowl  —  at  least  I  have  never  known  them  to  do  so,  and  I  have 
often  seen  a  hen  drive  them  away  from  her  chicks. 


254  HISTORY  OF  THE 

Their  nests  are  placed  on  the  ground,  in  the  grass,  sometimes 
under  low  bushes,  and  usually  on  the  bottom  prairie  lands;  a 
slight  structure,  made  usually  of  grasses;  sometimes,  on  boggy 
grounds,  with  a  foundation  of  sticks  and  weeds.  Eggs  four  to 
six,  1.86x1.42;  bluish  white,  generally  unspotted,  but  occasion- 
ally with  faint  to  distinct  spots  and  blotches  of  purplish  brown; 
in  form,  broadly  oval. 

GENUS  ACCIPITER  BRISSOST. 

Face  not  encircled  by  a  ruff.  Tail  decidedly  more  than  two-thirds  as  long  as 
wing.  Depth  of  bill  at  base  not  decidedly  less  than  chord  of  culmen;  middle 
toe  equal  to  or  longer  than  naked  portion  of  tarsus  in  front;  lores  densely 
feathered.  (Ridgway.) 

SUBGENUS  ACCIPITER. 

Bare  portion  of  tarsus  in  front  longer  than  middle  toe;  wing  less  than  12.00. 
( Ridflica//. } 

Accipiter  velox  (WILS.). 

SHARP-SHINNED  HAWK. 
PLATE  XV. 

Winter  sojourner;  rare;  in  migration,  common.  Probably 
occasionally  breed  in  the  State. 

B.  17,     R.  432.     O.  494.     G.  201,     116.     U.  332. 

HABITAT.  Nearly  the  whole  of  North  America;  south  in  win- 
ter to  Costa  Rica.  The  birds  have  been  found  breeding  as  far 
south  as  Florida  and  southern  Texas,  but  they  breed  chiefly  in 
the  northern  United  States  and  northward. 

SP.  CHAB.  "Adult  male:  Above,  deep  plumbeous,  this  covering  head  above, 
nape,  back,  scapulars,  wings,  rump  and  upper  tail  coverts;  uniform  throughout, 
scarcely  perceptibly  darker  anteriorly.  Primaries  and  tail  somewhat  lighter 
and  more  brownish.  The  latter  crossed  by  four  sharply-defined  bands  of  brown- 
ish black,  the  last  of  which  is  subterminal,  and  broader  than  the  rest,  the  first 
concealed  by  the  upper  coverts;  tip  passing  very  narrowly  (or  scarcely  percep- 
tibly) into  whitish  terminally.  Occipital  feathers  snowy  white  beneath  the  sur- 
face; entirely  concealed,  however.  Scapulars  also  with  concealed,  very  large, 
roundish  spots  of  pure  white.  Under  side  of  primaries  pale  slate,  becoming 
white  toward  bases,  crossed  by  quadrate  spots  of  blackish,  of  which  there  are 
seven  ( besides  the  terminal  dark  space)  on  the  longest.  Lores,  cheeks,  ear  cov- 
erts, chin,  throat,  and  lower  parts  in  general,  pure  white;  chin,  throat  and 
cheeks  with  fine,  rather  sparse,  blackish  shaft  streaks;  ear  coverts  with  a  pale 
rufous  wash.  Jugulum,  breast,  abdomen,  sides,  flanks  and  tibiae  with  numerous 
transverse  broad  bars  of  delicate  vinaceous  rufous,  the  bars  medially  somewhat 
transversely  cordate,  and  rather  narrower  than  the  white  bars;  laterally  the 
pinkish  rufous  prevails,  the  bars  being  connected  broadly  along  the  shafts;  tibiae 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  255 

with  rufous  bars  much  exceeding  the  white  ones  in  width;  the  whole  maculate 
region  with  the  shaft  of  each  feather  finely  blackish.  Aual  region  scarcely 
varied;  lower  tail  coverts  immaculate  pure  white.  Lining  of  the  wing  white, 
witli  rather  sparse  cordate,  or  cuneate,  small  blackish  spots;  axillars  barred 
about  equally  with  pinkish  rufous  and  white.  Fifth  quill  longest;  fourth  but 
little  shorter;  third  equal  to  sixth;  second  slightly  shorter  than  seventh.  Tail 
perfectly  square.  Adult  female:  Scarcely  different  from  male.  Above,  rather 
pale  slaty;  the  darker  shaft  streaks  rather  more  distinct  than  in  the  male,  al- 
though they  are  not  conspicuous.  Beneath  with  the  rufous  bars  rather  broader, 
the  dark  shaft  streaks  less  distinct;  tibiae  about  equally  barred  with  pinkish  ru- 
fous and  white.  Fourth  and  fifth  quills  equal  and  longest;  third  equal  to  sixth; 
second  equal  to  seventh;  first  three  inches  shorter  than  longest.  Young  male: 
Above,  umber  brown;  feathers  of  the  head  above  edged  laterally  with  dull  light 
ferruginous;  those  of  the  back,  rump,  the  upper  tail  coverts,  scapulars  and  wing 
coverts  bordered  with  the  same;  scapulars  and  rump  showing  large,  partially 
exposed,  roundish  spots  of  pure  white.  Tail  as  in  adult.  Sides  of  the  head 
and  neck  strongly  streaked,  a  broad  lighter  supraloral  stripe  apparent.  Beneath 
white,  with  a  slight  ochraceous  tinge;  cheeks,  throat  and  jugulum  with  fine 
narrow  streaks  of  dusky  brown;  breast,,sides  and  abdomen  with  broader  longi- 
tudinal stripes  of  clear  umber  (less  slaty  than  the  back),  each  with  a  darker 
shaft  line;  on  the  flanks  the  stripes  are  more  oval;  tibia?  more  dingy,  markings 
fainter  and  somewhat  transverse;  anal  region  and  lower  tail  coverts  immaculate 
white.  Young  female:  Similar  in  general  appearance  to  the  young  male.  Mark- 
Ings  beneath  broader,  and  slightly  sagittate  in  form,  becoming  more  transverse 
on  the  flanks;  paler  and  more  reddish  than  in  the  young  male;  tibia?  with  brown- 
ish rufous  prevailing,  this  in  form  of  broad  transverse  spots." 

Stretch  of 
Length.          wing.          Wing.  Tail.         Tarsus.         Bill.  Cere. 

Male 11.00         22.00  6.75        5.50          1.90          .40          .25 

Female...      13.50         25.50          8.50        6.75         2.00          .45          .25 

Iris  yellow;  bill  horn  blue;  cere  greenish  yellow;  legs  and 
feet  yellow;  claws  black. 

This  spirited  little  Hawk  is  one  of  the  best  known,  and  one 
of  the  most  destructive  birds  of  the  family.  On  the  wing,  in 
the  chase,  it  is  swift  as  an  arrow,  and  strikes  its  prey  readily  in 
the  air,  upon  the  ground,  or  the  perch,  often  dashing  into  a 
thicket  and  capturing  little  birds  in  their  supposed  safe  retreats. 
They  are  especially  destructive  to  the  sparrows  that  gather  late 
in  the  fall  and  winter  in  flocks  about  the  thickets  and  hedges, 
apparently  killing  not  only  to  satisfy  hunger,  but  for  pure  "cus- 
sedness."  The  little  fellows  are  as  brave  as  they  are  dashing, 
often  striking  and  killing  birds  much  larger  than  themselves. 
They  also  feed  upon  mice  and  other  small  quadrupeds,  lizards 
and  insects;  but  the  killing  of  small  birds  appears  to  be  their 


256  HISTORY  OF  THE 

chief  delight.      I  admire  their  courage  aud  dash,  but  cannot  find 
it  in  my  heart  to  say  one  word  in  their  favor. 

Their  nests  are  occasionally  placed  on  rocky  cliffs,  but  usually 
in  trees,  often  in  the  tops  of  the  tallest.  At  Digby,  Nova 
Scotia,  I  found  a  pair  nesting  in  a  hemlock  at  least  eighty  feet 
from  the  ground.  Their  nests  are  composed  of  sticks  and 
twigs,  and  lined  with  a  few  dry  leaves,  strips  of  bark  and  grasses. 
Eggs  usually  three  or  four.  They  vary  in  form  and  size.  A 
set  of  four  eggs,  collected  at  Kingston,  Mass.,  June  3d,  1875, 
from  a  nest  in  a  cedar,  thirty  feet  from  the  ground,  measure: 
1.39x1.13,  1.42x1.15,  1.38x1.14,  1.37x1.17.  The  ground 
color  varies  from  a  pale  greenish  to  a  bluish  white,  beautifully 
marked  with  spots  and  confluent  blotches  of  varying  shades  of 
umber  to  dark  brown;  in  form,  rather  roundish. 

Accipiter  cooperi  (BOXAP.). 

COOPER'S  HAWK. 
PLATE  XV. 

Resident;  common  in  summer.     Begin  laying  early  in  May. 

B.  15,     16.     K.  431.     C.  495.     G.  200,     117.     U.  333. 

HABITAT.  The  whole  of  temperate  North  America;  south 
into  southern  Mexico.  They  breed  in  suitable  localities  through- 
out the  United  States. 

SP.  CHAB.  "Adult  male:  Forehead,  crown  and  occiput  blackish  plumbeous, 
the  latter  snowy  white  beneath  the  surface;  rest  of  upper  parts  slaty  plumbeous, 
the  nape  abruptly  lighter  than  the  occiput;  feathers  of  the  nape,  back,  scapulars 
and  rump  with  darker  shaft  lines;  scapulars  with  concealed  cordate  and  circular 
spots  of  white;  upper  tail  coverts  sharply  tipped  with  white.  Tail  more  brown- 
ish than  the  rump,  sharply  tipped  with  pure  white  and  crossed  with  three  broad, 
sharply-defined  bands  of  black,  the  first  of  which  is  concealed,  the  last  much 
broadest;  that  portion  of  the  shaft  between  the  two  exposed  black  bands  white. 
Lores  grayish;  cheeks  and  throat  white,  with  fine,  hair-like  shaft  streaks  of  black- 
ish; ear  coverts  and  sides  of  neck  more  ashy  and  more  faintly  streaked.  Ground 
color  beneath  pure  white,  but  with  detached  transverse  bars  of  rich  vinaceous 
rufous  crossing  the  breast,  jugulum,  sides,  flanks,  abdomen  and  tibiae;  the  white 
bars  everywhere  (except  on  sides  of  the  breast )  rather  exceeding  the  rufous  in 
width;  all  the  feathers  (except  tibial  plumes)  with  distinct  black  shaft  lines; 
lower  tail  coverts  immaculate  pure  white.  Lining  of  the  wing  white,  with 
numerous  cordate  spots  of  rufous;  coverts  with  transverse  blackish  bars;  under 
side  of  primaries  silvery  white,  purest  basally  (tips  dusky),  crossed  with  cordate 
bars  of  dusky,  of  which  there  are  six  ( the  first  only  indicated )  upon  the  longest 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  257 

quill  (fourth).  Fourth  quill  longest;  third  shorter  than  the  fifth;  second  inter- 
mediate between  sixth  and  seventh;  first  2.80  shorter  than  the  longest;  gradua- 
tion of  tail  1.00.  Adult  female:  Similar  to  the  male.  Forehead  tinged  with 
brownish;  upper  plumage  much  less  bluish.  Neck  and  ear  coverts  uniformly 
rufous,  with  black  shaft  streaks,  there  being  no  ashy  wash  as  in  the  male.  Tail 
decidedly  less  bluish  than  in  the  male,  crossed  with  four  bands,  three  of  which 
are  exposed.  The  rufous  bars  beneath  less  vinaceous  than  in  the  male,  but  of 
about  the  same  amount,  rather  predominating  on  the  tibiae.  Fourth  and  fifth 
quills  longest  and  equal;  third  longer  than  sixth;  second  intermediate  between 
sixth  and  seventh;  first  three  inches  shorter  than  longest.  Young  maie:  Above, 
grayish  umber;  feathers  of  forehead,  crown  and  nape  faintly  edged  laterally 
with  pale  rusty;  occiput  unvaried  blackish,  feathers  white  beneath  the  surface. 
Wing  coverts,  scapulars  and  interscapulars  narrowly  bordered  with  pale  yellow- 
ish umber;  rump  and  upper  tail  coverts  bordered  with  rusty.  Tail  paler  umber 
than  the  back,  narrowly  tipped  with  white,  and  crossed  by  four  bands  of  brownish 
black,  the  first  of  which  is  only  partially  concealed.  Scapulars  and  upper  tail 
coverts  showing  much  concealed  white,  in  form  of  roundish  spots,  on  both  webs. 
Beneath,  clear  white,  without  any  yellowish  tinge;  throat  with  a  medial  and  lat- 
eral series  of  clear  dark  brown  streaks;  jugulum,  breast,  sides,  flanks  and  abdo- 
men with  numerous  stripes  of  clear  sepia,  each  showing  a  darker  shaft  streak; 
tibiae  with  longitudinal  streaks  of  paler  and  more  rusty  brown;  lower  tail  coverts 
immaculate.  Young  female:  Similar  to  young  male;  more  varied,  however. 
The  black  middle  streaks  of  feathers  of  head  above  narrower,  causing  more 
conspicuous  streaks;  white  spots  of  scapular  region  considerably  exposed;  longi- 
tudinal stripe  beneath  narrower  and  more  sparse." 

Stretch  of 
Length.         wing.          Wing.          Tail.         Tarsus.        Bill.          Cere. 

Male 17.50         31.25         9.00         8.50        2.65         .65          .30 

Female...     20.00        34.50       10.50        9.50        2.75         .80         .30 

Iris  bright  yellow;  bill  and  claws  bluish  black,  light  at  base; 
cere  greenish;  legs  and  feet  greenish  yellow. 

The  birds  are  quite  common  in  the  Southern  and  Middle 
States,  but  rather  rare  northward,  where  they  are  only  summer 
residents.  They  frequent  the  woodlands  and  groves  skirting 
our  prairie  streams.  A  dashing,  courageous  bird,  with  the  gen- 
eral make-up  and  actions  of  the  Sharp-shinned,  but  they  are  not 
as  destructive,  killing  only  to  satisfy  hunger.  Their  ordinary 
flight  is  a  quick  flapping  of  the  wings,  relieved  occasionally  by 
sailing.  Their  slender  build  and  long,  rudder-like  tail  enables 
them  to  swiftly  wind  their  way  through  the  trees  and  to  snatch 
a  squirrel  or  lizard  from  the  branches  with  as  much  apparent 
ease  as  they  swoop  down  upon  their  prey  in  the  open  lands. 
Rabbits,  mice,  small  birds,  Bob-whites  and  Ducks  help  to  make 

—17 


258  HISTORY  OF  THE 

up  their  bill  of  fare.  They  often  boldly  enter  the  dooryard, 
where  I  saw  one  of  the  birds  strike  a  hen,  while  in  defense  of 
her  brood,  with  a  force  that  killed  her,  and  then  grasp  in  its 
claws  a  half-grown  chicken  and  triumphantly  carry  it  away. 

Their  nests  are  placed  in  the  forks  of  medium-sized  trees,  from 
twenty -five  to  fifty  feet  from  the  ground;  made  of  sticks  and 
twigs,  and  lined  sparingly  with  grass  and  leaves.  Eggs  usually 
four,  1.94x1.54;  pale  bluish  white;  occasionally  eggs  will  show 
faint  blotches  of  lilac  to  yellowish  brown,  especially  about  the 
larger  end;  in  form,  rounded  oval. 

SUBGENTTS   ASTUR   LACEPEDE. 

"More  than  one-third  (about  one-half)  of  the  upper  portion  of  the  tarsus 
feathered  in  front,  the  feathering  scarcely  separated  behind;  frontal  transverse 
scutellse  of  the  tarsus  and  toes  interrupted  in  the  region  of  the  digito-tarsal 
joint,  where  replaced  by  irregular  small  scales.  Tarsal  scutellse  uever  fused." 

Accipiter  atricapillus  (WILS.). 

AMERICAN  GOSHAWK. 
PLATE  XV. 

A  rare  winter  visitant. 

B.  14.     R.  433.     C.  496.     G.  202,     118.     U.  334. 

HABITAT.  Northern  and  eastern  North  America;  west  to  and 
including  the  Rocky  Mountains;  breeding  chiefly  north  of  the 
United  States. 

SP.  CHAR.  Adult:  Above,  including  whole  back,  clear  bluish  gray,  or  plum- 
beous, with  blackish  shaft  streaks;  top  of  head  deep  black,  the  feathers  pure 
white  beneath  the  surface;  tail  bluish  gray,  crossed  by  about  four  dusky  bands, 
these  sometimes  nearly  obsolete  on  upper  surface;  lower  parts  white,  the  breast, 
belly,  sides  and  flanks  thickly  zigzagged  or  irregularly  barred  with  slaty  gray- 
ish, the  feathers,  especially  on  the  breast,  often  with  dusky  mesial  streaks. 
Young:  Above,  dusky  grayish  brown,  more  or  less  spotted  with  pale  buff  or 
whitish,  the  feathers  margined  with  buff,  those  of  head  and  neck  edged  or 
streaked  with  same;  tail  light  grayish  brown,  narrowly  tipped  with  white,  and 
crossed  by  four  distinct  bauds  of  dusky,  with  a  fifth  less  strongly  marked,  con- 
cealed by  upper  coverts;  lower  parts  whitish  or  pale  buff,  with  distinct  narrow 
stripes  of  blackish,  these  more  tear  shaped  on  belly,  broader  and  more  spot-like 
on  sides  and  flanks.  (Ridgway.) 

Stretch  of 
Length,          wing.      '    Wing.         Tail.          Tarsus.          Bill.  Cere. 

Male 21.00         42.00        12.75        9.40         2.85  .75  .45 

Female..        22.50         44.50        14.00      11.50         2.95  .80  .45 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  259 

Iris  brownish  to  reddish  orange;  bill  black,  bluish  at  base; 
cere  slate  color;  legs  and  feet  yellow;  claws  black,  occasionally 
a  white  claw. 

These  birds  do  not  appear  to  be  very  abundant  anywhere,  but 
are  found  in  greater  numbers  in  the  northern  and  eastern  portion 
of  their  range.  In  the  winter  and  spring  of  1880,  while  col- 
lecting in  Nova  Scotia,  I  met  with  them  quite  often.  They 
are  generally  known  as  the  "Blue  Hen  Hawk."  In  actions 
and  habits  they  are  very  similar  to  Cooper's  Hawk,  but  rather 
more  arboreal.  A  stout  built  bird,  that  readily  kills  the  largest 
Ducks  and  fowls,  and  strong  enough  on  the  wing  to  carry  off  a 
bird  of  its  own  weight.  Their  appearance  strikes  terror  among 
the  barnyard  fowls  and  Doves. 

Their  nests  are  placed  in  tall  trees.  They  are  composed  of 
sticks,  withered  twigs  and  weeds,  and  lined  with  fibrous  strip- 
pings  from  bark  and  grasses.  Eggs  usually  two  or  three,  2.30x 
1.75;  bluish  white;  sometimes  with  obscure  markings  of  reddish 
brown;  in  form,  rounded  oval. 

GENUS  BUTEO  CUVTEB. 

"Form  robust  and  heavy,  the  wings  long,  and  rather  pointed,  the  tail  mod- 
erate and  rounded,  the  bill  and  feet  strong.  Bill  intermediate  between  that  of 
Axtur  and  that  of  Parabuteo.  Wing  long  and  rather  pointed,  the  third  to  fifth 
quill  longest,  the  first  shorter  than  eighth;  three  to  four  with  inner  webs  emar- 
giuated;  tail  moderate,  slightly  rounded." 

Buteo  borealis   (GMEL.). 

BED-TAILED  HAWK. 
PLATE  XVI. 

Resident;  common.     Begin  laying  the  last  of  February. 

B.  23.     R.  436.     C.  516.     G.  203,     119.     U.  837. 

HABITAT.     Eastern  North  America;  west  to  the  Great  Plains. 

SP.  CHAB.  "Four  outermost  quills  with  inner  webs  distinctly  emarginate. 
Adult:  Upper  parts  rich  blackish  brown,  approaching  black  on  the  back;  scapu- 
lars and  middle  wing  coverts  edged  and  barred  beneath  the  surface  with  dull 
white,  and  tinged  along  the  edges  with  ochraceous.  Wings  generally  of  a  paler 
shade  than  the  back;  secondaries  fading  into  nearly  white  at  tips,  and  with 
the  greater  coverts  obscurely  barred  with  darker;  primaries  nearly  black,  tips 
edged  with  paler  brown,  this  passing  into  whitish;  rump  uniform  blackish 
brown,  feathers  obscurely  bordered  with  rusty.  Upper  tail  coverts  ochraceous 
white,  nearly  pure  terminally,  aud  with  about  two  distinct  transverse  bars  of 


260  HISTORY  OF   TUB 

deep  rufous;  tail  rich  uniform  lateritious  rufous,  passing  narrowly  into  white 
at  the  tip,  and  about  an  inch  (or  less)  from  the  end  crossed  by  a  narrow  band 
of  black.  Head  and  neck  with  the  feathers  medially  blackish  brown,  their 
edges  rusty  rufous,  causing  a  streaked  appearance;  the  rufous  prevailing  on  the 
sides  of  the  occiput,  the  ear  coverts  and  neck.  The  blackish  almost  uniform 
on  the  forehead  and  on  the  cheeks,  over  which  it  forms  a  broad  '  mustache; ' 
lores  and  sides  of  frontlet  whitish;  throat  white,  with  broad  stripes  of  pure 
slaty  brown;  lower  parts  in  general  ochraceous  white;  tibise  and  lower  tail  cov- 
erts immaculate;  across  the  abdomen  and  flanks  (immediately  in  front  of  the 
tibise)  is  a  broad  interrupted  belt  of  longitudinal  black  blotches,  those  on  the 
abdomen  tear  shaped;  on  the  flanks  larger  and  more  irregular,  throwing  off 
bars  toward  the  edge  of  the  feathers;  whole  pectoral  area  variegated  only  with 
a  few  shaft  streaks  of  black  ( these  growing  broader  laterally),  and  sometimes 
washed  with  rusty.  Lining  of  the  wing  ochraceous  white,  with  sparse  diamond- 
shaped  spots  of  pale  rufous,  and  shaft  streaks  of  darker;  under  surface  of  pri- 
maries white  anterior  to  their  emargiuation,  beyond  which  they  gradually  deepen 
into  black;  the  innermost  ones  are  finely  mottled  with  slaty,  and  with  imper. 
feet  transverse  bars  of  the  same.  Young:  Above  similar  to  the  adult,  but  lack- 
ing entirely  any  rufous  tinge,  the  scapulars  and  wing  coverts  more  variegated 
with  whitish.  Tail  light  grayish  brown  (very  much  lighter  than  the  rump), 
tinged,  especially  basally,  with  rufous,  narrowly  tipped  with  white,  and  crossed 
with  nine  or  ten  narrow,  curved  bands  of  black;  upper  tail  coverts  white,  with 
broad  bars  of  black.  Head  as  in  the  adult,  but  the  rufous  wanting,  leaving  the 
streaks  black  and  white;  forehead  more  broadly  white;  chin  and  throat  wholly 
white,  the  latter  with  a  collar  of  dusky  streaks  across  the  lower  part;  whole 
pectoral  region  entirely  immaculate  pure  white;  abdominal  baud  as  in  the  adult; 
tibiae  somewhat  tinged  with  ochraceous,  un variegated." 

Stretch  of 
Length,         wing.  Wing.          Tail.        Tarsus.        Bill.  Cere. 

Male 21.50         49.00        15.25        9.00         3.10         1.00          .50 

Female...     23.50        53.00       17.00       9.75        3.20        1.10         .50 

Iris  of  adult  brown,  of  young  yellowish;  bill  horn  blue;  cere 
greenish  yellow;  legs  and  feet  light  yellow;  claws  bluish  black. 

This  large,  muscular  Hawk  is  rather  evenly  distributed 
throughout  its  range  in  the  United  States,  and  northward.  In 
habits  it  is  rather  sluggish,  feeding  chiefly  upon  rabbits,  mice 
and  moles,  which  it  occasionally  swoops  down  upon  from  the 
air,  but  generally  from  a  perch,  where  it  patiently  watches  for 
its  prey.  It  now  and  then  drops  upon  a  Duck,  Bob-white,  or 
stray  fowl  from  the  yard,  but  is  not  quick  enough  to  catch  the 
smaller  birds,  and  never  gives  chase  after  a  bird  on  the  wing. 
It  has  not  the  courage  or  dash  to  venture  within  the  dooryard, 
unless  in  a  secluded  place.  I  know  the  farmer  generally  looks 
upon  them  as  an  enemy,  but  after  a  careful  study  of  their  habits^ 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  201 

and  an  examination  of  many  of  their  stomachs,  I  have  reached 
the  conclusion  that  they  are  far  more  beneficial  than  injurious, 
in  fact,  one  of  his  best  friends.  In  flight  they  are  slow,  but 
steady  and  strong,  with  a  regular  beat  of  the  wings;  they  also 
delight  to  sail  in  the  air,  where  they  float  lightly,  and  with 
scarcely  an  apparent  motion  of  the  wings,  often  circling  to  a 
great  height;  and  during  the  insect  season,  while  thus  sailing, 
often  fill  their  craws  with  grasshoppers,  that  during  the  after 
part  of  the  day  also  enjoy  a  sail  in  the  air. 

Their  nests  are  placed  in  the  forks  of  the  branches  of  the 
tallest  trees  on  the  timbered  bottom  lands;  a  bulky  structure, 
made  of  sticks,  and  lined  sparingly  with  grass,  leaves  and  a  few 
feathers.  Eggs  two  to  four,  usually  two  or  three,  2.30x1.84; 
bluish  white,  thinly  and  irregularly  spotted  and  blotched  with 
various  shades  of  light  to  dark  brown;  in  form,  elliptical  to 
oval. 

Buteo  borealis  kriderii  HOOPES. 

KRIDER'S  HAWK. 
PLATE  XVI. 

I  have  a  female  in  the  "Goss  Ornithological  Collection,"  that 
I  shot  near  Wallace,  Kansas,  and  I  have  since  met  with  the  birds  in 
the  western  part  of  the  State,  where  they  no  doubt  occasionally 

breed. 

B.  .     R.  436a.     C.  519.     G. ,     120.     U.  337a. 

HABITAT.  The  Great  Plains,  from  Minnesota  to  southern  Texas; 
east  casually  to  Illinois  and  Iowa. 

SP.  CHAE.  "Adult:  Similar  to  B.  borealis,  but  beneath  continuous  pure  white, 
•without  rufous  tinge,  and  without  distinct  spots  across  the  abdomen,  or  lacking 
them  entirely;  above  much  lighter,  the  brown,  light  rufous  and  white  being 
about  equal  in  amount.  Upper  tail  coverts  immaculate  white;  tail  pale  rufous, 
the  shafts  pure  white,  and  the  webs  mixed  with  white  along  their  edges,  its 
amount  increasing  toward  the  base;  no  trace  of  a  dusky  terminal  bar,  or  else 
only  indicated  by  badly-defined  spots.  Young:  Differing  from  that  of  B.  bore- 
alis in  the  immaculate  snowy  white  lower  parts,  nearly  equal  extent  of  the 
white  and  dusky  on  the  upper  parts,  and  whitish  cast  of  the  tail." 

Stretch  of 
Length.         wing.  Wing.  Tail.       Tarsus.       Bill.        Cere. 

Male 21.50         50.00         15.25  9.50        3.10        1.00        .50 

Female..         23.50         53.25         16.75         10.00       3.20        1.10       .55 


262  HISTORY  OF  THE 

My  notes  all  show  the  iris  to  be  yellowish  white,  to  light  red- 
dish brown;  bill  and  claws  dark  horn  blue,  pale  at  base;  cere 
greenish;  legs  and  feet  dull  yellow;  claws  black. 

This  bleached  variety  of  the  Red-tailed  Hawk  does  not  appear 
to  differ  from  the  same  in  actions  or  habits.  Eggs,  according 
to  Eidgway,  2.31x1.80. 

Buteo  borealis  calurus  (CASS.). 

WESTERN  RED-TAIL. 
PLATE  XVI. 

Irregular  winter  sojourner;  at  times,  quite  common.  I  have 
never  noticed  the  birds  in  the  State  during  the  summer  months. 
They  begin  to  arrive,  generally,  the  last  of  October,  and  leave  by 
the  last  of  March. 

B.  20,     24.     K.  436J.     C.  517.     G.  204,     121.     U.  337&. 

HABITAT.  Western  North  America:  south  into  Mexico;  east 
to  Kansas;  casually  to  Illinois. 

SP.  CHAB.  Plumage  often  chiefly  blackish  (sometimes  entirely  sooty),  ex- 
cept tail  and  its  upper  coverts.  Adult:  Varying,  individually,  from  a  light  extreme 
which  is  scarcely  distinguishable  from  true  B.  borealis  to  a  uniform  dark  sooty 
brown,  through  every  conceivable  intermediate  plumage;  some  melanistic  speci- 
mens have  the  whole  chest  and  breast  rusty  or  rufous  (corresponding  to  the 
white  area  of  very  light  colored  birds),  but  this  is  wholly  obliterated  in  the  com- 
plete melanism.  Young:  Darker  throughout  and  more  heavily  spotted  beneath 
than  in  true  B.  borealis,  the  plumage  sometimes  wholly  dusky  (except  the  tail ), 
as  in  the  adult.  Tail  of  adult  always  with  a  black  subterminal  bar,  and  fre- 
quently with  several  more  or  less  complete  additional  bars.  (Ridgway.) 

Stretch  of 
Length.         wing.          Wing.  Tail.         Tarsus.        Bill.  Cere. 

Male 19.50         48.50        15.25        8.50         3.10         1.00  .50 

Female...      22.00         51.00        16.50        9.50         3.20         1.10          .55 

Iris  brown;  bill  horn  blue;  cere  greenish  yellow;  legs  and  feet 
yellow;  claws  black. 

This  dark  Western  race  does  not  appear  to  differ  in  habits 
from  the  Eastern  bird.  A  set  of  four  eggs,  collected  May  21st, 
1878,  in  Santa  Barbara  county,  California,  from  a  nest  in  a  pop- 
lar tree,  about  thirty  feet  from  the  ground,  measure:  2.23x1. 8G, 
2.31x1.84,  2.36x1.84,  2.39x1.87;  ground  color  dull  bluish  to 
cream  white,  irregularly  spotted  and  blotched  with  pale  to  dark 
vandyke  brown,  mixed  with  markings  of  light  purple  brown, 
all  rather  oblong  in  shape,  and  running  lengthwise  on  the  egg; 
in  form,  oval. 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  263 

Buteo  borealis  harlani  RIDGW. 

HARLAN'S  HAWK. 
PLATE  XVI. 

A  rare  visitant.  The  first  specimen  collected  in  the  State  is 
in  the  State  University.  In  the  "Goss  Ornithological  Collec- 
tion" I  have  three  of  the  birds,  out  of  four  killed  at  Neosho 
Falls.  I  arn  inclined  to  think  that  I  have  seen  others,  but  at  a 
distance  they  so  closely  resemble  the  dark  phase  of  the  Western 
Red-tail,  that  I  am  not  certain. 

B.  22.     R.  438.     C.  515.     G.  205,     122.     TJ.  838. 

HABITAT.  As  given  in  the  A.  O.  TJ.  Check  List,  "Kansas, 
Louisiana  and  Texas;  south  to  Central  America;  casually  in 
southern  Illinois  and  Pennsylvania."  The  birds  taken  in  Kan- 
sas were  all  captured  during  the  winter  and  spring  months, 
which  leads  me  to  think  their  range  extends  much  farther  north 
than  given. 

SP.  CHAR.  Outer  webs  of  quills  grayish  brown,  marked  with  quadrate  dusky 
spots,  producing  bands;  bare  portion  of  tarsus  in  front  less  than  2.00.  Middle 
toe  usually  more  than  1.60  (minimum  1.50,  maximum  1.95);  tail  of  adult  usually 
with  much  of  rufous,  with  or  without  darker  bands;  young  with  tail  grayish 
brown,  crossed  by  nine  or  ten  distinct  narrow  bands  of  dusky.  Head  and  neck 
uniform  dark  sooty  brown  or  blackish,  or  else  streaked  with  white  (very  rarely, 
if  ever,  streaked  with  buffy  or  ochraceous.)  Adult:  Tail  confusedly  or  irregu- 
larly mottled  with  grayish,  rusty  white  and  dusky,  either  color  predominating 
(except  the  last)  according  to  the  individual,  crossed  near  end  by  a  more  or  less 
distinct  subterminal  band,  and  tipped  with  whitish;  upper  parts  chiefly  (some- 
times entirely)  dark  sooty  brown  or  blackish  (varying  to  deep  black);  lower 
parts  varying  from  entirely  deep  sooty  brown  or  black  to  pure  white,  but,  If  the 
latter,  always  more  or  less  streaked  and  spotted,  especially  across  belly  and  on 
sides  of  breast,  with  dusky.  Young:  Tail  banded  with  grayish  brown  and 
dusky,  the  two  colors  of  about  equal  extent;  otherwise  much  like  adult.  (Ridg- 
way.) 

Stretch  of 
Length.          -wing.  Wing.         Tail.         Tarsus.          Bill.          Cere. 

Male 21.00         48.50        15.00        8.75         3.00         1.00         .45 

Female...     22.00         52.00        16.25        9.50         3.20         1.10         .45 

Iris  brown;  bill  horn  blue;  cere  greenish  yellow;  legs  and 
feet  yellow;  claws  black. 

This  bird,  formerly  entered  as  a  species  (B.  harlani},  is  now 
regarded  as  a  geographical  color  phase  of  B.  borealis,  and  will 
stand  in  the  next  supplement  to  the  A.  O.  U.  Check  List  as 
above  named. 


264  HISTORY  OF  THE 

Audubon  was  the  first  to  discover  this  bird,  and  he  speaks  of 
it  as  superior  in  flight  and  more  daring  than  the  Red-tailed 
Hawk;  but  from  my  limited  observation  it  does  not  appear  to 
differ  either  in  flight,  actions  or  habits.  In  the  craws  and  stom- 
achs of  the  four  killed  at  Neosho  Falls,  I  did  not  find  a  feather. 
They  were  chiefly  filled  with  the  remains  of  rabbits.  Its  nest 
and  eggs  are  unknown. 

Buteo  lineatus  (GMEL.). 

RED-SHOULDERED  HAWK. 
PLATE  XVI. 

Resident;  common  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  State.  Begin 
laying  in  March. 

B.  25.     R.  439.     C.  520.     G.  206,     123.     U.  339. 

HABITAT.  Eastern  North  America;  north  to  Nova  Scotia 
and  Manitoba;  west  to  the  edge  of  the  Great  Plains;  south  to 
the  Gulf  coast. 

SP.  CIIAB.  Outer  webs  of  primaries  distinctly  spotted  with  white,  buffy  or 
ochraceons;  tail  uarrowly  banded  with  white,  buffy  or  ochraceous,  lesser  wing 
coverts  more  or  less  rusty.  Adult:  Head,  neck  and  lower  parts  more  or  less 
rusty,  or  cinnamon,  the  first  two  streaked  with  dusky,  the  posterior  lower 
parts  more  or  less  barred  or  transversely  spotted  with  whitish;  quills  and  tail 
black,  the  former  spotted  on  outer  webs  with  white,  the  latter  crossed  by  about 
six  nairow  bauds  of  and  tipped  with  the  same.  Young:  Head,  neck  and  lower 
parts  buffy  or  dull  whitish,  streaked  and  striped  or  longitudinally  spotted  with 
dark  brownish;  quills  and  tail  dusky,  the  former  extensively  spotted  on  basal 
portion  of  outer  webs  with  buffy  or  ochraceous,  the  latter  crossed  by  numerous 
narrow  bands  of  dull  buffy  or  pale  grayish  brown  ( the  more  anterior  ones  more 
ochraceous).  Downy  young:  Uniform  dull  grayish  white.  Adult  with  head 
and  neck  distinctly  rusty;  rufous  or  rusty  of  anterior  lower  parts  (chest  and 
breast)  usually  distinctly  barred  or  transversely  spotted  with  white.  Young: 
Lower  parts  usually  with  whitish  predominating,  and  basal  half  of  outer  webs 
of  quills  extensively  ochraceous,  buffy  or  whitish.  (Ridgway.) 

Stretch  of 
Length.  wing.         Wing.         Tail.          Tarsus.         Bill.  Cere. 

Male 18.50         39.00       12.50       8.50          3.10          .80  .45 

Female...       21.00         43.00       13.60       9.25          3.20          .90  .50 

Iris  brown;  bill  and  claws  dark  horn  blue;  light  at  base; 
cere,  legs  and  feet  dark  yellowish  green. 

This  robust  species  inhabits  the  woodlands,  where  it  feeds 
chiefly  upon  squirrels,  rabbits,  mice,  moles,  lizards,  etc.  It 
occasionally  drops  upon  an  unlucky  Duck  or  Bob-white,  but  is 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  265 

not  quick  enough  to  catch  the  smaller  birds.  It  is  also  quite 
destructive  to  domestic  fowls  raised  in  or  near  the  timber,  but 
does  not  appear  to  search  for  food  far  away  from  its  natural 
haunts.  These  birds  are  very  noisy,  and  during  the  early  breed- 
ing season  their  loud,  harsh  "Kee-oo"  is  heard  from  the  perch 
and  while  in  the  air,  often  keeping  up  the  cry  for  a  long  time 
without  intermission. 

In  flight  their  movements  are  similar  to  the  Red-tailed.  They 
seem  to  be  greatly  attached  to  the  grounds  selected  for  a  home, 
and  vigilantly  guard  the  same, .  not  allowing  a  bird  of  prey  to 
forage  within  their  claimed  limits;  they  also  nest  for  years  in 
the  same  tree.  I  collected  at  Keosho  Falls,  Kansas,  for  several 
successive  years,  a  set  of  their  eggs  from  a  nest  in  the  forks  of 
a  medium-sized  oak.  In  about  nine  days  after  each  robbery, 
the  birds  would  commence  laying  again,  and  I  allowed  them  to 
hatch  and  rear  their  young.  One  winter  during  my  absence 
the  tree  was  cut  down;  this  did  not  discourage  the  birds  or 
cause  them  to  forsake  the  place,  for,  on  the  approach  of  spring, 
I  found  them  building  a  nest  not  over  ten  rods  from  the  old 
one,  but  this  time  in  a  large  sycamore,  and  beyond  our  reach. 
The  birds  both  assist  in  hatching  and  rearing  the  young,  the 
males  being  fully  as  attentive  as  their  mates. 

Their  nests  are  placed  in  the  forks  of  branches  of  medium 
sized  trees,  twenty  to  fifty  feet  from  the  ground,  composed  of 
sticks  and  twigs,  and  sparingly  lined  with  soft  shippings  of  bark, 
leaves,  and  a  few  feathers.  Eggs  three  or  four,  2.20x1.70; 
bluish  white,  irregularly  spotted  and  blotched  with  varying 
shades  of  light  to  dark  reddish  brown;  varying  in  form  from 
subsperical  to  oval. 

Buteo  swainsoni  BONAP. 

SWAINSON'S  HAWK. 
PLATE  XVII. 

Resident;  rare  in  eastern,  common  in  the  middle  and  western 
portions  of  the  State.  Begin  laying  about  the  middle  of  May. 

B.  18,     19,     21,     28.     R.  442.     C.  523.     G.  207,     124.     U.  342. 

HABITAT.  Western  North  America;  east  to  Arkansas,  Illinois 
and  Wisconsin  (casually  to  Massachusetts);  north  to  the  Arctic 


266  HISTORY  OF  THE 

regions;   south  through  the  greater  part  of  South  America  to 
Argentine  Republic. 

SP.  CHAR.  Only  three  quills  with  inner  webs  distinctly  emarginated.  Tail 
grayish  brown,  or  brownish  gray,  sometimes  with  a  hoary  tinge,  crossed  by  an 
indefinite  number  (about  nine  or  ten)  of  narrow  dusky  bands,  which  toward  base 
of  tail  become  gradually  indistinct  and  finally  obsolete.  Adult  male,  normal 
plumage:  Above,  nearly  uniform  grayish  brown;  forehead,  chin  and  throat 
white,  usually  abruptly  defined,  and  forming  a  distinct  patch;  chest  and  upper 
part  of  breast  usually  plain  rufous  or  cinnamon  (rarely  mixed  or  broken  with 
whitish);  rest  of  lower  parts  buffy  whitish,  sometimes  immaculate,  but  usually 
more  or  less  barred  or  spotted  with  brownish.  Adult  female,  normal  plumage: 
Similar  to  the  male,  but  chest  patch  grayish  browii  instead  of  rufous  or  cinna- 
mon. Melanistic  phase,  both  sexes:  Whole  plumage  uniform  sooty  brown,  the 
under  tail  coverts  sometimes  spotted  or  barred  with  rusty  or  whitish.*  Young: 
Tail  as  in  the  adult;  above,  blackish  brown,  varied  with  buffy  or  ochraceous;  head, 
ueck  and  lower  parts  creamy  buff  (deeper  on  younger,  paler  in  older  individ- 
uals), the  lower  parts  usually  more  or  less  spotted  with  blackish,  the  head  and 
neck  streaked  with  the  same.  (Ridgicay.) 

Stretch  of 
Length.  wing.  Wing.  Tail.         Tarsus.        Bill.          Cere. 

Male 19.00         48.50         15.00         8.00         2.55         .85         .50 

Female...      21.00         52.00         16.00         9.00         2.75         .95         .52 

Iris  brown;  bill  and  claws  black;  cere,  legs  and  feet  greenish 
yellow. 

This  is  one  of  the  most  common  and  harmless  of  the  genus 
Buteo  upon  our  western  prairies.  They  seldom  venture  near 
the  habitations  of  man,  appearing  to  prefer  the  uncultivated 
fields,  and  are  at  home  upon  the  wild  prairies  and  plains,  where 
they  put  in  a  large  share  of  their  time  perched  upon  a  slight 
elevation  patiently  watching  for  rabbits,  gophers,  mice,  lizards, 
young  birds,  etc.,  or  in  the  air  coursing  over  the  prairies,  filling 
up  as  they  go  with  the  grasshoppers  that  take  their  afternoon 
airing.  Occasionally  a  full-grown  bird  is  taken  by  surprise,  but 
they  are  not  swift  enough  to  catch  in  the  chase.  I  have  on 
several  occasions  seen  them  swoop  down  for  a  Meadowlark, 
but  each  time  the  frightened  bird  escaped.  Their  manner  of 
flight  is  similar  to  the  Red-tailed,  and,  although  a  more  slender 
bird,  do  not  seem  to  be  quicker  in  actions. 

Their  nests  vary  in  height,  from  the  shrubby  bushes  of  the 
plains  to  the  high  trees  in  the  timber;  a  bulky  nest,  constructed 

*  In  different  individuals  may  be  seen  every  possible  intermediate  condition  of  plumage  be- 
tween this  complete  melanism  and  the  light  colored  normal  plumage  described  above. 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  267 

of  sticks  and  twigs,  and  scantily  lined  with  a  few  weeds  or 
grasses.  Eggs  three  to  five,  2.25x1.75;  dull  bluish  white;  vary 
greatly  in  markings,  some  thinly  and  rather  evenly  specked  and 
spotted,  others  with  irregular  blotches  and  splashes  of  faint  to 
dark  reddish  brown  and  a  few  stains  of  purple;  in  form,  rounded 
oval. 

Buteo  latissimus  (WiL.s.). 

BROAD- WINGED  HAWK. 
PLATE  XVII. 

A  summer  resident  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  State;  rare. 
Arrive  about  the  first  of  April;  leave  by  the  first  of  November 
(at  least  I  have  not  seen  them  later). 

B.  27.     E.  443.     C.  524.     G.  208,     125.     U.  343, 

HABITAT.  Eastern  North  America;  north  to  New  Brunswick 
and  western  Manitoba;  west  to  the  edge  of  the  Great  Plains; 
south  in  winter  to  northern  South  America. 

SP.  CHAK.  "Only  three  outer  quills  with  inner  webs  emarginate.  Adult: 
Upper  surface  dark  umber  brown,  the  feathers  gradually  paler  toward  edges; 
on  the  back  the  feathers  are  more  uniform  dusky,  causing  a  prevalent  blackish 
appearance;  rump  and  upper  tail  coverts  blackish  Vandyke  brown;  the  latter 
tipped  with  pure  white,  and  with  a  concealed  bar  of  same  about  the  middle  of 
each  feather;  tail  dull  black,  with  an  obscure  terminal  band  of  dull  brown,  this 
fading  terminally  into  whitish;  across  the  middle  of  the  tail  a  broad  band  of 
dull  light  umber  (in  some  individuals  approaching  dull  white)  about  three- 
fourths  of  an  inch  in  width;  about  as  far  anterior  to  the  main  band  as  this  is 
from  the  tip  is  another  much  narrower  and  more  obscure  band  of  the  same 
color,  crossing  just  beyond  the  ends  of  the  coverts,  or  concealed  by  them.  Pri- 
maries uniform  brownish  black,  fading  on  terminal  edge  into  pale  brown;  head 
above,  and  broad  but  inconspicuous  'mustache'  running  from  beneath  the  lore 
downward  across  the  check,  dull  black;  the  crown  posteriorly,  with  the  occiput 
and  nape,  having  the  dull  black  much  broken,  caused  by  lateral  streaks  of  dull 
rufous  on  all  the  feathers;  this  dull  rufous  tint  prevails  on  the  rest  of  the  head 
and  neck,  as  well  as  the  breast,  leaving  the  lores  and  chin  and  lateral  portion 
of  frontlet  alone  whitish;  throat  streaked  with  blackish;  beneath  dull  brownish 
rufous,  that  of  the  breast  almost  unvaried;  medially,  however,  are  roundish 
spots  of  white  on  opposite  webs,  but  these  are  not  confluent;  posteriorly  these 
spots  become  gradually  more  numerous  and  more  transverse,  forming  on  the 
flanks  transverse  bands,  almost  continuous;  on  the  tibia?  the  white  prevails,  the 
rufous  bars  being  more  distant,  and  connected  only  by  a  brown  shaft  line;  lower 
tail  coverts  less  numerous,  transverse  spots  of  dull  rufuous;  lining  of  the  wing 
ochraceous  white,  with  sparse,  rather  small,  irregular  deltoid  spots  of  dull 
rufous;  under  surface  of  the  primaries  unvaried  white,  as  far  as  their  emargina- 
tion,  beyond  which  they  are  black;  fourth  quill  longest;  third  a  little  shorter; 
second  intermediate  between  fifth  and  sixth;  first  about  equal  to  the  ninth. 


268  HISTORY  OF  THE 

Young  male,  second  year:  Upper  parts  similar  to  adult,  but  a  reddish  tint  ap- 
preciably washing  the  edges  of  the  interscapulars  and  (less  noticeably  so)  the 
scapulars;  bands  on  tail  nearly  as  in  adult;  but  very  near  the  base  in  fourth, 
very  narrow  and  faintly  defined  pale  band,  while  the  bases  of  all  the  feathers  are 
much  mottled  with  white;  dull  rufous  of  the  breast  not  continuous,  but  in  the 
form  of  large  longitudinal  broad  spots,  occupying  the  greater  middle  portion  of 
each  feather;  abdomen,  sides  and  tibiae  with  smaller  and  more  cordate  spots  of 
dull  rufous;  the  lower  tail  coverts  immaculate;  the  decided  ochraceous  tinge 
beneath  deepest  posteriorly.  Young,  first  year:  The  blackish  above  is  much 
variegated,  being  broken  by  the  narrow  rusty  borders  to  interscapulars,  rump, 
and  lesser  wing  coverts;  the  broader  and  more  ochraceous  borders  to  scapulars 
and  greater  wing  coverts,  and  partially  concealed  whitish  spotting  on  the  former. 
Upper  tail  coverts  white,  with  broad  bars  of  blackish  brown;  secondaries  and 
primaries  edged  terminally  with  whitish;  tail  dull  umber  brown,  growing  darker 
terminally;  narrowly  tipped  with  white,  and  crossed  with  six  obscure  narrow 
bands  of  dusky,  the  (concealed)  bases  of  all  the  feathers  white;  superciliary 
region,  cheeks,  chin,  throat,  and  entire  lower  parts,  delicate  pale  ochraceous  or 
whitish  cream  color;  a  conspicuous  'mustache',  a  medial  longitudinal  series  of 
streaks  on  the  throat,  with  large,  longitudinal  ovate  spots  on  sides  of  breast, 
cordate  spots  on  sides  and  flanks,  and  sagittate  spots  on  tibiae,  clear  blackish 
brown;  the  ochraceous  deepest  on  the  abdomen  and  crissurn;  wing  beneath  as 
in  adult." 

Stretch  of 
Length.          wing.  Wing.  Tail.         Tarsus.          Bill.         Cere. 

Male 15.00         34.00        10.00        6.50         2.35         .05  .45 

Female...     16.00         35.00        10.50        7.25        2.40         .80  .45 

Iris  brown  (juv.,  yellowish  brown);  bill  horn  blue,  light  at 
base,  dark  at  tips;  cere  greenish  yellow;  legs  and  feet  yellow; 
claws  black. 

This  species  inhabits  the  woodlands,  where  they  are  often  to 
be  seen  sailing  over  the  tree  tops,  but  seldom  far  away  from 
their  natural  haunts.  I  have  occasionally  met  with  the  birds  in 
winter  in  eastern  Guatemala,  Spanish  Honduras,  and,  during 
the  summer  months,  in  the  Neosho  valley,  Kansas,  the  Indian 
Territory,  and  at  Fewaukee,  Wisconsin.  At  the  latter  place  I 
found  them  nesting  and  the  most  common.  In  their  search  for 
food,  they  watch  from  a  perch  or  noiselessly  fly  through  the 
tree  tops  and  near  the  ground,  often  hovering  for  a  moment  be- 
fore dropping  upon  their  prey,  which  they  usually  devour  on 
the  ground  or  where  taken.  I  consider  these  birds  to  be,  like  all 
the  Buteo  family,  friends  of  the  farmer  rather  than  his  enemy, 
because  they  feed  chiefly  upon  rabbits,  squirrels,  gophers,  mice 
and  moles;  they  occasionally  catch  a  young  bird,  but  are  not  quick 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  269 

enough  to  capture  a  full  grown  one,  unless  it  is  taken  bj  sur- 
prise; and  the  good  they  do  largely  overbalances  the  harm. 

Their  nests  are  placed  in  trees.  They  vary  in  height  from 
fifteen  to  fifty  feet,  and  are  composed  of  sticks  and  lined  with 
strippings  from  bark,  fibrous  rootlets  and  grasses.  Eggs  usu- 
ally three  or  four,  1.96x1.57;  ground  color  dull  white,  spotted 
and  blotched  with  varying  shades  of  yellowish  to  dark  brown; 
in  form,  oval  to  rounded  oval. 

GENUS  ARCHIBUTEO  BREHM. 

"  Similar  to  Buteo,  but  bill  and  feet  weaker,  wings  longer  and  tarsi  feath- 
ered in  front  to  the  toes.  Bill  small,  compressed  anteriorly,  but  very  broad 
through  the  gape;  upper  outline  of  the  cere  ascending  basally;  nostril  broadly 
oval,  nearly  horizontal.  Tarsus  densely  feathered  in  front  and  on  the  sides 
down  to  the  base  of  the  toes;  naked  behind,  where  covered  with  irregular 
scales.  Tarsus  more  than  twice  as  long  as  the  middle  toe;  basal  half  of  the 
toes  covered  with  small  scales;  outer  toe  longer  than  inner;  claws  long,  strongly 
curved,  acute.  Feathering  of  the  head  and  neck  normal.  Wing  very  long;  the 
third  to  fourth  quill  longest;  first  shorter  than  seventh;  outer  four  or  five  with 
inner  webs  deeply  emarginated.  Tail  moderate,  rounded.  Plumage  full  and 
soft." 

Archibuteo  lagopus  sancti-johannis  (GMEL.). 

AMERICAN  ROUGH-LEGGED  HAWK- 
PLATE  xrx. 

A  winter  sojourner;  common.  Arrive  the  last  of  November; 
leave  in  March. 

B.  30,     81.     R.  447.     C.  525.     G.  209,     126.     U.  347a. 

HABITAT.  The  whole  of  North  America  north  of  Mexico; 
breeding  chiefly  north  of  the  United  States. 

SP.  CHAB.  "  Too  variable  in  coloration  of  plumage  to  be  concisely  described. 
Adult,  normal  plumage:  Ground  color  of  the  upper  parts  dull  umber  cinereous, 
this  more  rufous  on  the  shoulders  and  dull  white  on  the  nape,  scapulars,  inner 
secondaries  and  upper  tail  coverts;  rump  entirely  black,  feathers  bordered  with 
whitish.  All  feathers  above  with  central  oblong  or  irregular  spots  of  black, 
this  color  predominating  on  top  of  head  aud  forming  transverse  bands  across 
the  wing  coverts  and  secondaries;  upper  tail  coverts  pure  white,  each  marked 
with  an  exceedingly  irregular,  transverse  spot  of  black.  Tail  white  on  basal 
two-thirds,  and  narrowly  but  sharply  tipped  with  the  same;  subtermiual  portion 
pale  mottled  cinereous,  with  a  very  broad  zone  of  black  next  the  terminal  white, 
and  anterior  to  this  three  narrower  and  more  irregular  bauds  of  the  same.  Pri- 
maries blackish  cinereous,  with  obsolete  darker  bands.  Ground  color  of  head 
and  lower  parts  dull  white;  cheeks  thickly  streaked  with  black;  ear  coverts 
and  throat  more  sparsely  streaked;  forehead  and  suborbital  region  plain  whitish. 


270  HISTORY  OF  THE 

Breast  with  large,  longitudinal  but  very  irregular  oblong  spots  of  dark  brown, 
these  largest  and  somewhat  confluent  laterally;  lower  part  of  breast  with  much 
less  numerous  and  less  longitudinal  spots;  tibiae  strongly  tinged  with  rusty,  and 
with  tarsus,  abdomen,  crissum  and  flanks  having  irregular  transverse  spots  of 
blackish  brown;  lower  tail  coverts  unvariegated.  Lining  of  wing  white,  with 
numerous  spots  of  black,  these  becoming  more  rusty  towards  the  axillars,  a 
large  space  of  continuous  clear  black  covering  the  under  primary  coverts  and 
the  coverts  immediately  anterior;  under  surface  of  primaries  and  secondaries 
pure  white,  the  former  becoming  black  at  ends,  the  latter  ashy;  no  bars  (except 
toward  shafts)  of  the  latter.  Fourth  quill  longest;  the  third  equal  to  fifth;  sec- 
ond intermediate  between  fifth  and  sixth;  first  equal  to  eighth.  Young:  Upper 
surface  generally  light  umber,  becoming  lighter  on  scapulars  and  middle  wing 
coverts,  but  showing  nowhere  any  trace  of  spots  or  bands;  wings,  scapulars  and 
back  with  blackish  shaft  streaks;  primaries  approaching  black  toward  ends, 
becoming  white  basally;  upper  tail  coverts  white,  with  a  hastate  stripe  of  brown 
along  shaft;  tail,  basal  half  white,  terminal  half  plain  drab,  becoming  darker 
terminally,  the  tip  narrowly  white.  Head,  neck,  and  lower  plumage  in  general, 
white  stained  with  ochraceous,  this  deepest  on  tibiae  and  tarsi;  head  and  neck 
streaked  with  dark  brown,  ear  coverts  almost  immaculate;  breast  with  oblong 
spots  of  clear  brown;  flanks,  abdomen  and  anal  region  continuous  uniform  rich 
purplish  vandyke  brown,  forming  a  conspicuous  transverse  belt;  tibiae  and  tarsi 
scarcely  varied,  the  few  markings  longitudinal;  lower  tail  coverts  immaculate. 
Under  side  of  wing  much  as  in  adult  (black  area,  however,  more  extended), 
lining  much  tinged  with  rufous,  and  with  longitudinal  streaks  of  dark  brown. 
Adult,  melanistic  condition:  General  plumage  blackish  brown,  the  head  streaked 
with  whitish  edges  of  the  feathers;  wing  coverts,  secondaries,  primaries  and 
tibial  plumes  paler  terminally;  tarsi  mottled  with  whitish;  upper  and  lower  tail 
coverts  tipped  obscurely  with  white.  Tail  narrowly  tipped  dull  white,  and  with 
about  five  very  obsolete  pale  ashy  bands.  Lining  of  wing  black,  spotted  with 
white  near  edges;  whole  under  surface  of  the  primaries  pure  white  anterior  to 
their  emargination,  beyond  which  they  are  black.  Third  and  fourth  quills  equal 
and  longest;  second  intermediate  between  fifth  and  sixth;  first  shorter  than 
seventh.  Young:  Similar,  but  the  tail  dusky,  growing  whitish  toward  the  base, 
and  without  any  bars." 

Stretch  of 
Length.          wing.  Wing.          Tail.        Tarsus.        Bill.  Cere. 

Male 21.00         52.00        16.25         8.75         2.70         .85  .40 

Female...     23.00         53.00        17.00         9.25        2.80         .90  .40 

Iris  brown  (of  two  birds  captured,  yellow);  bill  dark  horn 
blue,  light  at  base;  cere  and  feet  yellow;  claws  black. 

This  large,  powerfully  built  Hawk  usually  frequents  the  cul- 
tivated fields  and  low  bottom  lands  along  the  streams  skirted 
with  timber.  A  rather  sluggish  bird  (more  active  at  twilight 
than  during  the  day),  that  does  not  appear  to  have  the  courage 
to  attack  animals  more  formidable  than  rabbits,  squirrels,  go- 
phers, mice,  etc.,  for  which  they  course  over  the  ground,  or 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  271 

watch  from  a  perch,  often  sitting  motionless  for  hours,  especially 
where  the  corn  is  in  shock,  ready  to  pounce  upon  the  mice  that 
venture  from  beneath  the  shocks.  They  are  too  slow  to  catch 
the  full-grown  birds,  and  seldom  make  the  attempt.  They  are 
of  great  value  to  farmers  and  should  be  protected.  Their  nests 
are  generally  placed  in  trees,  occasionally  upon  cliffs;  a  rather 
bulky  structure,  composed  of  dry  sticks  and  twigs,  and  lined 
with  grasses  or  soft  material  at  hand.  In  the  Arctic  regions 
they  are  said  to  be  warmly  lined  with  feathers  and  down.  Eggs 
usually  three  or  four,  2.21x1.75;  ground  color  dull  white  to 
buffy  white,  irregularly  spotted  and  blotched  with  varying  shades 
of  umber  to  sepia  brown;  intermingled  with  these  are  shell  stains 
of  purple;  in  some  cases  the  eggs  are  nearly  unmarked,  and 
the  clouding  faint;  in  form,  oval  to  ovate. 

ArcMbuteo  ferruginous  (LIGHT.). 

FERRUGINOUS  ROUGH-LEG. 
PLATE  XVII. 

Resident;  rare  in  the  middle,  common  in  the  western  part  of 
the  State. 

B.  32.     R.  448.     C.  526.     G.  210.     127.     U.  348. 

HABITAT.  Western  North  America;  north  to  the  Saskatche- 
wan; south  into  Mexico;  east  into  Texas  and  Iowa;  casually  to 
Illinois. 

SP.  CHAE.  Bill  much  larger  and  stronger,  and  broader  at  base,  the  width  of 
gape  (measured  from  corner  to  corner  of  mouth),  1.70x1.90.  Adult,  normal 
phase:  Upper  parts  generally  and  thighs  ferruginous,  the  former  streaked,  the 
latter  barred  with  dusky;  secondaries  and  quills  plumbeous,  the  latter  with  a 
hoary  cast;  tail  white,  washed  with  pale  ashy  gray,  more  or  less  stained,  usually 
longitudinally,  chiefly  along  edges  of  feathers,  with  light  rusty,  and  sometimes 
crossed  near  tip  by  an  indistinct  subterminal  bar  or  narrow  band  of  dusky;  lower 
parts  (except  thighs)  pure  white,  sometimes  streaked  with  dusky.  Young: 
Above,  grayish  brown,  the  feathers  edged  with  rusty  or  ochraceous;  thighs  white, 
more  or  less  spotted  with  dusky  brownish  or  dusky;  tail  with  basal  third  (ap- 
proximately) white  (inner  webs  wholly  white),  the  rest  brownish  gray,  usually 
with  several,  more  or  less  distinct,  darker  narrow  bands.  Melanistic  phase 
(adult):  General  color  deep  chocolate  brown,  more  or  less  varied  above  by  rusty 
spotting  and  edgings;  lower  parts  mixed  rusty  and  chocolate, -either  tint  pre- 
vailing; tail  as  in  normal  phase.  (Ridgway.) 

Stretch  of 
Length.          -wing.  Wing;  Tail.         Tarsus.          Bill.          Cere. 

Male 22.25         53.25        16.30          9.50         3.10         1.00         .45 

Female..        23.50         55.00        17.25        10.00         3.20         1.10         .50 


272  HISTORY  OF  THE 

Iris  light  yellowish  brown;  bill  dark  horn  blue,  with  sides  at 
base,  also  cere,  greenish  yellow;  feet  bright  yellow;  claws  black. 

This  large  species  inhabits  the  prairies  and  plains.  In  other 
respects,  its  habits  are  not  noticeably  different  from  the  Ameri- 
can Rough-legged  Hawk. 

Their  nests  are  usually  placed  in  trees,  occasionally  upon  high, 
rocky  cliffs.  May  27th,  1883,  I  found  a  nest  in  a  cottonwood 
tree,  on  the  Smoky  Hill  River,  near  Wallace,  Kansas,  contain- 
ing four  young  birds,  not  over  two  weeks  old  (downy  whitish 
little  fellows,  with  bluish  black  skins).  The  nest,  a  bulky  one, 
at  least  three  feet  in  diameter  at  the  base,  was  composed  of 
sticks  and  dead  twigs  from  the  tree,  and  sparingly  lined  with 
weeds  and  grasses.  And  May  4th,  1884,  my  brother  found  a 
nest,  containing  four  eggs,  in  northern  Dakota,  upon  the  ground, 
upon  a  precipitous  hillside.  It  was  made  of  sticks,  interwoven 
with  buffalo  ribs,  stems  of  weeds  and  bits  of  turf,  and  lined  with 
grass.  Eggs  usually  three  or  four;  average  measurement  of 
eight,  2.49x1.96;  ground  color  dull  cream  white;  irregularly 
spotted  and  splashed  with  varying  shades  of  brown  (upon  some 
the  markings  are  very  faint);  in  form,  rather  rounded  oval. 


GENUS  AQUILA  BRISSON; 

"Form  robust  and  structure  powerful;  the  bearing  and  general  aspect  that 
of  Buteo  and  Archibuteo.  Wing  long,  the  primaries  long  and  strong,  with  their 
emargiuations  very  deep.  Tail  rather  short,  slightly  rounded  or  wedge  shaped. 
Bill  stronger  than  in  the  preceding  genera,  its  outlines  nearly  parallel,  and  the 
tip  somewhat  inclined  backward  at  the  point;  commissure  with  a  more  or  less 
prominent  festoon;  nostril  narrow,  oval,  vertical;  skin  of  the  cere  very  hard  and 
firm;  superciliary  shield  very  prominent.  Feet  very  strong,  the  membrane  be- 
tween the  outer  and  middle  toes  very  well  developed;  tarsus  less  than  twice  as 
long  as  the  middle  toe;  outer  toe  equal  to,  or  longer  than,  the  inner;  claws  very 
long  and  strong,  very  much  graduated  in  size;  scutellse  of  the  toes  small,  except 
on  the  terminal  joint,  where  they  form  broad,  transverse  plates;  tarsi  densely 
feathered  all  round  down  to  the  base  of  the  toes;  tibial  plumes  well  developed, 
loose  webbed,  their  ends  reaching  down  to  or  beyond  the  base  of  the  toes. 
Feathers  of  the  nape  and  occiput  lanceolate,  acute  and  distinct,  forming  a  nuchal 
"cape"  of  differently-formed  feathers.  Third  to  fifth  quill  longest;  first  shorter 
than  seventh;  outer  five  or  six  with  their  inner  webs  deeply  emarginated." 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  273 

Aquila  chrysaetos  (LINN.). 

GOLDEN  EAGLE. 
PLATE  XVII. 

Resident;  rare.  I  am  informed  by  Dr.  G.  K.  Rumsey  that 
a  pair  nested  for  several  years  in  the  southeastern  part  of  Coman- 
che  county,  on  a  high  gypsum  ledge;  and,  as  a  proof  that  he  was 
not  mistaken,  he  says  that  the  legs  of  a  young  bird  captured  were 
feathered  to  the  toes.  The  late  rapid  settlement  of  the  county 
has  put  a  stop  to  their  breeding  there.  Begin  laying  about  the 
middle  of  March. 

B.  39.     R.  449.     C.  532.     G.  211,     128.     U.  349. 

HABITAT.  Northern  portion  of  northern  hemisphere;  south  to 
Mexico. 

SP.  CHAB.  "Adult:  General  plumage  fuliginous  black,  this  deepest  on  the 
head,  throat,  lower  surface  in  general,  under  surface  of  the  wings,  back,  scapu- 
lars, shoulders,  secondaries,  primaries  and  rump;  middle  and  secondary  wing 
coverts,  upper  and  lower  tail  coverts,  tarsi  and  inside  of  tibiae  considerably 
paler,  inclining  to  light  umber.  Lanceolate  feathers  of  occiput  and  nape  with 
the  exposed  portions  light  fulvous,  the  shafts  black;  dusky  beneath  the  surface. 
Tail  black,  somewhat  paler  on  basal  half,  and  with  about  three  irregular,  obso- 
lete zigzag  bands  of  pale  brown  (on  two  middle  feathers  ashy);  no  concealed 
white  on  breast.  Fifth  quill  longest;  third  and  fourth  intermediate  between 
fifth  and  sixth;  second  considerably  shorter  than  sixth;  first  intermediate  be- 
tween eighth  and  ninth.  Young:  Continuous  deep  sepia  black,  with  purplish 
luster;  breast  and  scapulars  with  large,  concealed  spots  of  pure  white;  lanceolate 
feathers  of  the  'mane'  dull  brown,  not  conspicuously  different  from  the  throat; 
under  surface  of  the  primaries  showing  much  white  basally,  this  most  extended 
on  inner  feathers.  Upper  and  under  tail  coverts  more  brownish  than  the  rump, 
the  basal  portion  white.  Basal  half  or  more  of  tail  white  (more  ashy  on  outer 
feathers),  distinctly  defined  against  the  broad,  pure  black  terminal  zone;  tarsi 
dull  white,  clouded  with  dilute  brownish;  inside  of  tibiae  with  feathers  tipped 
with  white." 

Stretch  of 
Length.          -wing.          Wing.          Tail.        Tarsus.          Bill.  Cere. 

Male 32.50         80.00        23.00       12.75        4.00         1.62         .70 

Female...     35.50         86.00        25.50       14.00        4.10         1.75         .75 

Iris  brown;  bill  and  claws  horn  blue;  cere  and  feet  greenish 
yellow. 

The  natural  home  of  this  king  of  birds  is  within  the  mountain 
regions;  it  is  rarely  met  with  in  the  eastern  portion  of  the 
United  States,  and  is  not  abundant  anywhere,  but  the  most 
common  in  the  western  portion  of  its  range.  In  flight  this 
bird  is  not  swift,  but  very  powerful,  sailing  for  hours  without  an 
apparent  effort,  and  often  at  a  great  height  —  a  mere  speck  in 

-18 


274  HISTORY  OF  THE 

the  sky.  It  is  gifted  with  extraordinary  sight,  and  swoops 
down  upon  its  prey  with  unerring  certainty.  A  ferocious  mon- 
arch; a  tiger  among  birds.  It  preys  upon  Grouse,  Ducks,  Geese, 
Swans,  young  fawns,  lambs,  prairie  dogs,  rabbits,  ground  squir- 
rels, etc.  Some  writers  state  that  when  pressed  with  hunger 
they  feed  upon  carrion.  While  I  know  this  to  be  the  case  with 
the  Bald  Eagle,  I  think  this  proud  bird  would  starve  rather  than 
feed  upon  a  putrid  carcass. 

I  kept  one  of  these  birds  (a  female)  over  a  year  in  confine- 
ment, feeding  her  chiefly  upon  fresh  beef;  if  the  least  bit  tainted 
she  would  not  touch  it,  neither  would  she  eat  a  fresh  piece  ac- 
cidentally dropped  upon  the  ground  from  her  claws.  A  Bald 
Eagle,  in  an  adjoining  pen,  would  readily  eat  meat  in  any  stage, 
and  gladly  take  the  pieces  rejected  by  the  more  noble  bird.  I 
tried  hard  to  subdue  her,  or  to  be  at  least  on  friendly  terms,  but 
failed.  I  know  that  the  birds  have  been  occasionally  partially 
tamed,  but  this  one  was  untamable,  and  maintained,  during  her 
confinement,  the  same  wild,  defiant,  ferocious  spirit  exhibited  at 
her  capture.  She  was  especially  furious  when  a  dog  entered 
the  yard.  I  saw  her  pounce  upon,  pick  up  and  take  to  her 
perch  a  large  house  cat  that  ventured  within  her  prison  for  bits 
of  meat.  The  grasp  was  so  powerful  that  life  was  instantly 
crushed  out — not  a  struggle,  and  only  a  slight  quiver  of  the 
muscles  noticable.  I  have  often  heard  them  scream  loudly  in 
their  mountain  home,  but  my  bird  was  sullen  and  mute. 

Their  nests  are  enormous  structures  of  sticks,  etc.,  usually 
placed  on  rocky  shelves  of  inaccessible  cliffs,  occasionally  in 
trees.  May  5th,  1884,  I  found,  at  Julian,  California,  a  nest 
placed  in  and  near  the  top  of  a  tall  pine  tree  —  a  huge  platform 
structure  composed  of  sticks  and  twigs,  and  lined  sparingly  with 
grass,  moss,  and  a  few  feathers.  Eggs  two  or  three,  2. 90x2. 25 ; 
white,  occasionally  unmarked,  but  usually  spotted  and  blotched 
with  various  shades  of  drab  to  reddish  brown,  and  a  few  faint 
purple  shell  markings;  in  form,  broadly  subspherical. 

GENUS  HALI.S3ETUS  SAVTONY. 

"Form  robust,  and  organization  powerful,  as  in  Aquila;  size  large.  Bill 
very  large,  usually  somewhat  inflated,  the  chord  of  the  arch  of  the  culinen  more 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  275 

than  twice  the  length  of  the  cere  on  top;  commissure  with  a  more  or  less  dis- 
tinct festoon  and  sinuatiou  behind  it.  Nostril  oval,  obliquely  vertical.  Feet 
robust  and  strong,  the  tarsus  less  than  one  and  one-half  times  the  middle 
toe;  tarsus  feathered  in  front  and  on  the  sides  for  about  one-half  its  length; 
front  of  the  tarsus  and  top  of  the  toes  with  an  imperfect  continuous  series  of 
transverse  scutellfe,  entirely  interrupted  in  the  region  of  the  digito-tarsal  joint; 
the  other  portions  covered  with  roundish,  somewhat  granular  scales,  these  larger 
on  the  posterior  face.  Claws  large,  strongly  curved,  and  more  obtuse,  and  less 
graduated  in  size,  than  in  Aquila.  No  trace  of  a  web  between  outer  and  middle 
toes.  Wing  very  large,  the  primaries  well  developed  and  strong;  third  to  fifth 
quill  the  longest;  first  longer  than  ninth;  outer  five  to  six  with  inner  webs 
deeply  emarginated.  Tail  variable  in  length  and  shape,  usually  short  and 
rounded,  cuneate,  and  with  twelve  feathers.  Feathers  of  the  neck,  all  round, 
lanceolate." 

Haliseetus  leucocephalus  (LIXN.)- 

BALD  EAGLE. 
PLATE  XVIII. 

Resident;  rare;  not  uncommon  in  winter.  Begin  laying 
about  the  middle  of  March. 

B.  41,     43.     R.  451.     C.  534.     G.  212,     129.     U.  852. 

HABITAT.  The  whole  of  North  America;  north  to  Greenland, 
and  west  across  the  Aleutian  chain  to  Commander  Islands, 
Kamtchatka. 

SP.  CHAE.  Adult:  With  head  and  neck  pure  white,  in  abrupt  contrast  with 
color  of  the  body;  tail  coverts  also  white.  Young:  With  plumage  blackish, 
grayish  brown  and  white,  without  cinnamon  brown  or  Isabella  color.  Adult: 
Head,  neck,  tail  coverts  and  tail  entirely  white;  .rest  of  plumage  dusky  grayish 
brown,  varying  to  brownish  black  (the  margins  of  the  feathers  usually  paler). 
Immature,  second  or  third  year:  Head  and  neck  blackish,  the  lanceolate  feath- 
ers of  hind  neck  tipped  with  pale  brownish,  all  the  feathers  pure  white  beneath 
the  surface;  upper  parts  mixed  grayish  brown  and  blackish,  usually  with  more 
or  less  admixture  of  whitish;  tail  blackish,  the  inner  webs  of  feathers  more  or 
less  blotched  or  "spattered"  with  whitish;  lower  parts  mixed  white  and  dusky, 
either  color  predominating,  according  to  the  individual.  Young,  first  year: 
Whole  plumage  nearly  uniform  black,  the  feathers  of  lower  parts,  however,  with 
their  bases  white,  this  more  or  less  concealed  in  places,  producing  a  somewhat 
spotted  or  blotched  appearance.  Downy  young:  Uniform  sooty  gray.  (Ridg- 
way.) 

Stretch  of 
Length.  wing.          Wing.         Tail.          Tarsus.        Bill.  Cere. 

Male 32.00         79.00       22.00       11.50         8.40        2.18         .80 

Female...     35.25         84.50      24.00       12.75        8.50        2.22         .90 

Iris  grayish  white,  tinged  with  yellow;  bill  and  cere  light  yel- 
low; legs  and  feet  brownish  to  lemon  yellow. 

This  national  bird  is  quite  common  along  the  seacoast  and 


276  HISTORY  OF  THE 

rivers  within  the  United  States,  and  northward.  In  build  and 
habits  it  is  closely  allied  to  the  Buteo  family,  and  has  none  of 
the  daring  dash  of  the  Accipiter  or  Falcon  tribes,  and  lacks  the 
courage  of  the  Golden  Eagle.  If  the  founders  of  our  nation 
had  known  the  habits  of  this  scavenger  and  piratical  bird,  they 
would  never  have  selected  it  as  a  symbol,  but,  rather,  the  bold, 
self-reliant  Golden  Eagle.  In  the  air,  it  is  indeed  a  graceful  and 
magnificent  bird,  and  with  its  powerful  build  and  proud  appear- 
ance, they  were  naturally  led  to  look  upon  it  as  the  embodiment 
of  courage  and  perfection.  Kespecting  the  habits  of  the  Bald 
Eagle,  Dr.  Brewer  says: 

"The  Bald  Eagle « appears  to  be  equally  well  adapted  by 
nature  for  the  endurance  of  heat  or  cold,  and  is  apparently  in- 
different to  either.  Its  residence  is  influenced  only  by  its  abund- 
ance of  food,  especially  that  of  fish;  and  seems  to  matter  very 
little  whether  that  plenty  is  procurable  within  the  Arctic  circle, 
or  on  the  coast  and  rivers  of  Florida  and  Texas.  In  places  like 
the  falls  of  Niagara,  where  the  stream  is  ever  liable  to  contrib- 
ute the  remains  of  animals  destroyed  by  the  descent  of  the  tor- 
rent, this  Eagle  is  especially  abundant.  Unscrupulous,  greedy, 
voracious,  not  select  in  its  choice  of  food,  and  capable  of  pro- 
viding for  itself  when  necessity  compels,  we  find  this  not  alto- 
gether unsuitable  emblem  of  our  country  now  enacting  the  tyrant 
and  robber,  and  plundering  the  Fish  Hawk  of  the  fruits  of  its 
industry,  now  sharing  with  the  Raven  and  the  Vulture  the  dead 
salmon  of  the  Columbia,  and  in  other  places  diving  for  and 
catching  its  own  fish.  The  impetuosity  and  skill  with  which  it 
pursues,  overtakes  and  robs  the  Fish  Hawk,  bearing  off  a  fish  it 
has  just  taken,  must  be  witnessed  to  be  appreciated;  and  the 
swiftness  with  which  the  Eagle  can  dart  down  upon  and  seize 
the  booty,  which  the  Hawk  has  been  compelled  to  let  fall,  be- 
fore it  reaches  the  water,  is  not  the  least  wonderful  feature  of 
this  striking  performance.  On  the  banks  of  the  Columbia, 
where  there  are  no  Fish  Hawks  to  depend  upon,  this  bird  finds 
an  easy  subsistence  on  the  vast  numbers  of  dead  and  dying  sal- 
mon which  abound." 

While  these  birds  are  rather  indolent,  and  prefer  to  be  rob- 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  277 

bers  rather  than  self-sustaining,  they  do  not  lack  in  courage  nor 
in  ability  to  capture  their  prey.  I  have,  on  several  occasions, 
seen  them  plunge  for  and  catch  fish  that  were  swimming  near 
the  surface  of  the  water;  they  also  readily  kill  Ducks,  Geese, 
lambs,  little  pigs,  etc.  They  are  easily  tamed.  One  that  I  had 
in  confinement  for  a  long  time,  became  not  only  familiar,  but  ap- 
peared to  be  greatly  attached  to  me,  and  would  recognize  me  at  a 
long  distance,  calling  loudly,  and  on  my  near  approach,  with  quiv- 
ering wings,  and  in  various  ways,  expressed  joy,  keeping  up  a  soft, 
whistling  note  —  that  was  at  times  quite  musical  —  until  I  reached 
her.  She  loved  to  be  petted;  would  rub  her  head  against  my 
face,  and  allow  me  to  lift  her  from  the  perch;  a  rather  rough 
playmate,  that  often  tore  my  clothes  in  attempting  to  alight  upon 
my  shoulder,  but  not  intentionally,  and  never  appeared  to  be 
angry  with  me,  but  would  not  allow  strangers  to  touch  her. 

Their  nests  are  usually  placed  on  high  trees,  along  the  banks 
of  streams,  but  occasionally,  where  trees  are  iiot  convenient, 
built  on  high,  rocky  cliffs;  a  huge  platform  structure,  made  of 
large  sticks,  and  lined  with  twigs,  grasses,  and  a  few  feathers. 
Eggs  usually  two,  sometimes  as  high  as  four;  average  measure- 
ments, as  given  by  others,  about  2.90x2.30;  but  two,  that  I  col- 
lected at  is  eah  Bay,  Washington,  only  measure:  2.50x1.95,  2.60 
x2.00;  dull  white,  unmarked;  inform,  rounded  oval. 

SUBFAMILY  FALCONING.     FALCONS. 

Nostril  small,  circular,  with  a  conspicuous  central  bony  tubercle,  or  else  nar- 
row, obliquely  vertical,  with  the  upper  end  the  posterior  one.  (Ridgway.) 


GENUS  FALCO 

"Bill  strong,  its  breadth  at  the  base  equaling  or  exceeding  its  height;  upper 
outline  of  cere  on  a  level  with,  or  rather  lower  than,  the  base  of  the  culmen; 
gonys  much  arched,  the  chord  of  the  arch  equaling  about  half  that  of  the  cul- 
meii.  Near  the  tip  of  the  upper  mandible  is  a  prominent  tooth  on  the  commis- 
sure, and  near  the  end  of  the  lower  mandible,  which  is  truncated,  is  a  deep 
notch  corresponding;  the  end  of  the  upper  mandible  is  compressed,  giving  the 
situation  of  the  tooth  an  inflated  appearance  when  viewed  from  above.  Nostrils 
circular,  with  a  conspicuous  central  tubercle.  Orbital  region  bare;  projecting 
superciliary  shield  conspicuous,  arched,  but  not  very  prominent.  Tail  shorter 
than  wing,  the  feathers  hard  and  stiff.  Primaries  very  strong,  elongated,  taper- 
ing rapidly  toward  their  points;  only  the  first  or  first  and  second  with  their 
inner  webs  emarginated,  the  cutting  being  angular,  and  near  the  end  of  the 


278  HISTORY  OF  THE 

quill.     Tarsus  never  with  a  single  series  of  transverse  scutellae  either  in  front 
or  behind;  middle  toe  very  long." 

SUBGENUS  HIEROFALCO  CUVIER. 

"One  primary  only  with  inner  web  ernarginatecl;  first  to  second  longest; 
first  longer  than  fourth.  Tarsus  longer  than  middle  toe,  and  feathered  far  be- 
low the  knee;  first  quill  shorter  than  third.  Coloration  of  the  sexes  alike;  old 
and  young  slightly  differenl  in  pattern  and  tints.  Size  large." 


Falco  rusticolus 

GRAY  GYRFALCON. 

An  accidental  winter  visitant;  captured  near  Manhattan,  De- 
cember 1st,  1880,  by  A.  L.  Runyan,  and  reported  to  me  by  Dr. 
C.  P.  Blachly,  who  has  the  bird  (a  fine  specimen)  in  his  collec- 
tion. 

B.  12.     R.  412a.     C.  500.     G.  190,     130.     TJ.  354. 

HABITAT.  Northern  North  America,  including  Iceland,  and 
southern  Greenland;  south  in  winter  to  the  northern  borders  of 
the  United  States,  also  extreme  northern  portion  of  Europe  (ex- 
cept Scandinavia)  and  Asia. 

SP.  CHAR.  Lower  tail  coverts  always  more  or  less  marked  with  dusky;  up- 
per parts  with  little,  if  any,  white  (except  sometimes  on  top  of  head  and  hind- 
neck).  Adult  with  upper  parts  banded  with  dusky  and  bluish  gray  (sometimes 
uniform  dusky  anteriorly),  the  flanks  and  thighs  barred,  banded  or  transversely 
spotted  with  dusky.  Young  without  transverse  bars  on  upper  parts  (except 
sometimes  on  tail),  and  lower  parts  with  all  the  markings  longitudinal.  Lighter 
colored:  Top  of  head  much  streaked  with  white,  often  with  white  prevailing, 
the  lighter  tail  bands  usually  whitish  and  nearly  as  broad  as  the  darker  inter- 
spaces. Adult:  With  anterior  upper  parts  everywhere  more  or  less  distinctly 
barred  with  very  pale  grayish,  grayish  white  or  buffy  whitish,  these  lighter  bars 
sometimes  nearly  equal  in  width  to  the  darker  ones;  darker  and  lighter  bands 
on  tail  usually  very  sharply  contrasted,  the  former  often  slate  gray,  the  latter 
pale  ash  gray  or  dull  whitish;  flanks  and  thighs  never  very  heavily  banded  or 
spotted  with  slaty,  but  always  more  or  less  marked  with  this  color.  Young: 
Dark  stripes  of  lower  parts  usually  decidedly  narrower  than  white  interspaces; 
upper  parts  in  general  usually  much  spotted  with  whitish  or  light  buffy,  in  ad- 
dition to  the  lighter  margins  (often  conspicuous)  to  the  feathers;  outer  webs  of 
quills  more  or  less  distinctly  spotted  with  whitish  toward  base.  Male:  Length, 
about  20.00  to  21.00;  wing,  13.40  to  15.00  (14.10);  tail,  8.00  to  9.30  (8.51);  cul- 
men,  .88  to  .98  (.90);  tarsus,  2.10  to  2.65  (2.40);  middle  toe,  1.80  to  2.20  (1.96). 
Female:  Length,  about  22.00  to  24.50;  wing,  15.25  to  16.50  (15.76);  tail,  9.10  to 
10.50  (9.72);  culmeu,  .95  to  1.10  (1.01);  tarsus,  2.30  to  2.60  (2.46);  middle  toe, 
1.98  to  2.15  (2.08).  Eggs,  2.37x1.72.  (Ridgway.) 

I  have  never  had  the  pleasure  of  meeting  with  this  large, 
handsome  species.  In  flight  they  are  said  to  be  even  swifter 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  279 

than  the  Duck  Hawk,  and  for  courage  and  dash  they  stand  pre- 
eminently at  the  head  of  the  birds  of  prey.  They  are  not  un- 
common throughout  their  northern  range.  Mr.  E.  W.  Nelson 
says: 

"Throughout  all  Alaska,  from,  the  Aleutian  Islands  north, 
both  along  the  coast  and  through  the  interior,  extending  from 
Beh ring  Straits  across  the  northern  portion  of  British  America, 
the  present  Falcon  is  the  commonest  bird  of  prey.  It  was  ob- 
served by  Murdock,  at  Point  Barrow,  though  it  was  not  com- 
mon. It  frequents  the  vicinity  of  cliffs  and  rocky  points  about 
the  seacoast,  or  the  rocky  ravines  of  the  interior,  during  the 
breeding  season,  and  the  remainder  of  the  year,  especially  in 
fall,  it  is  found  wandering  over  the  country  everywhere  that 
food  can  be  obtained;  it  is  especially  numerous  during  the  mi- 
gration of  the  Ptarmigan  along  the  seacoast. 

"In  Greenland,  Holboll  found  the  young  moulting  through- 
out the  winter;  but  none  of  my  winter  specimens  show  signs 
of  moulting,  and  the  young  specimens  in  my  collection,  taken  in 
April  and  May,  still  in  a  striped  condition,  show  no  signs  of 
change.  MacFarlane  found  numerous  nests  of  this  bird  on  the 
Anderson  River,  nearly  all  of  which  were  placed  in  trees,  and 
the  eggs  were  laid  in  May,  the  earliest  being  upon  the  10th. 
Along  the  seacoast,  in  the  vicinity  of  St.  Michael's,  it  breeds 
rarely,  choosing  roeky  cliffs  facing  the  sea.  Along  the  Lower 
Yukon  and  Kuskoquim  Rivers,  in  winter,  it  is  numerous,  and 
finds  an  abundance  of  Ptarmigan,  upon  which  it  preys.  At  this 
season  it  is  frequently  seen  perching  on  a  stout  branch  of  a  tree 
overhanging  the  river  bank,  and  I  have  seen  it,  on  several  oc- 
casions, allow  a  train  of  dog  sledges  to  pass  within  forty  to  fifty 
yards,  only  noticing  their  presence  by  slowly  turning  its  head. 
It  was  seen  in  the  vicinity  of  Behring  Straits  and  around  the 
shore  of  Norton  Sound,  during  the  cruise  of  the  Corwin,  in  the 
summer  of  1881,  as  also  upon  the  northeast  shore  of  Siberia, 
in  the  vicinity  of  East  Cape  and  Plover  Bay.  Swinhoe  records 
specimens  of  this  bird  from  Pekin,  China,  and  it  also  occurs  in 
the  Kurile  Islands.  At  St.  Michael's,  on  May  1st,  1881,  a  speci- 
men of  this  bird  was  brought  me  by  a  native  woman,  who  had 


280  HISTORY  OF  THE 

taken  it  from  one  of  her  Ptarmigan  snares,  where  it  was  caught 
just  after  having  robbed  another  snare  of  a  Ptarmigan.  The 
iris  of  a  specimen,  taken  on  October  6th,  1880,  was  dark  hazel, 
and  the  large  scales  on  the  upper  surface  of  the  feet  and  tarsus 
were  a  greenish  yellow,  the  rest  of  the  feet  and  tarsus  being 
livid  greenish;  the  bill  was  horn  blue.  Another  specimen,  ta- 
ken October  12th,  had  the  cere,  like  the  tarsus,  livid  bluish 
green;  the  bill  was  dark  horn  color  at  the  tip  and  bluish  green 
at  the  base." 

Their  nests  are  placed  upon  rocky  cliffs,  also  in  tall  trees; 
they  are  quite  bulky,  and  composed  of  sticks  and  withered  twigs, 
and  lined  with  mosses,  grasses  and  other  soft  substances.  Eggs 
two  to  three;  2.27x1.76;  ground  color  a  dirty  yellowish  white, 
sprinkled,  spotted  and  blotched  with  varying  shades  of  brown; 
some  sparingly  marked,  others  thickly,  so  as  to  obscure  the 
ground  color;  in  form,  rounded  oval. 

Falco  mexicanus  SCHLEG. 

PRAIRIE  FALCON. 
PLATE  XVIII. 

Kesident;  rare  in  the  eastern,  but  not  uncommon  in  the  west- 
ern parts  of  the  State. 

B.  10.     R.  413.     C.  502.     G.  191,     131.     U.  355. 

HABITAT.  Western  United  States;  east  to  the  eastern  borders 
of  the  Great  Plains  (occasionally  to  Illinois);  south  into  Mexico. 

SP.  CIIAH.  Top  of  head  grayish  brown,  streaked  with  dusky,  outer  webs  of 
tail  feathers  without  distinct  lighter  spots  (usually  quite  plain),  and  outer  webs 
or  quills  without  trace  of  spots;  secondaries  with  lighter  spots  oil  outer  webs 
under  parts  and  nuchal  collar  white,  the  flanks  heavily  spotted  or  blotched  with 
dusky,  the  under  tail  coverts  sparsely  spotted  with  same.  Adult  male:  Above, 
pale  grayish  brown  (usually  tinged  more  or  less  with  rusty),  indistinctly  but 
broadly  barred  with  pale  clay  color  or  dark  grayish  bnffy  anteriorly  and  pale 
bluish  gray  posteriorly.  Adult  (f)  female:  Above  grayish  browu,  without  dis- 
tinct or  well-defined  lighter  bars,  but  feathers  margined  with  pale  rusty  brown 
or  dull  whitish,  both  the  ground  colors  and  these  edgings  paler  on  posterior  por- 
tions; tail  tipped  with  butfy  whitish,  the  feathers  edged  with  a  paler  tint  of  the 
ground  color.  Young  (both  sexes):  Above  grayish  brown,  the  feathers  distinctly 
margined  with  light  rusty;  lower  parts  pale  buffy  or  buffy  whitish,  with  broader 
dusky  streaks,  the  dusky  flank  patch  larger  and  more  uniform  than  in  the  adult, 
and  the  axillars  unbroken  dusky.  Young,  in  first  summer:  Similar  to  the  lire- 
ceding  stage,  but  color  above  darker,  with  rusty  margins  to  feathers  more  dis- 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  281 

tinct,  the  ground  color  of  the  lower  parts  light  ochraceous  or  creamy  buff; 
(Ridgway.) 

Stretch  of 
Length.          wing.          Wing.          Tail.         Tarsus.         Bill.          Cere. 

Male 17.00         39.50        12.00        7.25         2.00         .70          .22 

Female...      18.50         43.00        13.50        8.20         2.10         .85          .22 

Iris  brown;  bill  horn  blue,  with  base  of  lower  yellow;  legs, 
feet  and  lores  yellow;  claws  black. 

This  species  inhabits  the  open  prairies.  A  brave  dashing 
bird,  that  in  spirit  is  unsurpassed,  except  it  be  by  the  Gyrfalcons. 
It  is  rather  wild  and  solitary.  In  flight  it  progresses  swiftly,  by 
quick,  powerful  strokes  of  its  wings;  often  stopping  in  its  flight 
to  hover  as  it  sights  its  prey  beneath,  descending  upon  the  same 
with  partially-closed  wings,  swift  as  an  arrow;  or  gives  chase, 
turning  and  tacking  easily  and  with  a  speed  that  the  swiftest  of 
flyers  cannot  escape.  The  birds  are  often  seen  perched  upon  a 
knoll,  lone  tree,  or  telegraph  pole.  In  alighting  upon  any  high 
object,  they  swoop  down  nearly  to  the  ground,  and  then  grace- 
fully ascend  to  the  top  or  desired  height.  They  often  attack 
game  much  larger  than  themselves,  killing  with  ease  jack  rab- 
bits, Ducks,  Prairie  Hens,  etc.  They  are  very  destructive  to 
the  smaller  birds,  especially  those  that  go  in  flocks.  I  saw  one 
dart  from  a  telegraph  pole  into  a  flock  of  chestnut-colored  Long- 
spurs,  and  knock  down  four  of  the  birds  at  a  single  dash,  killing 
three  and  winging  the  other.  (As  he  returned  to  pick  up  the 
slain,  I  dropped  him  beside  them.)  They  also  feed  largely 
upon  ground  squirrels,  mice,  lizards,  etc. 

Their  nests  are  usually  placed  on  the  sides  of  steep,  rocky 
cliffs,  made  rudely  of  sticks  and  lined  with  grasses.  Eggs  two 
to  five.  In  Capt.  B.  F.  Goss's  collection  are  two  eggs  taken 
April  28th,  1880,  at  Marysville,  Mo.,  from  a  nest  in  a  tree,  thirty- 
five  feet  from  the  ground;  notes  fail  to  show  whether  the  nest 
was  in  the  forks  of  the  branches  or  in  a  hole  in  the  tree,  but 
doubtless  in  the  latter,  as  the  habits  of  these  birds  are  similar  to 
F.  peregrinus  anatwn;  dimensions  of  the  eggs,  2.05x1.70,  2.12 
xl.65;  grayish  white,  spotted  and  blotched  with  various  shades 
of  reddish  brown,  running  together  so  as  to  obscure  the  ground 
color  of  one  of  the  eggs,  and  partially  of  the  other;  in  form, 
rounded  oval. 


282  HISTORY  OF   THE 

SUBGENUS  RHYNCHODON   NITZSCH. 

Tarsus  not  decidedly  longer  than  middle  toe  without  claw,  often  shorter; 
first  quill  longer  than  third;  first  and  second  quills  equal  and  longest;  second 
with  inner  web  slightly  sinuated  near  tip;  adult  and  young  very  different  in 
color,  the  latter  with  stripes  instead  of  bars  beneath,  and  without  bars  on  upper 
parts.  (Ridyicay.) 

Falco  peregrinus  anatum   (BONAP.). 

DUCK  HAWK. 
PLATE  XVIII. 

Resident;  not  uncommon  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  State. 
Begin  laying  early  in  March. 

B.  5,     6.     R.  414.     C.  503.     G.  192,     132.     U.  356. 

HABITAT.  The  whole  of  America,  south  as  far  at  least  as 
Chili;  eastern  Asia. 

SP.  CHAR.  "Adult:  Upper  parts  dark  bluish  plumbeous,  approaching  black 
anteriorly,  but  on  rump  and  upper  tail  coverts  becoming  fine  bluish  plumbeous 
ash.  On  the  head  and  neck  the  continuous  plumbeous  black  covers  all  the  for- 
mer except  the  chin  and  throat,  and  the  back  portion  of  the  latter;  an  invasion 
or  indentation  of  the  white  of  the  lower  parts  up  behind  the  ear  coverts  separ- 
ating that  of  the  cheeks  from  the  posterior  black,  throwing  the  former  into  a 
prominent  angular  patch;  forehead  and  lores  grayish.  All  the  feathers  above 
(posterior  to  the  nape)  with  transverse  bars  of  plumbeous -black,  these  most 
sharply  defined  posteriorly,  where  the  plumbeous  is  lightest.  Tail  black,  more 
plumbeous  basally,  very  faintly  paler  at  the  tip,  and  showing  ten  or  eleven 
transverse  narrow  bands  of  plumbeous,  these  most  distinct  anteriorly;  the  bars 
are  clearest  on  inner  webs.  Alula,  primary  and  secondary  coverts,  secondaries 
and  primaries,  uniform  plumbeous  black,  narrowly  whitish  on  terminal  margin, 
most  observable  on  secondary  and  inner  primaries.  Lower  parts  white,  tinged 
with  delicate  cream  color,  the  deepest  on  the  abdomen;  sides  and  tibia  tinged 
with  bluish.  Chin,  throat  and  jugulum  immaculate;  the  breast,  however,  with 
faint  longitudinal  shaft  streaks  of  black;  sides,  flanks  and  tibiae  distinctly  barred 
transversely  with  black,  about  four  bars  being  on  each  feather;  on  the  lower 
tail  coverts  they  are  narrower  and  more  distant;  on  the  abdomen  the  markings 
are  in  the  form  of  circular  spots;  anal  region  barred  transversely.  Lining  of 
the  wing  (including  all  the  under  coverts)  white  tinged  with  blue,  and  barred 
like  the  sides;  under  surface  of  primaries  slaty,  with  elliptical  spots  or  bars  of 
creamy  white  on  inner  webs,  twelve  on  the  longest.  Young:  Above  plumbeous 
black,  tail  more  slaty.  Every  feather  broadly  bordered  terminally  with  dull 
cinnamon;  these  crescentic  bars  becoming  gradually  bordered  posteriorly,  nar- 
rower and  more  obsolete  on  the  head  above.  Tail  distinctly  tipped  with  pale 
cinnamon,  the  inner  webs  of  feathers  with  obsolete  transverse  spots  of  the  same, 
these  touching  neither  the  edge  nor  the  shaft;  scarcely  apparent  indications  of 
corresponding  spots  on  outer  webs.  Region  round  the  eye  and  broad  'mus- 
tache' across  the  cheeks  pure  black,  the  latter  more  conspicuous  than  in  the 
older  stages,  being  cut  off  posteriorly  by  the  extension  of  the  cream  color  of  the 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  283 

neck  nearly  to  the  eye.  A  broad  stripe  of  pale  ochraceous  running  from  above 
the  ear  coverts  back  to  the  occiput,  where  the  two  of  opposite  sides  nearly  meet. 
Lower  parts  purplish  cream- color,  or  rosy  ochraceous  white,  deepest  posteriorly; 
jugulum,  breast,  sides,  flanks  and  tibise  with  longitudinal  stripes  of  plumbeous 
black,  these  broadest  on  flanks  and  abdomen,  and  somewhat  sagittate  on  the 
tibise;  lower  tail  coverts  with  distant  transverse  bars.  Lining  of  the  wing  like 
the  sides,  but  the  markings  more  transverse;  inner  web  of  longest  primary  with 
nine  transverse  purplish  ochre  spots.  Basal  half  of  bill  pale  bluish  white,  cere 
rather  darker;  terminal  half  (rather  abruptly)  slate  color,  the  tip  deepening  into 
black;  iris  very  dark  vivid  vandyke  brown;  naked  orbital  space  pale  bluish 
white,  with  a  slight  greenish  tiut;  tarsi  and  toes  lemon  yellow,  with  a  slight 
green  cast;  claws  jet  black." 

Stretch  of 
Length.          -wing.          Wing.          Tail.        Tarsus.         Bill.          Cert. 

Male 17.50        41.00        13.25        6.50         1.85          .90         .30 

Female...     19.73        43.50        14.50        7.50-       1.90         .95          .30 

Iris  brown;  bill  horn  blue,  light  green  at  base;   cere  and  eye- 
lids greenish  yellow;  legs  and  feet  lemon  yellow;   claws  black. 

This  widely-distributed  species  inhabits  the  timbered  lands 
along  the  streams  and  ponds  of  water.  In  actions  and  general 
make-up,  they  are  very  similar  to  the  Prairie  Falcon,  and  are,  I 
think,  fully  as  swift  and  fearless,  but  more  easily  tamed,  and,  for 
this  reason,  a  great  favorite  in  the  chivalrous  days  of  falconry. 
I  have  had  a  very  good  opportunity  to  observe  the  birds  in  the 
Neosho  valley,  Kansas,  where,  for  several  years,  I  found  them 
breeding.  I  have  often  seen  them  strike  down,  with  ease,  the 
swiftest  of  Ducks — the  Wood  Duck  a  favorite.  Blackbirds 
also  fall  an  easy  prey,  sometimes  two  or  threfe  out  of  a  flock  being 
killed  at  a  single  dash.  They  are  very  noisy  while  mating,  but 
silent  during  incubation,  the  pair  sharing  alike  in  the  duties  of 
hatching  and  rearing  their  young.  The  males,  as  far  as  noticed, 
sit  upon  the  eggs  in  the  fore  part  of  the  day,  the  females  during 
the  latter  part  of  each  day,  each,  while  off  duty,  occasionally 
feeding  the  other,  but  putting  in  a  good  share  of  the  time  as 
sentinels,  perched  upon  a  favorite  dead  lirnb  near  the  nest, 
ready  to  give  the  alarm  in  case  of  approaching  danger.  At 
such  times  they  scold  rapidly,  and  manifest  great  anxiety  and 
fear,  circling  overhead,  occasionally  alighting,  and  taking  good 
care  to  keep  out  of  reach.  The  fear  of  man  is  not  without 
cause,  for  our  hunters  never  loose  an  opportunity  to  shoot  at 


284  JiitiToitr  OF  Tin-: 

them,  knowing  how  destructive  they  are  to  the  water  fowls  found 
in  the  sloughs  along  the  river  Imttoius. 

They  ne>t.  in  naliiral  cavities  in  trees  and  on  the  sides  of  rocky 
cliffs.  Nest  without  lining.  Kggs  three  or  four,  2.25x1.70; 
grayish  ochre,  spotted  and  blotched  with  reddish  and  dark  choco- 
late brown,  running  somewhat  together,  thickest  about  larger 
end;  in  form,  subspherical  to  rounded  oval. 

SmtOENtrs  JESALON  K.\rr. 

Two  outer  quills  with  inner  webs  emarginafed  near  tips;  first  quill  shorter 
than  fourth.  Tarsus  not  decidedly  longer  tlum  middle  toe;  basal  segment  of 
toes  covered  with  small  hexagonal  or  roundish  scales.  Adult  m<i/<x:  MlnNi 
gray  ahove,  with  blackish  shaft,  streaks;  hiiidneck  spoiled  or  mixed  with  whitish 
and  huffy  or  ochraceous;  quills  dusky;  tail  crossed  by  a  greater  or  less  number 
of  blackish  bauds,  and  lipped  \\ilh  whitish;  lower  parts  whitish,  huffy  or  light 
rusty,  striped  with  brownish  or  dusky.  Adult  females:  Brownish  above,  the  tail 
u.Mially  with  a  greater  or  less  number  of  lighter  (usually  narrow)  bands;  top  of 
head  streaked  with  blackish,  and  feathers  of  back  and  rump  with  shaft  streaks 
of  the  same;  lower  parts  much  as  in  the  male,  but  without  rusty  tinge.  Ydiiiii/ 
(both  sexes'):  Much  like  adult  female,  but  darker,  or  else  much  tinged  above  with 
ochraceous  or  rusty. 


Falco  columbarius  LINN. 

PIGEON  HAWK. 
PLATE  XVIII. 

Migratory;  rare.  Arrive  in  October;  leave,  usually,  by  the 
first  of  April.  I  have  a  male  in  the  "Goss  Ornithological  Col- 
lection" that  I  shot  at  Neosho  Falls,  June  10th,  1878. 

B.  7.     R.  417.     C.  505.     G.  198,     138.     U.  357. 

HABITAT.  The  whole  of  North  America;  breeding  chiefly 
north  of  the  United  States;  south  in  winter  to  the  West  Indies 
and  northern  South  America. 

SP.  CHAH.  "Adult  male:  Above,  cinereous,  varying  in  shade,  but  generally 
of  a  slaty  bluish  cast;  each  feather  with  a  distinct  shaft  streak  of  black,  t  Inc- 
lines most  conspicuous  on  the  head  above.  Tail  with  a  very  broad  subtermiual 
baud  of  black,  about  an  inch  in  width;  there  are  indications  of  three  other 
bands,  their  continuity  and  distinction  varying  with  the  individual,  but  gener- 
ally quite  conspicuous,  and  each  about-  half  the  width  of  the  terminal  one:  the 
subierminal  black  band  is  succeeded  by  a  terminal  one  of  white,  of  about  Ihree- 
sixtcenths  of  an  inch  in  width,  sometimes  broader;  on  the  lateral  feathers  the 
black  bands  are  always  conspicuous,  being  in  form  of  transverse  oblong  spots, 
crossing  the  shaft,  but  less  extended  on  the  outer  web,  which  is  often  inmiacii- 
\cept  at  the  end,  the  broad  terminal  band  always  extending  to  the 


BIRDS  OF  h'AXSAs.  285 

the  feathers.  Primaries  dusky  black,  margined  terminally  more  or  less  dis- 
tinctly with  whitish  (sometimes  tailing  on  the  edge  only);  on  the  inner  web  is 
a  series  of  about  eight  transverse  oval  spots  of  white,  and  generally  corre- 
sponding to  these  are  indications  of  bluish  ashy  spots  on  the  outer  web.  l'«e- 
neath  whito,  this  purest  on  the  throat,  which  is  immaculate;  there  is  generally 
a  more  or  less  strong  tinge  of  fulvous  beneath,  this  always  prevalent  on  the 
tibia-,  and  on  a  distinct  collar  extending  round  the  nape,  interrupting  the  blue 
above;  the  tibire  frequently  incline  to  oehraceous  rufous.  Lateral  portions  of 
the  head  with  fine  streaks  of  dusky,  these  thickest  on  upper  edge  of  the  ear 
coverts,  leaving  a  distinct  whitish  superciliary  streak,  those  of  opposite  sides 
meet  ing  on  the  forehead.  Breast,  upper  part  of  the  abdomen,  sides  and  flanks 
with  longitudinal  stripes  of  umber,  each  will i  a  shaft  streak  of  black;  on  the 
Hanks  their  shape  is  modified,  here  taking  the  form  of  spots  running  in  chain- 
like  series;  tibire  with  narrower  and  darker  streaks;  lower  tail  coverts  with  nar- 
row central  streaks  like  those  on  the  tibia-.  Frequently  there  is  a  strong  bluish 
shade  on  flanks  and  lower  tail  coverts,  sometimes  replacing  the  brown  of  the 
spots  on  former,  and  clouding  in  similar  form  the  latter.  Adult  female:  Pat- 
tern of  coloration  as  in  the  male,  but  the  colors  di  tie  rent.  The  blue  above  re- 
placed by  dark  umber  brown  with  a  plumbeous  cast,  and  showing  more  or 
le-.,  distinct  darker  shaft  lines;  these  on  the  head  above  very  broad,  giving  a 
•-ireaked  appearance;  white  spots  on  inner  webs  of  primaries  more  oehraceous 
than  in  the  male.  Tail  dark  plumbeous  brown,  shading  into  blackish  toward 
end,  with  five  rather  narrow  oehraceous  or  soiled  white  bars,  the  first  of  which 
is  concealed  by  the  upper  coverts,  the  last  terminal.  White  beneath,  less  tinged 
with  reddish  than  in  the  male,  the  tibiae  not  different  from  the  other  portions; 
markings  beneath  as  in  the  male.  Young:  Above,  plumbeous  brown,  tinged 
with  fulvous  on  head,  and  more  or  less  washed  with  the  same  on  the  rump;  fre- 
quently the  feathers  of  the  back,  rump,  scapulars  and  wings  pass  into  a  reddish 
tinge  at  the  edge;  this  color  is,  however,  always  prevalent  on  the  head,  which 
is  conspicuously  streaked  with  dusky.  Tail  plumbeous  dusky,  darker  termin- 
ally, with  five  regular  light  bars,  those  toward  the  base  ashy;  as  they  approach 
the  end  becoming  more  oehraceous;  these  bars  are  more  continuous  and  regular 
than  in  the  adult  female,  and  are  even  conspicuous  on  the  middle  feathers. 
I'ri maries  dusky,  passing  on  edge  (terminally)  into  lighter;  spots  on  the  inner 
webs  broader  than  in  the  female,  and  pinkish  ochre;  outer  webs  with  less  con- 
spicuous corresponding  spots  of  the  same.  Beneath  soft  oehraceous;  spots  as 
in  adult  female,  but  less  sharply  defined;  tibiae  not  darker  than  abdomen." 

Stretch  of 
Length.          wing.  Wing.        Tail.        Tarsus.         Bill.  Cere. 

Male 11.00        23.50        7.00         4.70         1.85  .50  .16 

Female...     12.50        20.00        8.50        5.75        1.40          .55          .20 

Iris  dark  brown;  bill  black,  blue  at  base;  cere  and  eyelids 
greenish  yellow;  legs  and  feet  yellow;  claws  black. 

This  spirited  little  Hawk  is  one  of  the  most  common  birds  of 
prey  within  its  northern  range.  It  feeds  chiefly  upon  small 
birds,  but  often  attacks  birds  much  larger  than  itself  (killing 


286  HISTORY  OF  THE 

readily  the  Passenger  Pigeon,  one  of  the  swiftest  of  birds).  It 
seldom  watches  from  a  perch,  or  hovers  in  the  air  as  it  sights 
its  prey,  but  as  a  rule  darts  rapidly  through  the  thickets,  and 
over  the  open  grounds,  giving  chase  to  the  birds  startled  in  its 
course.  It  also  feeds  on  squirrels,  mice,  etc.  In  flight,  like 
others  of  the  Falcon  family,  it  strikes  rapidly  with  its  wings, 
never  sailing  except  for  a  short  distance. 

In  the  month  of  July,  1880,  I  found  several  of  their  nests  on 
the  Magdalen  Islands,  containing  from  two  to  four  young  birds, 
nearly  full  grown.  The  nests  were  placed  in  fir  trees,  upon 
branches  near  the  body  of  the  tree,  and  about  thirty  feet  from 
the  ground.  They  were  made  of  sticks  and  twigs,  and  lined 
with  grasses  and  a  few  feathers;  they  were  rather  large  for  the 
birds  and  had  the  appearance  of  being  old,  deserted  nests  of  the 
common  Crow.  The  birds  are  also  said  to  nest  in  holes  in  trees 
and  cavities  in  rocks.  Eggs  two  to  four,  1.56x1.23;  ground 
color  creamy  white,  speckled,  spotted  and  blotched  with  vary- 
ing shades  of  raw  mnber  to  rusty  brown,  thickest  around  the 
larger  end;  in  form,  rather  oval.  A  set  of  two  eggs,  collected 
May  26th,  1882,  at  Helena,  Montana,  measure  only,  1.50x1.21, 
1.52x1.20. 

Falco  richardsonii  RIDGW. 

RICHARDSON'S  MERLIN. 
PLATE  XIX. 

A  rare  visitant  in  the  eastern,  not  common  in  the  western, 
part  of  the  State. 

B. .     E.  418.     C.  507.     G.  194,     134.     U.  858. 

HABITAT.  Interior  of  North  America,  from  the  Mississippi 
River  to  the  Pacific  coast,  and  from  the  Arctic  regions  to  Texas 
and  Arizona,  probably  into  Mexico. 

SP.  CHAR.  Middle  tail  feathers  crossed  by  (all  together)  five  darker  and  six 
lighter  bands;  outer  webs  of  quills  distinctly  spotted  with  light  grayish  in  adult 
male,  and  buffy  or  ochraceous  in  adult  female  and  young,  and  general  plumage 
paler.  Adult  male:  Above,  pale  bluish  gray  (top  of  head  usually  more  or  less 
tinged  with  light  rusty  or  ochraceous);  tail  crossed  on  middle  feathers  by  five 
blackish  and  six  light  bluish  gray  (or  five  bluish  gray  and  one  white  terminal) 
bands,  the  lighter  ones  often  clouded  or  mixed  with  white;  outer  webs  of  quills 
distinctly  spotted  with  light  grayish.  Adult  female:  Above,  rather  light  earthy 
brown,  more  or  less  distinctly  barred  or  transversely  spotted  with  a  lighter  shade; 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  287 

tail  crossed  on  middle  feathers  by  six  very  distinct  and  entirely  continuous  nar- 
row bands  of  buffy  whitish;  secondaries  distinctly  banded  with  ochraceous,  and 
outer  webs  of  quills  distinctly  spotted  with  a  lighter  tint  of  the  same.  Young 
(both  sexes):  Similar  to  adult  female,  but  more  decidedly  buffy  below,  and  upper 
parts  more  or  less  tinged  with  rusty.  (Ridgway.) 

A  pair  in  the  '  '  Goss  Ornithological  Collection  '  '  are,  in  dimen- 
sions: 

Stretch  of 
Length.          wing.          Wing.          Tail.         Tarsus.         Bill.         Cere. 

Male  .....     11.20         23.50         7.50         5.00          1.30         .50         .18 
Female...     13.00        26.00         8.75        6.00          1.40        .55         .20 

Iris  dark  brown;  bill  horn  blue,  greenish  at  base;  cere,  legs 
and  feet  greenish  to  light  lemon  yellow;  claws  black. 

This  species,  in  habits  and.  actions,  is  not  noticeably  different 
from  the  Pigeon  Hawk,  except  that  it  prefers  the  more  open 
grounds  and  prairies  for  its  home.  It  flies  with  great  ease  and 
celerity,  catching  the  bird  it  selects  for  its  prey  in  a  fair  chase, 
following  it  in  all  its  hopeless  windings  and  turns.  It  also  feeds 
largely  upon  the  grasshoppers  and  lizards  of  the  plains. 

I  have  met  with  this  bird  in  the  mountains  of  Colorado  dur- 
ing the  breeding  season,  but  failed  to  find  them  nesting,  neither 
can  I  find  any  description  of  their  nesting  habits  (presumably 
the  same  as  the  Pigeon  Hawk).  Mr.  Kidgway,  in  his  '  '  Manual,  '  ' 
says:  "Eggs  (single  specimen),  1.52x1.22;  buffy  white,  hand- 
somely marbled  and  irregularly  spotted  with  madder  brown." 

SUBGENUS  TINNUNCULUS  VIEILLOT. 

"Two  primaries  with  inner  webs  emarginated;  first  shorter  than  fourth. 

"Coloration  of  the  sexes  very  different  in  pattern  and  tints  at  all  ages;  old 
and  young  alike.  Scutellse  of  the  toes  and  tarsus  interrupted  at  the  digito-tarsal 
joint;  tarsus  much  longer  than  middle  toe.  Bill  small,  the  cere  on  top  less  than 
one-fourth  the  culmeu." 


Falco  sparverius 

AMERICAN  SPARROW  HAWK. 
PLATE  XIX. 

Kesident;  abundant.     Begin  laying  the  first  of  April. 

B.  13.     K.  420,     420a.     C.  508,     509.     G.  195,     135.     U.  360. 

HABITAT.   The  whole  of  temperate  North  America;  south  in 
winter  to  northern  South  America. 

SP.  CHAB.  "Adult  male:  Forehead,  lateral  and  posterior  regions  of  the  ver- 
tex, occiput  and  wings,  bluish  ash.     Vertex,  nape,  scapulars,  interscapulars, 


288  HISTORY  OF  THE 

rump,  upper  tail  coverts  and  tail,  fine  cinnamon  rufous;  scapulars  and  back 
barred  with  black,  the  bars  broadest  and  most  conspicuous  posteriorly.  Tail 
tipped  with  white,  and  with  a  broad,  sharply-defined  subterminal  zone  of  black, 
about  one  inch  in  width;  lateral  feathers  with  outer  web,  and  terminal  half  of 
inner,  ashy  white,  the  latter  with  one  or  two  distinct  transverse  spots  anterior 
to  the  subterminal  one;  wing  coverts  with  more  or  less  conspicuous  cordate  spots 
of  black,  rather  sparsely  distributed;  basal  two-thirds  of  secondaries  and  whole 
of  primaries  deep  black;  the  latter  whitish  around  the  terminal  margin,  and 
with  nine  transverse  bands  of  white  on  inner  web  of  longest  (second),  the  white 
rather  exceeding  the  black,  the  points  of  which  do  not  reach  the  edge  of  the 
feather;  lining  of  the  wing  white,  with  conspicuous  cordate  spots  of  black; 
front  and  superciliary  region  more  hoary  than  the  forehead,  almost  approaching 
white;  whole  lateral  region  of  the  head,  with  chin,  throat  and  lower  parts, 
white;  the  neck,  breast  and  sides,  however,  with  a  deep  tinge  of  ochraceous, 
the  tint  hardly  approaching  the  depth  of  color  seen  on  the  nape;  on  the  head 
there  are  (considering  both  sides)  seven  black  spots;  the  first  originating  in 
front  of  the  bare  ante-orbital  space  (leaving  the  lores  white),  and  extending  in 
a  stripe  downward  across  the  maxillae,  forming  a  conspicuous  'mustache;'  the 
second  crosses  the  tips  of  the  ear  coverts,  in  form  of  an  oblong  transverse  spot; 
the  third  is  smaller,  situated  as  far  behind  the  last  as  this,  and  is  posterior  to 
the  'mustache,'  crossing  the  sides  of  the  neck;  the  last  is  an  odd  nuchal  spot 
separating  the  ash  of  the  occiput  from  the  rufous  of  the  nape;  breast  and  sides 
with  circular  or  cordate  spots  of  pure  black,  these  varying  in  size,  but  generally 
larger  on  the  sides;  other  lower  parts  immaculate.  Adult  female:  Blue  above 
confined  to  the  head,  which  shpws  the  rufous  patch  as  in  the  male;  entire  up- 
per parts  rufous,  lighter  and  less  purplish  than  the  male,  everywhere  barred 
with  black;  tail  with  twelve  sharply-defined  narrow  bars  of  black;  the  sub- 
terminal  broadest,  and  about  three-eighths  of  an  inch  in  width;  longest  pri- 
mary with  eleven  transverse  spaces  of  pale  rufous  nearly  twice  as  wide  as  the 
dusky  ones,  which  scarcely  touch  the  edge;  beneath  yellowish  white,  paler  than 
in  the  male,  breast  and  sides  with  rusty  longitudinal  spots;  head  as  in  the  male. 
Young  male:  Exactly  like  the  adult  male,  but  with  the  rufous  darker,  approach- 
ing to  chestnut;  spots  beneath  inclining  to  a  tear-shaped  form,  and,  though 
more  numerous,  are  not  so  well  defined  as  in  the  adult;  also  rur'escent  tinge  be- 
neath more  general;  blue  of  the  wings  with  scarcely  any  spots;  white  terminal 
band  of  tail  tinged  with  rufous;  sometimes  the  two  or  three  outer  feathers  are 
clouded  with  ash,  and  possess  indication  of  bars,  formed  of  irregular  black  spots. 
Young  female:  Generally  like  the  adult,  but  with  rufous  above  darker,  approach- 
ing ferruginous;  the  bars  everywhere  broader,  and  purer  black;  rufous  vertical 
patch  streaked  centrally  with  black;  spots  beneath  larger,  darker,  approaching 
reddish  umber." 

Stretch  of 
Length.          -wing.          Wing.  Tail.        Tarsus.         Bill.  Cere. 

Male 10.35         22.15         7.25         5.10         1.35  .40  .15 

Female...     11.40        23.00         7.55         5.50         1.40  .45          .20 

Iris  brown;  cere,  edges  of  eyelids  and  lips  orange;  bill  light 
blue;  legs  and  feet  yellow;  claws  black. 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  289 

These  little  beauties  are  not  as  active  or  destructive  as  others 
of  the  falcon  tribe.  Their  flights  are  usually  short  and  irregu- 
lar, darting  here  and  there,  often  hovering  in  a  suspended  man- 
ner for  several  moments  at  a  time.  During  the  summer  months 
they  occasionally  kill  the  little  birds,  but  feed  chiefly  upon  mice, 
lizards,  grasshoppers,  crickets,  etc.,  as  they  are  so  much  easier 
to  capture  than  the  full-grown  birds,  and  to  which  they  rarely 
turn  their  attention,  until  the  cold  weather  drives  the  other  forms 
of  life,  upon  which  they  so  largely  feed,  into  their  winter  beds. 
The  bird  that  suffers  most  outside  of  the  Horned  Larks  and 
Longspurs,  is  the  Tree  Sparrow,  as  it  prefers  the  hedges  and 
small  thickets  upon  the  prairies,  instead  of  the  wooded  lands, 
for  its  sheltered  home;  its  food  in  all  such  cases  being  upon  the 
open  lands,  and  whenever  there  is  any  snow  upon  the  ground, 
it  drifts  against  the  hedges,  and  forces  the  little  birds  to  seek 
the  bare  spots,  quite  a  distance  away,  for  the  seeds  on  or  fallen 
from  the  weeds.  Here  it  is  that  the  Hawks  successfully  get  in 
their  work,  by  darting  from  a  perch  and  striking  the  Sparrow, 
either  upon  the  ground  or  before  it  can  reach  its  hiding  place. 

Their  nests  are  placed  in  large  Woodpecker  holes,  and  natu- 
ral cavities  in  trees,  usually  without  lining;  occasionally  a  few 
leaves  or  mosses.  Eggs  four  to  six,  1.33x1.12;  buffy  white, 
speckled,  spotted  and  blotched  with  light  and  dark  brown  —  the 
markings  vary  greatly  in  size  and  number,  often  confluent,  and 
so  thick  around  the  larger  end  as  to  obscure  the  ground  color; 
in  form,  rounded  oval. 

SUBFAMILY  PANDIONINJE.     OSPREYS. 

"Outer  toe  reversible,  and  plumage  without  aftershafts." 

GENUS  PANDION  SAVIGNY. 

"Bill  inflated,  the  cere  depressed  below  the  arched  culmen;  end  of  bill  much 
developed,  forming  a  strong,  pendent  hook.  Anterior  edge  of  nostril  touching 
edge  of  cere.  Whole  of  tarsus  and  toes  (except  terminal  joint)  covered  with 
rough,  somewhat  imbricated,  projecting  scales.  Outer  toe  versatile;  all  the 
claws  of  «qual  length.  In  their  shape  also  they  are  peculiar;  they  contract  in 
thickness  to  their  lower  side,  where  they  are  much  narrower  than  on  top,  as 
well  as  perfectly  smooth  and  rounded;  the  middle  claw  has  the  usual  sharp  lat- 
eral ridge,  but  it  is  not  very  distinct.  All  the  toes  perfectly  free.  Tibiae  not 

plumed,  but  covered  compactly  with  short  feathers,  these  reaching  down  the 
—19 


290  HISTORY  OF  THE 

front  of  the  tarsus  below  the  knee,  and  terminating  in  an  angle.  Primary  cov- 
erts hard,  stiff,  and  acuminate,  almost  so  as  the  quills  themselves;  third  quill 
longest;  first  longer  than  fifth:  second,  third  and  fourth  sinuated  on  outer  webs; 
outer  three  deeply  emargiuated,  the  fourth  siuuated,  on  inner  webs." 

Fandion  haliaetus  carolinensis  (GSIEL.). 

AMERICAN  OSPBEY. 
PLATE  XIX. 

Summer  resident;  not  uncommon.  Arrive  the  first  of  April; 
begin  laving  the  last  of  April;  leave  in  October. 

B.  44.     R.  425.     C.  530.     G.  196,     136.     U.  364. 

HABITAT.  North  America  in  general,  from  Hudson's  Bay 
and  Alaska;  south  into  South  America. 

SP.  CHAB.  Adult  male:  Above,  plain  dusky  grayish  brown,  the  tail  more 
grayish,  narrowly  tipped  with  white,  and  crossed  by  about  six  or  seven  narrow 
bands  of  dusky;  head,  neck  and  entire  lower  parts  pure  white,  the  chest  some- 
times slightly  blotched  or  spotted  with  brown,  but  usually  immaculate;  sides  of 
head  with  a  dusky  stripe  from  lores  across  ear  coverts,  and  top  of  head  usually 
more  or  less  marked  with  dusky.  Adult  female:  Similar  to  the  male,  but  chest 
much  more  heavily  spotted  or  blotched  with  brown  (never  immaculate).  Young: 
Above,  blackish  brown,  each  feather  distinctly  bordered  terminally  with  white 
or  buffy;  otherwise  like  adult,  the  sexes  differing  in  the  same  manner.  Downy 
young:  Dull  sooty  grayish  or  dusky  above,  more  or  less  mixed  or  tinged  with 
rusty  or  fulvous,  relieved  by  a  broad  whitish  stripe  down  middle  of  back  and 
rump;  a  dusky  stripe  ou  sides  of  head,  and  three  others  on  top  of  head,  sepa- 
rated by  whitish  stripes;  hinder  portion  of  wing  whitish,  anterior  portion  dusky; 
lower  parts  dull  whitish,  the  chest  brownish  or  dusky.  (Ridgway.) 

Stretch  of 
Length.          wing.          Wing.  Tail.         Tarsus.         Bill.  Cere. 

Male 22.25         63.00        18.50        8.25         2.10         1.25          .30 

Female...     24.00         66.50        20.00        9.50         2.20         135          .30 

Iris  yellow;  bill,  cere  and  claws  bluish  black;  legs  and  feet 
pale  blue,  sometimes  with  a  greenish  hue. 

This  widely-distributed  species  is  quite  common  along  the 
seacoasts  and  shores  of  inland  waters,  but  is  never  met  with 
far  away,  except  during  migration,  as  it  wholly  feeds  upon  fish, 
which  it  swoops  down  upon  and  captures  at  or  near  the  surface 
of  the  water,  never  feeding  upon  the  dead  fish  that  wash  up  on 
the  shores,  nor  will  it  stoop  to  pick  up  one  accidentally  dropped 
from  its  talons.  A  peaceably-disposed  bird,  that  does  not  harm 
or  disturb  other  birds,  and  the  little  ones  appear  to  look  upon 
it  as  a  friend.  As  evidence  of  this,  they  are  often  to  be  seen 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  291 

perched  beside  them,  and  the  Purple  Grackle  occasionally  build 
their  nests  in  the  interstices  of  the  outer  sticks  that  lay  the  foun- 
dation of  the  Osprey's  nest,  and  there  hatch  and  rear  their 
young  in  safety. 

The  birds  are  quite  social  in  habits,  often  assembling  in 
small  flocks,  and  at  such  times  I  have  seen  them  attack  and  drive 
away  from  their  fishing  grounds  the  Bald  Eagle,  that  occa- 
sionally robs  them  of  their  prey.  Wilson  gives  the  following 
interesting  description  of  their  flights  and  fishing  habits: 

"The  flight  of  the  Fish  Hawk  (American  Osprey),  his  ma- 
noeuvers  while  in  search  of  fish,  and  his  manner  of  seizing  his 
prey,  are  deserving  of  particular  notice.  In  leaving  the  nest 
he  usually  flies  direct  till  he  comes  to  the  sea,  then  sails  around 
in  easy,  curving  lines,  turning  sometimes  in  the  air  as  on  a  pivot, 
apparently  without  the  least  exertion,  rarely  moving  his  wings, 
his  legs  extended  in  a  straight  line  behind,  and  his  remarkable 
length  and  curvature,  or  bend  of  wing,  distinguishing  him  from 
all  other  Hawks.  The  height  at  which  he  thus  elegantly  glides 
is  various,  from  one  hundred  to  one  hundred  and  fifty  and  two 
hundred  feet,  sometimes  much  higher,  all  the  while  calmly 
reconnoitering  the  face  of  the  deep  below.  Suddenly  he  is 
seen  to  check  his  course,  as  if  struck  by  a  particular  object, 
which  he  seems  to  survey  for  a  few  moments  with  such  steadi- 
ness that  he  appears  fixed  in  the  air,  flapping  his  wings.  This 
object,  however,  he  abandons,  or  rather  the  fish  he  had  in  his 
eye  has  disappeared,  and  he  is  again  seen  sailing  around  as 
before.  Now  his  attention  is  again  arrested,  and  he  descends 
with  great  rapidity,  but  ere  he  reaches  the  surface  shoots  off  on 
another  course,  as  if  ashamed  that  a  second  victim  has  escaped 
him.  He  now  sails  at  a  short  height  above  the  surface,  and  by 
a  zigzag  descent,  and,  without  seeming  to  dip  his  feet  in  the 
water,  seizes  a  fish,  which,  after  carrying  a  short  distance,  he 
probably  drops,  or  yields  up  to  the  Bald  Eagle,  and  again 
ascends  by  easy  spiral  circles  to  the  higher  regions  of  air,  where 
he  glides  about  in  all  the  ease  and  majesty  of  his  species.  At 
once,  from  this  sublime  aerial  height,  he  descends  like  a  perpen- 
dicular torrent,  plunging  into  the  sea  with  a  loud,  rushing  sound, 


292  HISTORY  OF  THE 

and  with  the  certainty  of  a  rifle.  In  a  few  moments  he  emerges, 
bearing  in  his  claws  his  struggling  prey,  which  he  always  car- 
ries head  foremost,  and,  having  risen  a  few  feet  above  the  sur- 
face, shakes  himself  as  a  water  spaniel  would  do,  and  directs 
his  heavy,  laborious  course  directly  for  the  land." 

Their  nests  are  placed  in  the  tops  of  trees  along  the  banks 
and  old  channels  of  the  rivers;  are  huge  structures,  made  of 
large  sticks  interwoven  with  cornstalks  and  weeds,  and  lined 
with  grasses.  Eggs  two  to  four,  2.50x1.75;  buff  white,  spotted 
and  blotched  with  umber  and  reddish  brown  running  together, 
thickest  at  larger  end;  also  a  few  markings  of  lilac;  in  form, 
elliptical. 

SUBORDER  STRIGES.     OWLS. 

Eyes  directed  forward,  surrounded  by  disks  of  radiating  feathers;  cere  con- 
cealed by  loral  and  frontal,  bristle-like  feathers;  outer  toe  reversible.  (Ridgway.) 

FAMILY  STRIGID-2E.      BAKN  OWLS. 

Inner  toe  as  long  as  middle  toe;  inner  edge  of  middle  claw  pectinated;  feath- 
ers on  hinder  part  of  tarsus  recurved  or  pointed  upward;  first  quill  longer  thau 
third,  none  of  the  quills  with  inner  webs  sinuated  or  emargiuated.  (Ridgway.) 

GENUS  STRIX  LINNAEUS. 

"Size  medium.  No  ear  tufts;  facial  ruff  entirely  continuous,  very  couspicu- 
ous.  Wing  very  long,  the  first  or  second  quills  longest,  and  all  without  emar- 
gination.  Tail  short,  emarginated.  Bill  elongated,  compressed,  regularly  curved; 
top  of  the  cere  nearly  equal  to  the  culmen,  straight  and  somewhat  depressed. 
Nostril  open,  oval,  nearly  horizontal.  Eyes  very  small.  Tarsus  nearly  twice  as 
long  as  the  middle  toe,  densely  clothed  with  soft,  short  feathers,  those  on  the 
posterior  face  inclined  upwards;  toes  scantily  bristled;  claws  extremely  sharp 
and  long,  the  middle  one  with  its  inner  edge  pectinated.  Ear  conch  nearly  as 
long  as  the  height  of  the  head,  with  an  anterior  operculum,  which  does  not  ex- 
tend its  full  length." 

Strix  pratincola  BONAP. 

AMERICAN  BARN  OWL. 
PLATE  XIX. 

Resident;  quite  common  in  the  southern  part  of  the  State. 
Begin  laying  in  April. 

B.  47.     R.  394.     C.  461.     G.  181,     137.     IT.  365. 

HABITAT.  The  United  States  generally;  rare  in  northern  por- 
tion; southward  through  Mexico. 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  293 

SP.  CHAR.  "Average  plumage:  Ground  color  of  the  upper  parts  bright  or- 
ange ochraceous;  this  overlaid  in  cloudings,  on  nearly  the  whole  of  the  surface, 
with  a  delicate  mottling  of  blackish  and  white;  the  mottlings  continuous  on  the 
back  and  inner  scapulars,  and  on  the  ends  of  the  primaries  more  faint,  while 
along  their  edges  it  is  more  in  the  form  of  fine  dusky  dots,  thickly  sprinkled. 
Each  feather  of  the  mottled  surface  (excepting  the  secondaries  and  primaries) 
has  a  medial  dash  of  black,  enclosing  a  roundish  or  cordate  spot  of  white  near 
the  end  of  the  feather;  on  the  secondaries  and  primaries,  the  mottling  is  con- 
densed into  obsolete  transverse  bauds,  which  are  about  four  in  number  on  the 
former  and  five  on  the  latter;  primary  coverts  deeper  orange  rufous  than  the 
other  portions,  the  mottling  principally  at  their  ends,  Tail  orange  ochraceous, 
finely  mottled  —  most  densely  terminally  —  with  dusky,  fading  into  whitish  at 
the  tip,  and  crossed  by  about  five  distinct  bands  of  mottled  dusky.  Face  white, 
tinged  with  wine  red;  an  ante-orbital  spot  of  dark  claret  brown,  this  narrowly 
surrounding  the  eye;  facial  circle,  from  forehead  down  to  the  ears  (behind  whicli 
it  is  white  for  an  inch  or  so),  soft  orange  ochraceous,  similar  to  the  ground  color 
of  the  upper  parts;  the  lower  half  (from  ears  across  the  throat)  deeper  ochra- 
ceous, the  tips  of  the  feathers  blackish,  the  latter  sometimes  predominating. 
Lower  parts  snowy  white,  but  this  more  or  less  overlaid  with  a  tinge  of  fine  or- 
ange ochraceous,  lighter  than  the  tints  of  the  upper  parts,  and  (excepting  on  the 
jugulum,  anal  region  and  crissum)  with  numerous  minute  but  distinct  specks  of 
black;  under  surface  of  wings  delicate  yellowish  white,  the  lining  sparsely 
sprinkled  with  black  dots;  inner  webs  of  primaries  with  transverse  bars  of  mot- 
tled dusky  near  their  ends." 

Stretch  of 
Length.          "wing.  Wing.         Tail.         Tarsus.         Bill.          Cere. 

Male 15.50         44.50        12.75        5.50          3.00          .90          .50 

Female...      16.25         46.00        13.50        6.00         3.10          .90          .50 

Iris  dark  brown  to  bluish  black;  bill  dull  pearl  white;  feet 
light  brownish  yellow;  claws  brown. 

These  birds,  from  their  peculiar  facial  disk,  are  known  as  the 
' '  Baboon  "  or  "  Monkey-faced ' '  Owl.  They  are  rarely  met  with 
at  or  north  of  latitude  42°,  but  are  not  uncommon  south,  in- 
creasing in  numbers  southward  and  westward.  In  southern 
California  they  are  quite  abundant.  In  habits  they  are  noctur- 
nal, but  if  flushed  during  the  day  fly  without  hesitation,  and,  as 
their  eyes  are  rather  small  for  night  Owls,  may  see  at  all  times 
passably  well;  though  I  have  never  noticed  one  flying  about  of 
its  own  accord,  or  hunting,  until  after  twilight,  when  they  leave 
their  secluded  retreats,  and  with  noiseless  wings  actively  course 
about  over  the  ground  in  search  of  food,  which  consists  chiefly 
of  mice,  rats,  moles,  gophers,  rabbits,  bats  and  nocturnal  in- 
sects. They  occasionally  kill  small  birds,  but  in  their  stomachs, 


294  HISTORY  OF  THE 

or  ejected  "pellets"  of  indigestible  matter,  a  feather  is  seldom 
found,  and  they  are  said  to  have  been  found  in  Dove  cots  with 
Doves  that  flew  in  and  out  without  manifesting  any  fear  or  alarm. 
In  such  cases  I  think  the  Owls  have  been  in  the  habit  of  enter- 
ing the  cots  at  dark,  gorged  with  mice  —  their  more  natural 
food  —  and  as  they  remain  quiet  during  the  day,  the  Doves  had 
become  accustomed  to  their  presence.  The  birds  are,  as  a  rule, 
rather  silent.  I  think  they  never  hoot,  but  occasionally  utter 
—  especially  while  on  the  wing  —  a  harsh,  horrible  scream;  and 
when  disturbed  in  their  retreats,  they  hiss,  and  make  a  loud 
snoring  noise. 

Their  nests  are  placed  in  cavities  of  trees,  burrows  in  the 
sides  of  banks,  crevices  in  rocks,  and  nooks  of  buildings.  Eggs 
four  to  ten,  laid  upon  the  debris,  pellets  of  hair,  and  other  re- 
mains of  the  birds'  food;  cream  white;  occasionally  an  egg  will 
show  markings  of  pale  drab;  in  form,  ovate.  A  set  of  six  eggs, 
taken  May  16th,  1882,  from  a  hole  about  three  feet  deep,  in  the 
bank  of  the  Arkansas  River,  in  Texas,  measure:  1.63x1.29, 
1.68x1.28,  1.67x1.26,  1.68x1.30,  1.68x1.28,  1.72x1.29. 

FAMILY  BUBONID^l,     HORNED  OWLS,  ETC. 

Inner  toe  decidedly  shorter  than  middle  toe;  inner  edge  of  inner  claw  not 
pectinated;  feathers  on  hinder  part  of  tarsus  (if  present)  pointed  downward; 
first  quill  shorter  than  third,  and  at  least  one  (one  to  six)  quill  with  inner  web 
sinuated  or  emarginated.  (Ridgicay.) 

GENUS  A8IO  BKISSO.V. 

"  Size  medium.  Ear  tufts  well  developed  or  rudimentary;  head  small;  eyes 
small.  Cere  much  arched,  its  length  more  than  the  chord  of  the  culmen.  Bill 
weak,  compressed.  Only  the  first  (or  first  and  second)  outer  primary  with  its 
inner  web  emarginated.  Tail  about  half  the  wing,  rounded.  Ear  conch  very 
large,  gill-like,  about  as  long  as  the  height  of  the  skull,  with  an  anterior  operculum, 
which  extends  its  full  length,  and  bordered  posteriorly  by  a  raised  membrane; 
the  two  ears  asymmetrical." 

Asio  wilsonianus  (LESS.). 

AMERICAN  LONG-EARED  OWL. 
PLATE  XX. 

Resident;  quite  common.      Begin  laying  in  April. 

B.  51.     R.  395.     C.  473.     G.  182,     138.     U.  366. 

HABITAT.  The  whole  of  temperate  North  America;  south 
into  Mexico. 


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BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  295 

Sp.  CIIAI:.  "Adult;  Upper  surface  transversely  mottled  with  blackish  brown 
and  grayish  white,  the  former  predominating,  especially  on  the  dorsal  region; 
feathers  of  the  nape  and  wings  (only)  ochraceous  beneath  the  surface,  lower 
scapulars  with  a  few  obsolete  spots  of  white  on  inner  webs.  Primary  coverts 
dusky,  with  transverse  series  of  dark  mottled  grayish  spots,  these  becoming 
somewhat  ochraceous  basally;  ground  color  of  the  primaries  grayish,  this  espe- 
cially prevalent  on  the  inner  quills;  the  basal  third  (or  less)  of  all  are  ochra- 
ceous; this  decreasing  in  extent  on  inner  feathers;  the  grayish  tint  is  everywhere 
finely  mottled  transversely  with  dusky,  but  the  ochraceous  is  plain;  primaries 
crossed  by  a  series  of  about  seven  quadrate  blackish  brown  spots,  these  anteri- 
orly about  as  wide  as  the  intervening  yellowish  or  mottled  grayish;  the  interval 
between  the  primary  coverts  to  the  first  of  these  spots  is  about  .80  to  1.00  inch 
on  the  fourth  quill  —  the  spots  on  the  inner  and  outer  feathers  approaching  the 
coverts,  or  even  underlying  them;  the  inner  primaries  —  or,  in  fact,  the  general 
exposed  grayish  surface  —  has  much  narrower  bars  of  dusky.  Ground  color  of 
the  wings  like  the  back,  this  growing  paler  on  outer  feathers,  and  becoming 
ochraceous  basally;  the  tip  approaching  whitish;  secondaries  crossed  by  nine  or 
ten  narrow  bands  of  dusky.  Ear  tufts,  with  the  lateral  portion  of  each  web, 
ochraceous;  this  becoming  white,  somewhat  variegated  with  black,  toward  the 
end  of  the  inner  webs,  on  which  the  ochraceous  is  broadest;  medial  portion  clear, 
unvariegated  black.  Forehead  and  postocular  disk  minutely  speckled  with 
blackish  and  white;  facial  circle  continuous  brownish  black,  becoming  broken 
into  a  variegated  collar  across  the  throat.  'Eyebrows'  and  lores  grayish  white; 
eye  surrounded  with  blackish,  this  broadest  anteriorly  above  and  below,  the  pos- 
terior half  being  like  the  ear  coverts.  Face  plain  ochraceous;  chin  and  upper 
part  of  the  throat  immaculate  white,  ground  color  below  pale  ochraceous,  the  ex- 
posed surface  of  the  feathers,  however,  white;  breast  with  broad  longitudinal 
blotches  of  clear  dark  brown,  these  medial  on  the  feathers;  sides  and  flanks, 
each  feather  with  a  medial  stripe,  crossed  by  a  broad  or  broader  transverse  bars 
of  blackish  brown;  abdomen,  tibial  plumes,  and  legs  plain  ochraceous,  becoming 
nearly  white  on  lower  part  of  tarsus  and  on  the  toes;  tibial  plumes  with  a  few 
sagittate  marks  of  brownish;  lower  tail  coverts  each  having  a  medial  sagittate 
mark  of  dusky,  this  continuing  along  the  shaft,  forking  toward  the  base.  Lin- 
ing of  the  wing  plain  pale  ochraceous;  inner  primary  coverts  blackish  brown, 
forming  a  conspicuous  spot." 

Stretch  of 
Length.          wing.  Wing.         Tail.          Tarsus.         Bill.         Cere. 

Male 14.00          36.25        11.50        6.00          1.25          .65          .35 

Female...     15.00         37.75        12.00        6.25         1.30         .75         .35 

Iris  yellow;  bill  and  claws  brownish  to  bluish  black. 

This  species  appears  to  be  rather  evenly  distributed  through- 
out its  range,  and  is  one  of  the  most  common  Owls  in  the 
United  States;  but  being  strictly  nocturnal,  is  seldom  noticed.  It 
inhabits  the  scrubby  thickets  and  underbrush  skirting  the  streams, 
and  I  have  flushed  the  birds  in  tall,  rank  growth  of  reeds  and 
grasses.  Unless  suddenly  startled  they  seldom  take  wing,  pre- 


296  HISTORY  OF  THE 

ferring  to  escape  by  hopping  noiselessly  away  and  hiding  in  the 
thick  growths  surrounding  them.  They,  feed  chiefly  upon  mice 
and  other  small  nocturnal  rodents,  also  insects,  and  occasionally 
birds,  but  the  latter  are  not  so  easily  found,  and  do  not  appear 
to  be  their  natural  prey. 

Their  nests  are  placed  in  trees  and  bushes;  a  coarse,  bulky 
structure  made  of  sticks,  and  sparingly  lined  with  grasses  or 
strips  of  bark  and  feathers;  often  in  remodeled  Hawks'  and 
Crows'  nests.  Eggs  four  to  six,  1.63x1.30;  white;  inform,  sub- 
spherical. 

Asio  accipitrinus  (PALL.). 

SHORT-EARED  OWL. 
PLATE  XX. 

Resident;  common.  Begin  laying  the  last  of  April  to  first 
of  May. 

B.  5-2.     R.  396.     C.  473.     G.  183,     139.     U.  367. 

HABITAT.  The  entire  continent  of  America,  and  nearly 
throughout  the  eastern  hemisphere. 

SP.  CHAR.  "Adult:  Ground  color  of  the  head,  neck,  back,  scapulars,  rump 
and  lower  parts  pale  ochraceous;  each  feather  (except  on  the  rump)  with  a 
medial  longitudinal  stripe  of  blackish  brown  —  these  broadest  on  the  scapulars; 
on  the  back,  nape,  occiput  and  juguluin  the  two  colors  about  equal;  on  the 
lower  parts  the  stripes  grow  narrower  posteriorly,  those  on  the  abdomen  and 
sides  being  in  the  form  of  narrow  lines.  The  flanks,  legs  and  anal  region  and 
lower  tail  coverts  are  always  perfectly  immaculate;  the  legs  most  deeply  ochra- 
ceous, the  lower  tail  coverts  nearly  pure  white.  The  rump  has  obsolete  cres- 
centric  marks  of  brownish.  The  wings  are  variegated  with  the  general  dusky 
and  ochraceous  tints,  but  the  markings  are  more  irregular;  the  yellowish,  in 
form  of  indentations  or  confluent  spots,  approaching  the  shafts  from  the  edge 
— broadest  on  the  outer  webs.  Secondaries  crossed  by  about  five  bauds  of 
ochraceous,  the  last  terminal;  primary  coverts  plain  blackish  brown,  with  one 
or  two  poorly  defined  transverse  series  of  ochraceous  spots  on  the  basal  portion. 
Primaries  ochraceous  on  the  basal  two-thirds,  the  terminal  portion  clear  dark 
brown,  the  tips  (broadly)  pale  brownish  yellowish  —  this  obsolete  on  the  long- 
est; the  dusky  extends  toward  the  bases,  in  three  to  five  irregularly  transverse 
series  of  quadrate  spots  on  the  outer  webs,  leaving,  however,  a  large  basal  area 
of  plain  ochraceous  —  this  somewhat  more  whitish  anteriorly.  The  ground 
color  of  the  tail  is  ochraceous  —  this  somewhat  whitish  exteriorly  and  terminally 
—  crossed  by  five  broad  bands  (about  equaling  the  ochraceous,  but  becoming 
narrower  toward  outer  feathers)  of  blackish  brown-;  on  the  middle  feathers  the 
ochraceous  spots  enclose  smaller,  central  transverse  spots  of  blackish;  the  ter- 
minal ochraceous  band  is  broadest.  Eyebrows,  lores,  chin  and  throat  soiled 
white,  the  loral  bristles  with  black  shafts;  face  dingy  ochraceous  white,  feathers 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  297 

with  darker  shafts;  eye  broadly  encircled  with  black.  Post-orbital  circle 
minutely  speckled  with  pale  ochraceous  and  blackish,  except  immediately  be- 
hind the  ear,  where  for  about  an  inch  it  is  uniform  dusky.  Lining  of  the  wing 
immaculate  delicate  yellowish  white;  terminal  half,  of  under  primary  coverts 
clear  blackish  brown;  under  surface  of  primaries  plain  delicate  ochraceous 
white;  ends  and  one  or  two  very  broad  anterior  bands  dusky." 

Stretch  of 
Length.          wing.  Wing.         Tail.         Tarsus.          Bill.          Cere. 

Male.....      14.25         39.00         12.25        5.75         1.70          .75          .40 
Female...     16.00         41.50         13.00        6.00         1.70          .80          .40 

Iris  yellow;   bills  and  claws  brownish  to  bluish  black. 

This  species  inhabits  the  open  flats,  marshes  and  prairie  lands. 
I  have  never  met  with  these  birds  in  wooded  lands  or  thickets. 
As  a  rule,  they  are  rather  silent.  Mr.  Nelson  says  that  he  heard 
one  of  the  birds,  in  Alaska,  utter  rapidly  a  loud  cry,  which 
sounded  like  the  syllables,  "Hoo,  hoo,  hoo,  hoo,"  in  a  higher 
key  than  the  note  of  the  Horned  Owl,  and  in  a  much  less  sono- 
rous tone.  And  I  have  heard  them,  when  alarmed  for  their 
young,  utter  a  shrill,  hollow  cry,  and  at  the  same  time  make 
quite  a  noise  by  spitefully  snapping  their  bills. 

They  are  not  strictly  nocturnal,  but,  rather,  crepuscular  in  their 
habits.  I  have  seen  them  occasionally  coursing  in  dark  days 
and  often  at  twilight.  Their  flight  is  steady  and  easy,  and,  when 
hunting,  usually  hover  for  a  moment  over  their  prey  before 
dropping  upon  the  same.  Their  food  consists  chiefly  of  mice, 
ground  squirrels,  gophers,  etc. ,  and  they  are  quite  destructive  to 
small  water  birds  that  rest  at  night  in  flocks  upon  the  sand  bars 
and  shores.  I  have,  upon  dissection,  found  a  few  feathers  from 
Meadowlarks  and  Longspurs,  but  most  of  the  land  birds  roost 
in  the  thickets  and  groves,  which  are  outside  of  their  range. 

These  birds  breed  from  the  Gulf  States  north  to  within  the 
Arctic  circle,  but  seldom  south  of  the  Middle  States,  and  chiefly 
in  the  more  northern  regions.  Like  most  of  the  Owl  family, 
they  commence  sitting  from  the  time  they  begin  to  lay,  and  it 
is  not  unusual  to  find  eggs  and  young  birds  in  the  same  nest. 
A  nest  found  at  Neosho  Falls,  May  8th,  1887,  contained  seven 
young  birds,  from  half  grown  to  newly  hatched.  Their  nests 
are  usually  placed  in  thick  grass  on  marshy  or  low  prairie  lands. 
They  are  chiefly  made  of  old  grasses;  some  are  quite  bulky, 


298  HISTORY  OF   THE 

others  a  mere  hollow  worked  out  in  the  earth  to  fit  the  body, 
and  but  scantily  lined.  Eggs  four  to  eight;  white;  in  form, 
roundish  oval. 

GENUS  SYRNIUM  SAVIGNY. 

"Size  varying  from  medium  to  very  large.  No  ear  tufts.  Head  very  large, 
the  eyes  comparatively  small.  Four  to  six  outer  primaries  with  their  inner  webs 
siuuated.  Tarsi  and  upper  portion,  or  the  whole  of  the  toes,  densely  clothed 
with  hair-like  feathers.  Tail  considerably  more  than  half  as  long  as  the  wing, 
decidedly  rounded.  Ear  orifice  very  high,  but  not  so  high  as  the  skull,  and 
furnished  with  an  anterior  operculum,  which  does  not  usually  extend  along  the 
full  length;  the  two  ears  asymmetrical.  Bill  yellow." 

Syrnium  nebulosum  (FORST.). 

BARRED  OWL. 
PLATE  XX. 

Resident;  common.      Begin  laying  early  in  March. 

B.  54.     R.  397.     C.  476.     G.  184,     140.     U.  368. 

HABITAT.  Eastern  North  America;  north  to  New  Brunswick 
and  Manitoba;  south  to  Georgia  and  northern  Texas;  western 
limits  not  determined.  I  have  never  met  with  them  west  of 
Kansas.  Dr.  Woodhouse  speaks  of  the  birds  as  common  in  New 
Mexico,  and  they  may  go  that  far  west,  but  I  think  the  birds 
there  will  all  prove  to  be  the  Spotted  Owl,  S.  occidentale. 

SP.  CHAR.  "Adult:  Head,  neck,  breast,  back,  scapulars  and  rump  with  broad 
regular  transverse  bars  of  ochraceous  white  and  deep  umber  brown,  the  latter  color 
always  terminal;  on  the  upper  surface  the  brown  somewhat  exceeds  the  whitish 
in  width,  but  on  the  neck  and  breast  the  white  rather  predominates.  The  lower 
third  of  the  breast  is  somewhat  differently  marked  from  the  upper  portion,  the 
brown  bars  being  connected  along  the  shaft  of  the  feather,  throwing  the  white 
into  pairs  of  spots  on  opposite  webs.  Each  feather  of  the  abdomen,  sides,  flanks 
and  lower  tail  coverts  has  a  broad  medial-longitudinal  stripe  of  brown,  somewhat 
deeper  in  tint  than  the  transverse  bars  on  the  upper  parts;  the  anal  region 
is  plain,  more  ochraceous  white;  the  legs  have  numerous  but  rather  faiut  trans- 
verse spots  of  brown.  Ground  color  of  the  wings  and  tail  brown,  like  the  bars 
of  the  back;  middle  and  secondary  wing  coverts  with  roundish  transverse  spots 
of  nearly  pure  white  on  lower  webs;  lesser  coverts  plain  rich  brown;  seconda- 
ries crossed  by  six  bands  of  pale  grayish  brown,  passing  into  paler  on  the 
edge  of  each  feather;  the  last  is  terminal,  passing  narrowly  into  whitish;  pri- 
mary coverts  with  four  bands  of  darker  ochraceous  brown;  primaries  with  trans- 
verse series  of  quadrate  pale  brown  spots  on  the  outer  webs  (growing  deeper  in 
tint  on  inner  quills),  the  last  terminal;  on  the  longest  are  about  eight.  Tail  (like 
the  wings)  crossed  with  six  or  seven  sharply-defined  bands  of  pale  brown,  the 
last  terminal.  Face  grayish  white,  with  concentric  semicircular  bars  of  brown; 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  299 

"eyebrows"  and  lores  with  black  shafts;  a  narrow  crescent  of  black  against  ante- 
rior angle  of  the  eye.  Facial  circle  of  blackish  brown  and  creamy  white  bars, 
the  former  prevailing  along  the  anterior  edge,  the  latter  more  distinct  posteri- 
orly, and  prevailing  across  the  neck  in  front,  .where  the  brown  form  disconnected 
transverse  spots." 

Stretch  of 
Length.  u<ing.  Wing.          Tail.         Tarsus.          Sill.          Cere. 

Male 19.20          45.00         13.25         9.00          2.20          1.05          .50 

Female...      20.50         46.00        13.50        9.50         2.20         1.10          .50 

Iris  blnish  black;  bill  dull  yellow;  claws  horn  color. 

This  is  one  of  our  most  common  Owls.  I  have  occasionally 
met  with  it  in  the  deep  forest,  but  it  is  usually  found  in  the 
woodlands  bordering  the  streams,  marshes,  and  low  prairie 
lands.  At  the  approach  of  twilight  the  solitude  surrounding 
them  is  occasionally  broken  by  their  loud  laughing  call  note: 
"Waugh,  waugh,  waugh,  wah,  har,  a,"  or,  "Who,  who,  who, 
wah,  who,  a."  During  the  early  breeding  season  they  are  es- 
pecially noisy,  and  in  camp  I  have  often,  in  the  still  hours  of 
night,  been  awakened  by  their  guttural  call.  The  birds  are  said 
by  some  writers  to  occasionally  hunt  by  day,  and  they  may  do 
so  when  the  young  are  clamorous  for  food,  but  I  imagine  with 
poor  success,  for  from  my  observation  they  do  not  appear  to  see 
clearly  enough  in  daylight  to  readily  distinguish  objects;  but  as 
the  shades  of  evening  darken,  they  leave  their  retreats,  and, 
with  noiseless  wings*  and  easy,  steady  flight,  course  near  the 
ground,  ready  to  snatch  up  of  pounce  upon  the  unlucky  little 
quadrupeds  or  birds  in  sight.  Frogs  also  help  to  make  up  their 
bill  of  fare.  In  their  destruction  of  rabbits,  mice,  gophers,  etc. , 
they  are  of  great  value  to  the  farmer.  Of  course,  fowls  that  are 
allowed  to  roost  at  night  upon  outbuildings,  fences  and  trees 
fall  an  easy  prey;  but,  as  the  poorest  farmer  is  able  to  erect  a 
suitable  hen  house,  he  is  not  entitled  to  sympathy  for  any  such 
outside  loss. 

Their  nests  are  usually  placed  in  natural  cavities  of  trees,  but 
they  occasionally  breed  in  old  Hawks'  nests  in  the  forks  of  the 
branches;  a  few  feathers  and  leaves  generally  constitute  the 
lining.  Eggs  two  to  four,  2.05x1.65;  white;  in  form,  nearly 
spherical. 

*The  webs  of  the  primaries,  or  wing  quills,  of  all  Owls  that  I  have  examined,  are  remark- 
ably soft  and  pliant,  yielding  so  readily  to  the  pressure  of  the  air  as  to  enable  them  to  swiftly 
steal  unheard  upon"  their  prey. 


300  HISTORY  OF  THE 

GEXUS  NYCTALA  BKKHM. 

"Size  small.  Head  very  large,  without  ear  tufts.  Eyes  moderate;  iris  yel- 
low. Two  outer  primaries  only  with  their  inner  -webs  distinctly  emarginated. 
Tarsi  and  toes  densely,  but  closely,  feathered.  Ear  conch  very  large,  nearly  as 
high  as  the  skull,  with  an  anterior  operculum;  the  two  ears  exceedingly  asym- 
metrical, not  only  externally,  but  in  their  osteological  structure.  Forcula  not 
anchylosed  posteriorly,  but  joined  by  a  membrane." 

Nyctala  acadica  (GMET,.). 

SAW- WHET  OWL. 
PLATE  XX. 

A  winter  sojourner;  rather  rare. 

B.  56,     57.     R.  401.     C.  483.     G.  185,     141.     U.  372. 

HABITAT.  The  United  States  and  southern  British  posses- 
sions, from  the  Atlantic  to  the  Pacific;  seldom  found  in  the 
eastern  portion  south  of  Pennsylvania;  in  the  western  mountain 
regions  south  into  Mexico;  breeding  from  the  middle  United 
States  northward. 

SP.  CHAR.  "Adult:  Upper  surface,  plain  soft  reddish  olive,  almost  exactly 
as  in  N.  richardsoni;  forehead,  anterior  part  of  the  crown  and  the  facial  circle 
with  each  feather  with  a  short  medial  line  of  white;  feathers  of  the  neck  white 
beneath  the  surface,  forming  a  collar  of  blotches;  lower  webs  of  scapulars  white 
bordered  with  brown;  wing  coVerts  with  a  few  rounded  spots;  alula  with  the 
outer  feathers  broadly  edged  with  white;  primary  coverts  and  secondaries  per- 
fectly plain;  five  outer  primaries  with  semi-rounded  white  spots  on  the  outer 
webs,  these  decreasing  toward  the  ends  of  the  feathers,  leaving  but  about  four 
series  well  defined;  tail  crossed  with  three  widely  separated  narrow  bauds  of 
white,  formed  of  spots  not  touching  the  shafts  on  either  web;  the  last  baud  is 
terminal;  'eyebrow'  and  sides  of  the  throat  white;  lores  with  a  blackish  suffu- 
sion, this  more  concentrated  around  the  eye;  face  dirty  white,  feathers  indis- 
tinctly edged  with  brownish,  causing  an  obsoletely  streaked  appearance;  the 
facial  circle  in  its  extension  across  the  throat  is  converted  into  reddish  umber 
spots;  lower  parts,  generally,  silky  white,  becoming  fine  ochraceous  on  the  tibia 
and  tarsi;  sides  of  the  breast  like  the  back,  but  of  more  reddish  or  burnt  sienna 
tint;  sides  and  flanks  with  longitudinal  daubs  of  the  same;  jugulum,  abdomen, 
lower  tail  coverts,  tarsi  and  tibia  immaculate.  Young:  Upper  surface  continu- 
ous plain  dark  sepia  olive;  face  darker,  approaching  fuliginous  Vandyke,  per- 
fectly uniform;  around  edge  of  the  forehead,  a  few  shaft  lines  of  white;  scapu- 
lars with  a  concealed  spot  of  pale  ochraceous  on  lower  web;  lower  feathers  of 
wing  coverts  with  a  few  white  spots;  outer  feathers  of  the  alula  scalloped  with 
white;  primary  coverts  perfectly  plain;  five  outer  primaries  with  white  spots  on 
outer  webs,  these  diminishing  toward  the  end  of  the  feathers,  leaving  only  two 
or  three  series  well-defined;  tail  darker  than  the  wings,  with  three  narrow  bands 
composed  of  white  spots,  these  not  touching  shaft  on  either  web;  'eyebrows' 
immaculate  white;  lores  more  dusky;  face  and  eyelids  dark  Vandyke  brown; 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  301 

sides  of  the  chin  white;  throat  and  whole  breast  like  the  back,  but  the  latter 
paler  medially,  becoming  here  more  fulvous;  rest  of  lower  parts  plain  fulvous 
ochraceous,  growing  gradually  paler  posteriorly —  immaculate;  lining  of  the  wing 
dull  white;  under  surface  of  primaries  with  dusky  prevailing,  but  this  crossed 
by  bands  of  large  whitish  spots;  the  three  outer  feathers,  however,  present  a 
nearly  uniform  dusky  aspect,  being  varied  only  basally." 

Stretch  of 
Length.          wing.  Wing.          Tail.         Tarsus.          Bill.  Cere. 

Male 7.35          18.75  5.25         2.80  .85  .50  .25 

Female...     7.75         19.50          5.45         3.15  .85          .50          .25 

t 

Iris  yellow;  bill  and  claws  black;  bottoms  of  feet  yellowish 
flesh  color. 

The  natural  home  of  this  sprightly  little  Owl  is  within  the 
wild  woodlands,  though  occasionally  found  about  the  habita- 
tions of  man.  It  is  very  shy  and  retiring  in  its  habits,  rarely 
leaving  its  secluded  retreats  until  late  at  eve,  and  for  these 
reasons  is  without  doubt  much  more  common  throughout  its 
range  than  is  generally  supposed.  Its  food  consists  chiefly  of 
mice  and  insects,  also  small  birds,  but  the  latter  are  not  so 
easily  caught.  In  searching  for  food  it  glides  smoothly  and 
noiselessly  through  the  air. 

I  enter  this  bird  as  a  winter  sojourner  in  Kansas  because  (to 
my  knowledge)  they  have  only  been  seen  or  taken  in  the  fall 
and  winter,  and  I  have  never  heard  their  shrill  love  call  in  the 
State.*  Notwithstanding  this,  and  the  further  fact  that  they 
have  only  been  found  breeding  northward,  I  am  inclined  to 
think  that  they  do  occasionally  breed  throughout  their  range. 

The  birds  nest  in  old,  deserted  Woodpecker's  holes  and 
small  hollows  in  trees.  Their  eggs  are  laid  on  the  rotten 
wood  or  decayed  material  at  the  bottom;  usually  four  in  num- 
ber, 1.20x1.00;  white;  in  form,  nearly  spherical. 

GENUS  MEGASCOPS  KATTP. 

"  Size  small;  the  head  provided  with  ear  tufts.  Bill  light  colored;  Iris  yellow. 
Three  to  four  outer  quills  with  inner  webs  sinuated.  Wings  long  (more  than 
twice  the  length  of  the  tail,  which  is  short  and  slightly  rounded);  second  to 
fifth  quills  longest.  Toes  naked,  or  only  scantily  feathered.  Ear  conch  small 
and  simple;  plumage  exceedingly  variegated;  the  colors  different  shades  of 
brown,  with  rufous,  black  and  white  in  fine  mottlings  and  pencilings;  feathers 

*  A  noise  somewhat  resembling  the  filing  of  a  mill  saw,  which  accounts  for  the  name 
they  bear. 


302  HISTORY  OF  THE 

above  usually  with  blackish  shaft  streaks,  those  beneath  usually  with  five  trans- 
verse bars;  primaries  spotted  with  whitish,  and  outer  webs  of  the  lower  row  of 
scapulars  the  same,  edged  terminally  with  black.  Tail  obscurely  banded." 

Megascops  asio  (LINN.). 

SCREECH  OWL. 
PLATE  XX. 

Resident;  abundant.      Begin  laying  early  in  March. 

B.  49.     R.  402.     C.  465.     G.  186,     142.     U.  373. 

HABITAT.  Temperate  eastern  North  America;  south  to 
Georgia  and  west  to  the  Great  Plains. 

SP.  CHAB.  "Dichromatic;  the  plumage  presenting  two  distinct  phases  at  all 
ages  and  seasons;  one  grayish,  the  other  rufous." 

Grayish  Plumage. 

"Adult:  Ground  color  above  brownish  cinereous,  palest  on  the  head,  purest 
ashy  on  the  wings,  minutely  mottled  with  fine  zigzag  transverse  bars  of  black, 
each  feather  with  a  medial  ragged  stripe  of  the  same  along  the  shaft.  Inner 
webs  of  ear  tufts,  outer  webs  of  scapulars,  and  oval  spots  occupying  most  of 
the  outer  webs  of  the  two  or  three  lower  feathers  of  the  middle  and  secondary 
wing  coverts,  white,  forming  (except  on  the  first)  conspicuous  spots,  those  of 
the  scapulars  bordered  with  black;  secondaries  crossed  with  about  seven  regular 
paler  bands,  each  enclosing  a  more  irregular  dusky  one;  the  ground  color,  how- 
ever, is  so  mottled  with  grayish,  and  the  paler  bands  with  dusky,  that  they  are 
by  no  means  sharply  defined  or  conspicuous,  though  they  are  very  regular; 
alula  and  primary  coverts  more  sharply  barred  with  cream  colored  spots,  those 
on  the  former  nearly  white;  primaries  with  broad  quadrate  spots  of  creamy 
white  on  outer  webs,  these  forming  from  seven  (male)  to  eight  (female)  trans- 
verse bands,  the  last  of  which  is  not  terminal.  Tail  more  irregularly  mottled 
than  the  wings  and  crossed  by  seven  (male)  to  eight  (female)  narrow  obsolete 
( but  continuous)  pale  bands.  'Eyebrows'  white,  the  feathers  bordered  with  dusky 
(most  broadly  so  in  male);  cheeks,  ear  coverts  and  lower  throat  dull  white,  with 
transverse  bars  of  blackish  (most  numerous  in  the  male);  chin  immaculate; 
upper  eyelids  dark  brown;  facial  black;  neck  and  jugulum  like  the  cheeks,  but 
more  strongly  barred,  and  with  blackish  along  the  shaft.  Ground  color  of  the 
lower  parts  white,  each  feather  with  a  medial  stripe  of  black,  this  throwing  off 
distinct  bars  to  the  edge  of  the  feather;  the  medial  black  is  largest  on  sides  of 
the  breast,  where  it  expands  into  very  large  conspicuous  spots,  having  a  slight 
rusty  exterior  suffusion;  the  abdomen  medially,  the  anal  region  and  the  lower 
tail  coverts  are  almost  unvaried  white.  Tibia  and  tarsi  in  the  male  dull  white, 
much  barred  transversely  with  blackish;  in  the  female  pale  ochraceous,  more 
sparsely  barred  with  dark  brownish.  Lining  of  the  wing  creamy  white,  varied 
only  along  the  edge;  light  bars  on  under  surface  of  primaries  very  obsolete." 

Rufescent  Plumage. 

"Adult:  General  pattern  of  the  preceding,  but  the  grayish  tints  replaced  by 
lateritious  rufous,  very  fine  and  bright,  with  a  slight  vinaceous  cast;  this  is  uni- 
form, and  shows  no  trace  of  the  transverse  black  mottling;  there  are,  however, 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  303 

black  shaft  Hues  on  the  feathers  ( these  most  conspicuous  on  the  head  above  and 
scapulars,  and  narrower  and  more  sharply  defined  than  in  the  gray  plumage.) 
The  inner  webs  of  the  ear  tufts,  outer  webs  of  scapulars  and  lower  secondary 
and  middle  wing  coverts  are  white,  as  in  the  gray  plumage;  those  of  the  scapu- 
lars are  also  bordered  with  black.  The  secondaries,  primaries  and  tail  are  less 
bright  rufous  than  other  portions,  the  markings  as  in  the  gray  plumage,  only  the 
tints  being  different.  The  upper  eyelid,  and  in  fact  all  round  the  eye,  fine  light 
rufous;  cheeks  and  ear  coverts  paler,  scarcely  variegated;  black  facial  circle 
rather  narrower  than  in  the  gray  plumage.  Lower  parts  without  the  transverse 
bars  of  the  gray  plumage,  but  in  their  place  an  irregular  clouding  of  fine  light 
red,  like  the  back;  the  lower  parts  medially  (very  broadly)  immaculate  snowy 
white;  most  of  the  feathers  having  the  red  spotting  show  black  shaft  stripes, 
but  the  pectoral  spots  are  not  near  so  large  or  conspicuous  as  in  the  gray  bird. 
Tibia  fine  pale  ochraceous  rufous;  tarsi  the  same  posteriorly,  in  front  white 
with  cuneate  specks  of  rufous;  lower  tail  coverts  each  with  a  medial  transversely 
cordate  spot  of  dilute  rufous,  the  shaft  black.  Lining  of  the  wing  with  numer- 
ous rufous  spots." 

Stretch  of 
Length.  wing.          Wing.          Tail.         Tarsus.         Bill.  Cere. 

Male 9.00          21.00         6.20         3.25         1.20          .50  .30 

Female...      9.50          22.50         6.55         3.50         1.30          .60  .30 

Iris  yellow;  bill,  cere  and  claws  light  greenish  horn  color. 

This  is  one  of  our  most  abundant  and  well-known  night  Owls. 
It  inhabits  alike  the  woods  and  the  habitations  of  man.  Its 
food  consists  of  mice,  small  birds,  insects,  etc. ;  in  searching 
for  the  same,  it  flies  noiselessly  but  actively  about,  occasionally 
capturing  its  prey  upon  the  wing,  but  usually  pouncing  upon  it. 
These  birds  are  rather  easily  tamed. 

When  a  small  boy,  in  my  old  New  England  home,  I  reared 
one  from  the  nest,  that  was  quite  attractive,  and,  as  I  was  the 
only  one  that  fed  or  cared  for  it,  it  became  strongly  attached  to 
me,  and,  no  matter  how  roughly  handled,  never  showed  the  least 
bit  of  anger;  but,  upon  the  approach  of  a  stranger,  it  would 
erect  its  feathers  and  sharply  snap  its  bill.  At  the  sight  of  the 
house  cat  it  was  wild  with  fear  and  rage,  and  could  not  be  paci- 
fied until  Thomas  was  removed.  I  gave  it  the  liberty  of  the 
dark  garret  beneath  the  roof  of  our  house,  and  in  the  center  of 
the  room  placed  corn,  bread  and  toasted  cheese  to  attract  the 
mice,  and,  from  the  ejected  pellets  of  mouse  hair,  I  know  that  it 
captured  many  mice.  At  night  or  in  a  dark  place,  it  would 
come  to  me  at  call,  and  alight  on  my  arm  or  hand,  take  and 
readily  eat  insects  and  small  bits  of  food,  but,  if  the  piece  was 


304:  HISTORY  OF  THE 

large,  would  fly  with  it  to  its  perch  before  attempting  to  eat  it. 
In  daytime  it  seldom  came  at  call,  but  would  always  answer 
with  a  low,  guttural,  rattling  note.  Boy-like,  it  was  one  of  my 
chief  delights  at  eve  to  drop  a  mouse  from  a  trap  into  a  box. 
At  sight  of  the  mouse  it  would  raise  its  feathers,  quiver  with  ex- 
citement and  eagerly  pounce  upon  it,  bite  it  through  the  back 
until  limp  or  dead,  then,  with  a  chuckling  note  of  satisfaction, 
carry  it  to  its  perch.  The  birds  make  quite  a  variety  of  low 
sounds,  but  the  only  one  heard  at  a  distance  is  its  screeching, 
tremulous,  wailing  call  note  or  song,  so  often  heard  at  eve  and 
during  the  night,  especially  when  the  rnoon  is  shining. 

Their  nests  are  placed  in  holes  in  trees,  occasionally  in  nooks 
in  buildings.  They  are  sparingly  lined  with  grasses,  leaves  and 
feathers.  Eggs  four  to  six,  1.40x1.22;  pure  white;  in  form, 

subspherical. 

GENUS  BUBO  CUVIER. 

"Two  to  three  outer  quills  with  their  inner  webs  emarginated.  Ear  tufts 
well  developed;  loral  feathers  not  hiding  the  bill,  and  the  claws  and  terminal 
scutella  of  the  toes  exposed.  Lower  tail  coverts  not  reaching  the  end  of  the 
tail." 

Bubo  virginianus  (GMEL.). 

GREAT  HORNED  OWL. 
PLATE  XX. 

Resident;  common.      Begin  laying  the  last  of  February. 

B.  48.     R.  405.     C.  462.     G.  187,     143.     U.  375. 

HABITAT.  Eastern  North  America;  west  to  the  edge  of  the 
Great  Plains;  south  through  eastern  Mexico,  to  Costa  Rica. 

SP.  CHAR.  "Plumage  varies  more  or  less  in  depth  of  coloration.  Adult: 
Bases  of  the  feathers  yellowish  rufous,  this  partially  exposed  on  the  head  above 
the  nape,  along  the  scapulars,  oil  the  rump,  and  sides  of  the  breast.  On  the 
upper  surface  this  is  overlaid  by  a  rather  coarse  transverse  mottling  of  brownish 
black  upon  a  white  ground,  the  former  rather  predominating,  particularly  on  the 
head  and  neck,  where  it  forms  broad,  ragged,  longitudinal  stripes,  (almost  oblit- 
erating the  transverse  bars,)  becoming  prevalent,  or  blended,  anteriorly.  The 
lower  feathers  of  the  scapulars,  and  some  of  the  lower  feathers  of  the  middle 
and  secondary  wing  coverts,  with  inconspicuous  transverse  spots  of  white.  On 
the  secondaries  the  mottling  is  finer,  giving  a  grayish  aspect,  and  crossed  with 
eight  sharply-defined  but  inconspicuous  bands  of  mottled  dusky;  primary  cov- 
erts with  the  ground  color  very  dark,  and  crossed  with  three  or  four  bands  of 
plain  blackish,  the  last  terminal,  though  fainter  than  the  rest;  ground  color  of 
the  primaries  more  yellowish,  the  mottling  more  delicate;  they  are  crossed  by 
nine  transverse  series  of  quadrate  dusky  spots.  The  ground  color  of  the  tail  is 


1URD8  OF  KANSAS.  305 

pale  oehraceous  (transversely  mottled  with  duskyl,  becoming  white  at  the  tip, 
crossed  by  seven  bands  of  mottled  blackish,  these  about  equaling  the  light  bands 
in  width;  on  the  middle  feathers  the  bauds  are  broken  and  confused,  running 
obliquely,  or,  in  places,  longitudinally.  Outer  webs  of  ear  tufts  pure  black;  inner 
shafts  almost  wholly  ochraceous;  eyebrows  and  lores  white,  the  feathers  with 
black  shafts;  face  dingy  rufous;  eye  very  narrowly  encircled  with  whitish;  a 
crescent  of  black  bordering  the  upper  eyelid,  and  confluent  with  the  black  of 
the  ear  tufts.  Facial  circle  continuous  black,  except  across  the  foreueck;  chin, 
throat  and  jugulum  pure  immaculate  white,  to  the  roots  of  the  feathers.  Be- 
neath, white  prevails,  but  the  yellowish  rufous  is  prevalent  oil  the  sides  of  the 
breast,  and  shows  as  the  base  color  wherever  the  feathers  are  disarranged.  The 
sides  of  the  breast,  sides  and  flanks  have  numerous  sharply  defined  narrow 
transverse  bars  of  brownish  black;  anteriorly  these  are  finer  and  more  ragged, 
becoming  coalesced  so  as  to  form  conspicuous,  somewhat  longitudinal,  black 
spots.  On  the  lower  tail  coverts  the  bars  are  distant,  though  not  less  sharply 
defined.  The  abdomen  medially  is  scarcely  maculate  white.  Young:  Wings 
and  tail  as  in  adult.  Downy  plumage  of  head  and  body  ochraceous,  with  de- 
tached, rather  distant,  transverse  bars  of  dusky." 

Stretch  of 
Length.          -wing.  Wing.  Tail.         Tarsus.          Bill.          Cere. 

Male 21.50         52.00        14.50        8.50         2.20         1.05          .50 

Female...     23.00        55.00        15.50        9.00         2.25         1.10          .50 

Iris  yellow;  bill,  cere  and  claws  black. 

This  bird  inhabits  not  only  the  wooded  lands,  but  our  broad 
prairies,  resting  during  the  day  in  thickets,  hollow  trees,  clefts 
in  rocks,  or  most  any  secluded  spot.  I  have  occasionally 
started  them  from  a  hummock,  in  a  rank  growth  of  tall  grass. 
They  are  not  strictly  a  night  bird,  as  I  have  often  seen  them 
during  the  day,  while  rearing  their  young,  in  search  of  food; 
but,  unless  pressed  by  hunger,  seldom  venture  out  until  the  little 
day  birds,  that  annoy  them  greatly,  have  retired  to  their  roosts. 
At  twilight  and  on  moonlight  nights  they  are  the  most  active, 
flying  noiselessly  and  with  ease  through  the  timber  and  over 
the  open  ground  in  search  of  rabbits,  mice,  and  other  small 
quadrupeds  that  feed  and  run  about  at  night,  doing  great  dam- 
age to  the  farmer  in  his  fields.  It  is,  therefore,  one  of  our  most 
beneficial  birds,  and  not  injurious,  except  to  the  owners  of  fowls 
that  are  either  too  lazy,  or  not  thoughtful  enough,  to  house  them 
at  night. 

In  olden  times  the  Owls,  on  account  of  their  rounded  heads, 
large  bright  eyes,  and  stately  mien,  were  selected  by  the  philos- 
ophers as  emblems  of  wisdom;  but  their  gloomy  habits  and 

-20 


306  UI8TOMY  OF  THE 

night  wanderings  impressed  the  superstitious  with  the  thought 
that  they  were  the  embodiment  of  evil  spirits,  and  their  hoots 
that  broke  the  stillness  of  night  struck  terror  to  their  hearts,  as 
well  as  to  the  awakened  birds  upon  the  perch,  and  their  voice 
was  supposed  to  bode  no  good,  and  their  silent  visits  the  fore- 
runner of  death.  But  of  late  years,  as  we  come  to  know  their 
ways  and  habits  better,  we  more  properly  associate  them  with 
the  feline  race  —  emblems  of  desolation;  and  this  powerful  bird 
may  well  be  called  the  tiger  among  birds.  Its  loud,  guttural, 
"Whaugh,  ho,  hoo,  hoo,"  is  not  only  a  note  of  love,  but  one  of 
defiance.  The  birds  are,  however,  very  attentive  parents,  both 
assisting  in  hatching  and  rearing  their  young.  The  female  (as 
is  the  case  with  nearly  all  birds  of  prey)  is  the  larger  bird,  in 
order  to  protect  the  family  in  case  of  a  quarrel  with  her  mate, 
and  from  his  too  aggressive  advances. 

It  nests  in  natural  cavities  of  trees,  deserted  nests  of  Hawks, 
and,  on  the  plains  or  prairies,  in  fissures  of  rocks;  nest  scantily 
lined  with  leaves  and  grasses.  Eggs  two  to  four,  2.25x1.90; 
white;  in  form,  subspherical. 

Bubo  virginianus  subarcticus  (HOT). 

WESTERN  HORNED  OWL. 
PLATE  XX. 

Resident  in  western  Kansas;  rare. 

B.  .     R.  405a.     C.  463.     G.  ,     144.     U.  375a. 

HABITAT.  Western  United  States;  north  into  Manitoba;  south 
over  the  table  lands  of  Mexico;  east  across  the  Great  Plains  to 
western  Texas  and  western  Manitoba;  straggling  occasionally 
eastward. 

SP.  CHAB.  "  Pattern  of  coloration  like  that  of  B.' virginianus,  but  the  general 
aspect  much  lighter  and  more  grayish,  caused  by  a  greater  prevalence  of  the 
lighter  tints,  and  contraction  of  dark  penciliugs;  the  ochraceous  much  lighter 
and  less  rufous;  face  soiled  white,  instead  of  deep  dingy  rufous." 

This  western  form  does  not  appear  to  differ  in  size,  actions 
or  habits  from  the  Great  Horned  Owl. 

GENUS  NYCTEA  STEPHENS. 

Ear  tufts  rudimentary;  tail  not  reaching  beyond  tips  of  lower  coverts;  four 
outer  quills  with  inner  webs  emargiuated;  toes  covered  with  long,  hair-like 
feathers,  partly  or  wholly  concealing  the  claws;  bill  nearly  concealed  by  the 
loral  feathers,  (llidgway.) 


D   UJ 


d  -31  oi 

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W  Is 

P  u.  .. 

5  V§ 

j  9 

Pk  .  5 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  307 

Nyctea  nyctea  (Lixx.). 
SNOWY  OWL. 

PLATE  XXI. 

Winter  resident;  rather  irregular;  at  times  quite  common. 
Begin  to  arrive  as  early  as  the  first  of  November,  usually  re- 
turning by  the  first  of  February. 

B.  61.     R.  406.     C.  479.     G.  188,     145.     U.  376. 

HABITAT.  The  northern  portion  of  the  northern  hemisphere; 
migrating  south  in  winter;  in  North  America,  as  far  as  Texas 
and  South  Carolina;  accidental  to  the  Bermudas. 

SP.  CHAR.  Adult  male:  Plumage  pure  white,  sometimes  almost  immaculate, 
but  usually  marked  more  or  less  with  transverse  spots  or  bars  of  clear  slaty 
brown  on  top  of  head,  back  and  scapulars,  the  quills  and  tail  feathers  with 
dusky  spots  near  ends;  lower  parts  usually  marked  more  or  less  on  belly,  sides 
and  flanks  with  narrow  bars  of  clear  slaty  brown,  but  these  markings  sometimes 
altogether  wanting.  Adult  female:  Much  darker  colored  than  male,  only  the 
face,  foreneck,  middle  of  breast  and  feet  being  immaculate,  other  portions  being 
heavily  barred  with  dusky,  the  top  of  the  head  and  hindneck  spotted  with  the 
same.  Downy  young:  Uniform  dusky  brown,  or  deep  sooty  grayish,  paler  on 
feet  and  legs.  (Bidgway.) 

Stretch  of  Bill  and 

Length.          wing.          Wing.          Tail.         Tarsus.       Cere. 

Male 22.00        58.00        15.50          9.25        1.80        1.50 

Female...     24.00        61.50        17.30        10.00        1.85        1.60 

Iris  yellow;  bill  and  claws  horn  blue,  nearly  black  at  tips. 

This  large,  handsome  Owl  hunts  for  its  prey  by  day,  as  well 
as  at  dusk,  and  does  not  appear  to  avoid  the  bright  sunshine, 
as  it  is  often  to  be  seen  at  such  times  perched  upon  a  snow- 
crowned  knoll,  where  the  glare  of  the  sun  to  us  would  be  painful. 

In  flight  they  are  very  active,  skimming  along  near  the 
ground,  grasping  in  their  claws  the  unlucky  rabbit  or  Grouse  in 
their  course.  Their  breeding  habits  are  only  known  to  those 
who  have  been  so  fortunate  as  to  meet  with  them  in  their  north- 
ern home.  Mr.  Nelson,  in  his  "Keport  of  Natural  History  Col- 
lection in  Alaska,"  gives  the  following  interesting  account  of 
these  birds: 

"From  the  Sitkan  region  north  to  the  fartherest  point  of 
that  Territory  the  present  bird  keeps  mainly  to  the  more  barren 
portions  of  the  coast  and  interior,  and  is  always  found  less 
numerous  where  trees  are  abundant.  It  occurs  also  upon  tlie 


308  HISTORY  OF   THE 

islands  of  Behring  Sea,  and  more  sparingly  upon  the  Aleutian 
chain,  where  it  is  rare.  It  is  resident  at  Point  Barrow,  and 
also  on  the  Near  Islands.  On  Behring  Island  it  has  become 
abundant  since  the  introduction  of  mice.  On  June  12,  1877, 
we  were  on  a  vessel  about  seventy-five  miles  east  of  the  Fur  Sea 
Islands,  when  one  of  these  birds  came  on  board  and  remained 
most  of  the  night  in  the  rigging,  but  left  early  in  the  morning. 

"  The  Eskimo  are  well  acquainted  with  these  birds  and  with 
their  habits,  and  one  man  told  me  he  had  seen  these  Owls  catch 
the  large  Arctic  hare  by  planting  one  foot  in  the  hare's  back, 
and  stretching  the  other  foot  back  and  dragging  its  claws  on 
the  snow  and  ground.  At  the  same  time  the  bird  used  his 
wings  to  hold  back,  by  reverse  strokes,  until  the  hare  soon  be- 
came exhausted,  when  it  was  easily  killed. 

"On  the  lower  Mackenzie,  Richardson  relates  that  one  of  the 
Hudson's  Bay  Company's  factors,  Mr.  McPherson,  saw  one  of 
these  Owls  fly  over  a  cliff  and  carry  off  a  full-fledged  Duck 
Hawk  in  its  claws.  It  crossed  the  river  to  the  other  bank, 
where  it  lit  on  the  shore  to  devour  its  prey.  The  parent  Hawk 
followed,  uttering  loud  .screams,  and,  darting  down  with  great 
rapidity,  killed  the  Owl  with  a  single  stroke,  but  whether  with 
the  wing  or  claw  could  not  be  determined.  After  this  summary 
act  of  vengence  the  Falcon  returned  to  its  nest. 

"This  Owl  also  preys  upon  Ducks,  as  Stejneger  saw  it  pur- 
sue Sea  Ducks  on  the  reefs  of  Behring  Island. 

"North  of  Hudson  Straits  Kumlien  found  Snowy  Owls  rather 
scarce  during  the  winter,  and  saw  them  hunting  during  the  day, 
but  notes  their  excessive  shyness.  This  shyness  seems  to  be 
characteristic  of  the  bird  through  its  northern  range,  and  even 
upon  the  lonely  and  almost  unknown  Wrangel  Island,  where, 
upon  our  landing,  one  of  the  birds  was  seen,  it  arose  hastily 
and  left  for  the  interior,  although  we  were  about  two  hundred 
yards  from  it  when  it  first  caught  sight  of  us.  It  has  been  re- 
ported as  a  resident  of  the  Aleutian  Islands,  where  Dall  saw  a 
dead  bird  and  fragments  of  skins  of  others  at  Unalsaka.  It  is 
more  common  in  the  northern  part  of  the  Territory,  where  its 
distribution,  however,  is  irregular,  it  being  abundant  at  one  sea- 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  309 

son  and  almost  totally  Unknown  the  next.  I  was  informed  by 
Captain  Smith  —  a  well  known  whaling  captain  of  that  region  — 
that  he  had  seen  as  many  as  fifty  of  these  birds  perched  in  view 
at  one  time  along  the  abrupt  coast  line  of  the  Arctic,  in  the 
vicinity  of  Cape  Lisburne,  and  yet  they  were  so  shy  that  it  was 
impossible  to  secure  a  single  bird.  It  breeds  upon  the  ground, 
as  far  south  as  the  mouth  of  the  Kuskoquim,  especially  during 
the  years  when  lemmings  are  abundant,  when  this  Owl  also 
becomes  proportionately  numerous.  The  natives  told  me  of 
seasons,  separated  by  long  intervals,  when  the  lemmings  have 
occurred  in  the  greatest  abundance,  and  the  White  Owl  accom- 
panying them  in  such  numbers  that  they  were  seen  dotting  the 
country  here  and  there  as  they  perched  upon  the  scattered 
knolls.  During  such  seasons  the  Owls  nest  on  the  hillsides, 
laving,  according  to  the  natives,  from  five  to  ten  eggs,  in  a 
grassy  depression  in  a  sheltered  spot  on  the  hillside.  The  last 
time  when  they  were  so  abundant  about  a  dozen  pairs  were 
found  nesting  upon  an  isolated  hill  near  the  coast,  just  east  of 
St.  Michael's,  as  I  was  informed  by  several  different  persons. 

"On  one  occasion,  while  traveling  south  of  the  Yukon,  in 
December,  I  secured  a  beautiful  specimen  of  this  bird,  which 
was  nearly  immaculate  milky  white,  with  a  rich  and  extremely 
beautiful  shade  of  clear  lemon  yellow  suffusing  the  .entire  bird, 
exactly  as  the  rosy  blush  clothes  the  entire  plumage  of  some 
gulls  in  the  spring.  The  bird  was  kept  until  the  next  morning; 
an  examination  then  showed  that  beautiful  tinge  had  vanished 
and  the  feathers  had  become  dead  white,  with  a  bare  trace  of 
the  coloring  seen  the  previous  evening.  The  birds  showing 
the  largest  amount  of  white  are  usually  males. 

"The  highest  latitudes  reached  by  Arctic  explorers  have  not 
exceeded  the  bounds  of  this  hardy  bird,  which  is  represented  by 
a  similar  or  identical  form  around  the  northern  shores  of  the 
old  world.  In  the  'History  of  North  American  Birds,'  the 
American  bird  is  separated  from  the  European  by  the  greater 
amount  of  white  possessed  by  the  latter.  It  is  rather  common  to 
find  pure  white  specimens  of  this  bird,  from  the  northern  part 
of  America,  marked  by  a  very  few  scattered  spots  upon  the  back. 


310  HISTORY  OF  THE 

A  specimen  sent  to  the  National  Museum  from  Sitka,  taken  dur- 
ing the  winter  of  1881-82,  has  a  larger  amount  of  black  mark- 
ings than  any  bird  I  have  seen.  It  may  indicate  a  local  dark 
colored  form  in  that  region. 

"The  Snowy  Owl  is  said  to  nest  in  Lapland,  after  a  great 
lemming  season,  and  in  northern  Norway  as  well.  When  it 
nests  there,  it  always  chooses  a  hilltop  or  hillside.  The  eggs, 
which  are  from  six  to  eight  or  more  in  number,  measure  from 
2.05x1.02  to  2.25x1.77,  and  are  of  a  roundish,  oval  form;  the 
color  is  white,  and  the  shell  has  a  fine  texture.  Like  numerous 
other  birds,  this  Owl  figures  largely  in  the  mythologic  tales  of 
the  northwestern  Eskimo,  one  of  which,  in  particular,  is  an  in- 
teresting account  of  the  way  in  which  man  learned  the  use  of 
various  implements,  by  the  experience  of  a  metamorphosed  Owl. 
It  does  not  appear  to  have  been  a  very  common  bird  near  the 
winter  quarters  of  the  Vega,  although  every  explorer  has  found 
it  wherever  he  has  penetrated  the  Arctic. 

"  Wrangel  accuses  these  birds  of  being  carrion  eaters  in  north- 
ern Siberia.  During  the  Nares  Arctic  expedition,  these  birds 
were  found  nesting  on  Grinnell  Land,  in  latitude  82°  33'  north, 
on  June  24th,  when  a  nest  with  seven  eggs  was  found.  The 
eggs  were  placed  in  a  mere  hollow,  scooped  out  of  the  earth,  on 
the  top  of  a  rise,  in  the  center  of  a  valley.  They  were  found 
nesting  in  abundance  by  the  same  party  in  latitude  81°." 

GENUS  SPEOTYTO  GI.OGEB. 

"Size  small;  head  small,  and  without  ear  tufts.  Bill  moderately  strong, 
pale  yellowish.  Tarsi  more  than  twice  as  long  as  the  middle  toe,  feathered  in 
front,  naked  behind;  toes  scantily  haired.  Tail  short,  less  than  half  the  wing, 
nearly  even,  or  very  slightly  rounded.  Three  outer  quills  with  their  inner  webs 
einarginated;  second  to  fourth  longest.  Ear  conch  very  small,  simple,  roundish. 
Diurnal  and  terrestial." 

Speotyto  cunicularia  hypogsea  (BONAP.). 

BURROWING  OWL. 
PLATE  XXI. 

Resident;  abundant  in  the  middle  and  western  part  of  the 
State.  Begin  laying  about  the  middle  of  April. 

B.  58,     59.     R.  408.     C.  487.     G.  189,     146.     U.  378. 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  311 

HABITAT.  Western  North  America;  north  to  or  a  little  be- 
yond the  northern  boundary  of  the  United  States;  south  to 
Guatemala;  east  to  middle  Texas  and  Nebraska;  occasionally 
straggle  eastward.  A  specimen  captured  in  New  York  city, 
and  one  in  Massachusetts,  I  think  cage  birds  rather  than  strag- 
glers, as  reported.  (The  birds  in  Florida  are  variety  Jtoridana.) 

SP.  CHAR.  '•'•Adult:  Above,  earth  browii,  the  whole  surface  covered  with 
numerous  spots  of  dull  white,  those  on  the  scapulars  roundish  and  in  pairs  (on 
both  webs);  of  similar  form,  but  larger  and  more  sparse,  on  the  wings.  Ante- 
riorly they  become  more  longitudinal  (nearly  linear)  and  medial;  on  the  rump 
and  upper  tail  coverts  they  are  nearly  obsolete.  Secondaries  crossed  by  four 
distinct  bands  of  dull  white,  the  last  terminal;  primaries  with  five  to  six  trans- 
verse series  of  semi-rounded  spots  of  ochraceous  white  on  their  outer  webs; 
primary  coverts  with  about  three  transverse  series  of  whitish  spots.  Tail  with 
five  to  six  bands  of  dull  white  or  pale  ochraceous  (the  last  terminal),  composed 
of  transverse  oval  spots,  those  on  the  middle  pair  of  feathers  not  touching  either 
the  shaft  or  the  edge.  Ear  coverts  uniform  brown,  becoming  gradually  paler 
beneath  the  eye  and  on  the  cheeks;  eyebrows,  a  transverse  chin  patch  (covering 
the  whole  chin  and  jaw  and  reaching  back  beneath  the  auriculars),  and  another 
across  the  jugulum,  immaculate  cottony  white;  shafts  of  the  loral  bristles  black- 
ish; a  broad,  well-defined  collar  across  the  throat,  between  the  white  malar  and 
jugular  bauds,  deep  brown,  mixed  with  paler  spots.  Beneath,  whitish  with  an 
ochraceous  tinge,  deepest  on  the  legs;  the  breast,  abdomen  and  sides  with  trans- 
verse spots  of  brown,  this  often  predominating  on  the  breast;  legs,  anal  region 
and  crissum  immaculate.  Whole  lining  of  the  wing  immaculate  creamy  white, 
the  primary  coverts,  however,  with  large  terminal  spots  of  dusky;  under  surface 
of  the  primaries  grayish  brown  (deeper  terminally),  and  with  large  transversely- 
ovate  spots  of  ochraceous  white  (about  five  in  number  on  the  longest  quill),  and 
growing  larger  basally.  Young:  Upper  surface  earth  brown,  as  in  the  adult,  but 
entirely  uniform  (except  the  wings  and  tail );  upper  tail  coverts  and  a  large  oval 
patch  on  the  wing  (covering  the  middle  coverts  and  the  posterior  half  of  the 
lesser  covert  region)  plain  Isabella  white;  the  anterior  portion  of  the  lesser  cov- 
ert region  darker  brown  than  the  back.  Gular  region  well-defined  pure  white; 
jugular  collar  conspicuous  and  unspotted.  Whole  lower  parts  immaculate  Isa- 
bella white." 

Stretch  of 
Length.          -wing.          Wing.  Tail.         Tarsus.  Bill.  Cere. 

Male 9.50          24.00         7.00         3.40         1.80  .65          .20 

Female...       9.25          23.50         6.80         3.30         1.80  .65  .20 

Iris  yellow;  bill  light  greenish  yellow;  cere  and  claws  black- 
ish; feet  dull  brown.  The  above  dimensions  are  from  a  pair 
in  "The  Goss  Ornithological  Collection."  From  the  measure- 
ments I  have  taken  of  many  others,  I  do  not  think  the  sexes  dif- 
fer in  size.  In  all  other  birds  of  prey  the  female  is  decidedly 
the  larger  bird. 


312  HISTORY  OF  T1IE 

Dr.  Coues,  in  his  "Birds  of  the  Northwest,"  gives  the  fol- 
lowing full  and  interesting  description  of  its  habits: 

"The  Burrowing  Owl  is  the  only  bird  of  its  family  inhabit- 
ing in  any  numbers  the  entirely  treeless  regions  of  the  West, 
and  may  be  considered  characteristic  of  the  plains.  Wherever 
it  can  find  shelter  in  the  holes  of  such  animals  as  wolves,  foxes 
and  badgers,  and  especially  of  the  various  species  of  marmot 
squirrels,  there  it  is  found  in  abundance;  and  in  not  a  few  in- 
stances small  colonies  are  observed  living  apart  from  their  ordi- 
nary associates,  in  holes  apparently  dug  by  themselves.  They 
constitute  a  notable  exception  to  the  general  rule  of  arboricole 
habits  in  this  family,  being  especially  fitted  by  their  conforma- 
tion for  the  subterranean  mode  of  life  for  which  they  are  de- 
signed, and  are  furthermore  exceptional  in  their  gregarious 
disposition,  here  carried  to  the  extreme.  The  diffusion  of  the 
species  in  the  West  is  so  general  that  there  is  little  occasion  to 
mention  particular  localities. 

"The  Owls  are  by  no  means  confined  to  the  dog  towns,  nor 
even  to  the  similar  communities  of  other  gregarious  sper- 
mophiles.  They  sometimes  occupy  the  underground  dens  of 
wolves,  foxes  and  badgers.  In  South  America,  the  representa- 
tive race  lives  among  the  bizcachas  (Lagostomus  tzichodactylm} 
that  inhabit  the  Pampas.  On  some  occasions  the  birds  have 
been  found  alone,  residing  apparently  in  burrows  excavated  by 
themselves,  as  already  stated.  They  are  by  no  means  noctur- 
nal; able  to  endure  the  sunlight  without  inconvenience,  they 
may  be  observed  abroad  at  all  hours.  It  has  been  stated  that 
in  autumn,  at  the  approach  of  cold  weather,  they  retire  into 
their  burrows  to  hibernate  —  a  fable  matching  the  one  that  as- 
cribes to  Swallows  the  habit  of  diving  into  the  mud  to  pass  the 
winter  in  repose  along  with  torpid  frogs.  In  most  localities  the 
birds  are  abroad  the  year  round;  their  disappearance  in  inclem- 
ent regions  is  accomplished,  if  at  all,  by  ordinary  migration. 
In  California  I  saw  them,  bright  and  lively  as  crickets,  in  No- 
vember. 

"I  never  undertook  to  unearth  the  nest  of  a  Burrowing  Owl, 
but  others  have  been  more  zealous  in  the  pursuit  of  knowledge 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  313 

under  difficulties.  Dr.  Cooper  says  that  he  once  dug  two  fresh 
e^ffs  out  of  a  burrow,  which  he  followed  down  for  three  feet, 

OO 

and  then  traced  for  five  feet  horizontally,  at  the  end  of  which 
he  found  an  enlarged  chamber,  where  the  eggs  were  deposited 
on  a  few  feathers.  In  his  interesting  note  in  the  American 
Naturalist,  Dr.  C.  S.  Canfield  gives  a  more  explicit  account  of 
the  nesting:  'I  once  took  pains  to  dig  out  a  nest  of  the  Athene 
canicular ia.  I  found  that  the  burrow  was  about  four  feet  long, 
and  the  nest  was  only  about  two  feet  from  the  surface  of  the 
ground.  The  nest  was  made  in  a  cavity  of  the  ground  of  about  a 
foot  in  diameter,  well  filled  with  dry,  soft  horse  dung,  bits  of  old 
blanket,  and  fur  of  a  coyote  (Canis  latrans)  that  I  had  killed  a 
few  days  before.  One  of  the  parent  birds  was  on  the  nest,  and 
I  captured  it.  It  had  no  intention  of  leaving  the  nest,  even 
when  entirely  uncovered  with  the  shovel  and  exposed  to  the 
open  air.  It  fought  bravely  with  beak  and  claws.  I  found 
seven  young  ones,  perhaps  eight  or  ten  days  old,  well  covered 
with  down,  but  without  any  feathers.  The  whole  nest,  as  well 
as  the  birds  (old  and  young),  swarmed  with  fleas.  It  was  the 
filthiest  nest  I  ever  saw.  In  the  passage  leading  to  it  there  were 
small  scraps  of  dead  animals,  such  as  pieces  of  the  skin  of  the 
antelope,  half  dried  and  half  putrified,  the  skin  of  the  coyote, 
etc. ;  and  near  the  nest  were  the  remains  of  a  snake  that  I  had 
killed  two  days  before,  a  large  Coluber,  two  feet  long.  The 
birds  had  begun  at  the  snake's  head  and  had  picked  off  the 
flesh  clean  from  the  vertebra  and  ribs  for  about  one  half  its 
length;  the  other  half  of  the  snake  was  entire.  The  material 
on  which  the  young  birds  rested  was  at  least  three  inches  deep. 
There  are  very  few  birds  that  carry  more  rubbish  into  their 
nests  than  the  Atliene;  and  even  the  Vultures  are  not  much 
more  filthy.  I  am  satisfied  that  the  A.  cunicularia  lays  a  larger 
number  of  eggs  than  is  attributed  to  it  in  Dr.  Brewer's  book 
(four).  I  have  frequently  seen,  late  in  the  season,  six,  seven 
or  eight  young  birds  standing  around  the  mouth  of  a  burrow, 
isolated  from  others  in  such  a  manner  that  I  could  not  suppose 
that  they  belonged  to  two  or  more  families.' 

"The  notes  of  the  Burrowing  Owl  are  peculiar.      The  birds 


- 


'314:  HISTORY  OF  THE 

do  not  'hoot,'  nor  is  there  anything  lugubrious  or  foreboding 
in  their  cry.  Sometimes  they  chuckle,  chatter  and  squeal  in  an 
odd  way,  as  if  they  had  caught  a  habit  of  barking  from  the 
'dogs'  they  live  with,  and  were  trying  to  imitate  the  sound; 
but  their  nocturnal  cry  is  curiously  similar  to  that  of  the  Rain 
Crow  or  Cuckoo  of  America  —  so  much  so,  that  more  than  one 
observer  has  been  deceived.  They  scream  hoarsely  when 
wounded  and  caught,  though  this  is  but  seldom,  since,  if  any  life 
remains,  they  scramble  quickly  into  a  hole,  and  are  not  easy  to 
recover.  The  flight  is  perfectly  noiseless,  like  that  of  other 
Owls,  owing  to  the  peculiar  downy  texture  of  the  plumage. 
By  day  they  seldom  fly  far  from  the  entrance  of  their  burrow, 
and  rarely,  if  ever,  mount  in  the  air.  I  never  saw  one  on  the 
wing  more  than  a  few  moments  at  a  time,  just  long  enough  for 
it  to  pass  from  one  hillock  to  another,  as  it  does  by  skimming 
low  over  the  surface  of  the  ground,  in  a  rapid,  easy,  and  rather 
graceful  manner.  They  live  chiefly  upon  insects,  especially  grass- 
hoppers; they  also  feed  upon  lizards,  as  I  once  determined  by 
dissection,  and  there  is  no  doubt  that  young  prairie  dogs  furnish 
them  many  a  meal.  Under  ordinary  circumstances,  they  are 
not  very  shy  or  difficult  to  procure;  I  once  secured  several  spec- 
imens in  a  few  minutes,  and,  I  fear,  left  some  others  to  languish 
and  die  in  their  holes.  As  commonly  observed,  perched  on  one 
of  the  innumerable  little  eminences  that  mark  a  dog  town,  amid 
their  curious  surroundings,  they  present  a  spectacle  not  easily 
forgotten.  Their  figure  is  peculiar;  with  their  long  legs  and 
short  tail,  the  element  of  the  grotesque  is  never  wanting.  It  is 
hard  to  say  whether  they  look  most  ludicrous  as  they  stand 
stiffly  erect  and  motionless,  or  when  they  suddenly  turn  tail  to 
duck  into  the  hole,  or  when  engaged  in  their  various  antics. 
Bolt  upright,  on  what  may  be  imagined  their  rostrum,  they  gaze 
about  with  a  bland  and  self-satisfied  but  earnest  air,  as  if  about 
to  address  an  audience  upon  a  subject  of  great  pith  arid  moment. 
They  suddenly  bow  low,  with  profound  gravity,  and,  rising  ab- 
ruptly, they  begin  to  twitch  their  faces  and  roll  their  eyes  about 
in  the  most  mysterious  manner,  gesticulating  wildly,  every  now 
and  then  bending  forward  till  the  breast  almost  touches  the 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  315 

ground,  to  propound  the  argument  with  more  telling  effect; 
then  they  face  about  to  address  the  rear,  that  all  may  alike  feel 
the  force  of  their  logic;  they  draw  themselves  up  to  the  fullest 
height,  outwardly  calm  and  self-contained,  pausing  in  the  dis- 
course to  note  its  effect  upon  the  audience  and  collect  their  wits 
for  the  next  rhetorical  flourish.  And  no  distant  likeness  between 
these  frothy  orators  and  others  is  found  in  the  celerity  with 
which  they  subside  and  seek  their  holes  on  the  slightest  intima- 
tion of  danger." 

Eggs  usually  four  to  seven  (as  high  as  eleven  have  been  taken), 
1.22x1.04;  pure  white;  in  form,  subspherical. 


ORDER  PSITTACI. 

PARROTS,  MACAWS,   PAROQUETS,   ETC. 

"Bill  enormously  thick,  short,  high,  much  arched  from  the  base;  the  upper 
mandible  strongly  hooked  at  the  end,  cered  at  base  and  freely  movable  by  com- 
plete articulation  with  the  forehead;  the  under  mandible  with  short,  broad, 
truncate  symphysis.  Feet  permanently  zygodactyle  by  reversion  of  the  fourth 
toe,  which  articulates  by  a  double  facet.  Tarsi  reticulate.  Syrnix  peculiarly 
constructed,  of  three  pairs  of  intrinsic  mucles.  Tongue  short,  thick,  fleshy. 
Sternum  entire  or  fenestrate.  Clavicles  weak,  defective  or  wanting.  Orbit  more 
or  less  completed  by  approach  or  union  of  postorbital  process  and  lachrymal. 
Altricial;  psilopsedic." 

FAMILY  PSITTACIDJE. 

"Bill  greatly  hooked;  the  maxilla  movable  and  with  a  cere  at  the  base. 
Nostrils  in  the  base  of  the  bill.  Feet  scansorial,  covered  with  granulated 
scales." 

GENUS  CONURUS  KUHL. 

"Tail  long,  conical  and  pointed;  bill  stout;  cheeks  feathered,  but  in  some 
species  leaving  a  naked  ring  around  the  eye;  cere  feathered  to  the  base  of 
the  bill." 

Connrus  carolinensis  (LINN.). 

CAROLINA  PAROQUET. 
PLATE  XXI. 

Formerly  quite  a  common  resident  in  the  eastern  portion  of 
the  State,  but  as  the  settlements  increased  along  the  timbered 
streams  —  their  natural  home  —  they  rapidly  disappeared,  and 


316  HISTORY  OF   THE 

for  several  years  have  ceased  to  be  a  resident,  or  even  a  vis> 
it  ant. 

B.  63.     R.  392.     C.  460.     G.  180,     147.     U.  382. 

HABITAT.  Southern  States;  north  casually  to  New  York, 
Michigan  and  Wisconsin;  regularly  to  Ohio,  Illinois,  and  south- 
ern Nebraska;  west  to  eastern  Colorado. 

SP.  CHAR.  "Head  and  neck,  all  round,  gamboge  yellow;  the  forehead,  from 
above  the  eyes,  with  the  sides  of  the  head,  pale  brick  red;  body  generally,  with 
tail,  green,  with  a  yellowish  tinge  beneath.  Outer  webs  of  primaries  bluish 
green,  yellow  at  base;  secondary  coverts  edged  with  yellowish;  edge  of  wing 
yellow,  tinged  with  red;  tibia  yellow;  bill  white;  legs  flesh  color.  Young: 
With  head  and  neck  green.  Female:  With  head  and  neck  green;  the  forehead, 
lores  and  suffusion  round  the  eyes  dark  red,  and  without  the  yellow  of  tibia 
and  edge  of  wing;  size  considerably  less." 

Stretch  of 
Length.  <wing.  Wing.  Tail.         Tarsus.         Bill. 

Male 13.50         22.75         7.70         7.00  .75         1.05 

Female...      12.50         21.00         7.25         6.50  .70         1.00 

Iris  brown;  bill  white;  legs  and  feet  flesh  color;   claws  bluish. 

In  the  early  settlement  of  the  country,  especially  throughout 
their  southern  range,  the  birds  were  very  abundant,  but  the 
demand  has  been  so  great  for  their  gaudy  feathers,  with  which 
to  decorate  the  hats  of  the  fair  sex,  as  to  stimulate  the  merci- 
less hunter  to  slaughter;  and  they  are  now  only  to  be  looked 
for  in  diminished  numbers  within  the  unsettled  timbered  regions 
of  the  Indian  Territory,  Texas,  Arkansas,  Louisiana  and  Florida. 

The  birds  are  very  social  in  their  habits,  moving  about  in 
flocks,  and  keeping  near  each  other  while  on  the  wing  or  feeding, 
as  well  as  when  at  rest.  Their  manner  of  flight  is  graceful  and 
swift.  Their  notes  loud,  harsh  and  grating  upon  the  ear,  and,  as 
they  cannot  be  taught  to  talk,  they  are  not  desirable  pets.  They 
have  to  be  kept  in  close  confinement,  for  if  given  the  liberty  of 
the  room,  they  will  injure  the  furniture  and  fixtures,  by  biting 
and  marring  the  same  with  their  thick,  powerful  bills. 

They  feed  indiscriminately  upon  berries,  fruits,  seeds  and 
grains,  with  the  exception  of  corn.  I  make  this  exception  be- 
cause I  never  saw  the  birds  feeding  upon  corn,  and  those  that 
I  have  kept  in  confinement  would  not,  even  when  pressed  with 
hunger,  notice  the  same.  Pecan  nuts  and  cockle  burs  appear 
to  be  their  favorite  food;  and  it  is  surprising  with  what  ease 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  317 

and  rapidity  they  grasp  the  shells,  crush  and  extract  the  kernels. 
Their  nests  are  usually  placed  in  holes  or  hollow  cavities  in 
trees.  In  the  spring  of  1858,  a  small  flock  reared  their  young 
in  a  large  hollow  limb  of  a  giant  sycamore  tree,  on  the  banks  of 
the  Neosho  River,  near  Neosho  Falls,  Kansas.  I  have  never 
been  able  to  procure  their  eggs.  Ridgway  says:  "Eggs,  1.39x 
1.07;  ovate,  short  ovate,  or  rounded  ovate;  pure  white. "  From 
the  following  paper  of  Mr.  Brewster's,  in  "The  Auk,"  Vol.  6, 
p.  336,  the  birds  also  probably  nest  in  the  branches  of  trees: 

"While  in  Florida,  during  February  and  March,  1889,  I  ques- 
tioned everybody  whom  I  met  regarding  the  nesting  of  the  Par- 
oquet. Only  three  persons  professed  any  knowledge  on  this 
subject.  The  first  two  were  both  uneducated  men  —  profes. 
sional  hunters  of  alligators  and  plume  birds.  Each  of  them 
claimed  to  have  seen  Paroquets'  nests,  which  they  described  as 
flimsy  structures,  built  of  twigs,  and  placed  on  the  branches  of 
cypress  trees.  One  of  them  said  he  found  a  nest  only  the  pre- 
vious summer  (1888),  while  fishing.  By  means  of  his  pole  he 
tipped  the  nest  over,  and  secured  two  young  birds,  which  it  con- 
tained. 

"This  account  was  so  widely  at  variance  with  what  has  been 
previously  recorded  regarding  the  manner  of  nesting  of  this 
species,  that  I  considered  it,  at  the  time,  as  a  mere  fabrication; 
but  afterwards  it  was  unexpectedly  and  most  strongly  corrobo- 
rated by  Judge  R.  L.  Long,  of  Tallahassee.  The  latter  gentle- 
man, who,  by  the  way,  has  a  very  good  general  knowledge  of 
the  birds  of  our  Northern  States,  assured  me  that  he  had  exam- 
ined many  nests  of  the  Paroquet,  built  precisely  as  above  de- 
scribed. Formerly,  when  the  birds  were  abundant  in  the 
surrounding  region,  he  used  to  find  them  breeding  in  large  colo- 
nies in  the  cypress  swamps.  Several  of  these  colonies  con- 
tained at  least  a  thousand  birds  each.  They  nested  invariably 
in  small  cypress  trees,  the  favorite  position  being  on  a  fork,  near 
the  end  of  a  slender,  horizontal  branch.  Every  such  fork  would 
be  occupied,  and  he  has  seen  as  many  as  forty  or  fifty  nests  in 
one  small  tree.  Their  nests  closely  resemble  those  of  the  Caro- 
lina Dove,  being  similarly  composed  of  cypress  twigs,  put  to- 


318  HISTORY  OF   THE 

gether  so  loosely  that  the  eggs  were  often  visible  from  the  ground 
beneath.  The  twigs  of  the  cypress  seemed  to  be  preferred  to 
those  of  any  other  kind  of  tree.  The  height  at  which  the  nests 
were  placed  varied  from  five  or  six  feet  to  twenty  or  thirty  feet. 
Mr.  Long  described  the  eggs  as  being  of  a  greenish  white  color, 
unspotted.  He  did  riot  remember  the  maximum  number  which 
he  had  found  in  one  set,  but  thought  it  was  at  least  four  or  five. 
He  has  often  taken  young  birds  from  the  nest,  to  rear  or  give 
to  his  friends.  He  knew  of  a  small  colony  breeding  in  Wau- 
kulla  swamp,  about  twenty  miles  from  Tallahassee,  in  the  sum- 
mer of  1885,  and  believes  that  they  still  occur  there  in  moderate 
numbers. 

"It  seems  difficult  to  reconcile  such  testimony  with  the  state- 
ments of  Audubon,  Wilson  and  others,  that  the  Carolina  Par- 
oquet lays  its  eggs  in  hollow  trees.  It  may  be,  however,  that, 
like  the  Crow  Blackbird  and  some  of  the  Owls,  this  Parrot 
nests  both  in  holes  and  on  branches,  according  to  the  circum- 
stances; at  all  events,  the  above  account  has  seemed  to  me  to 
rest  on  evidence  sufficiently  good  to  warrant  its  publication." 


ORDER  COCCYGES. 

CUCKOOS,  ETC. 

BUI  variable  in  form,  but  never  chisel  shaped  at  tip,  the  culroen  usually  more 
or  less  curved;  tongue  not  extensible  nor  barbed  at  tip;  feet  zygodactyle,  or 
else  the  middle  or  outer  toes  connected  for  at  least  half  their  length.  (Ridgway.) 

SUBORDER  CUCULI.     CUCKOOS,  ETC. 

Toes,  two  before,  two  behind.  Bill  as  long  as  head,  compressed,  with  cut- 
ting edges  smooth;  nostrils  exposed;  no  distinct  rictal  bristles;  tarsus  nearly  or 
quite  as  long  as  longest  anterior  toe  (sometimes  longer),  naked  for  greater  part 
of  its  length;  anterior  toes  separated  to  extreme  base;  plumage  without  bright 
or  metallic  colors.  (Ridgway.) 

FAMILY   CIICULID^l.     CUCKOOS,  ANIS,  ETC. 

"  Bill  compressed,  usually  more  or  less  lengthened,  and  with  decurved  cul- 
men.  Rictal  bristles  few  or  none.  Nostrils  exposed;  no  nasal  tufts.  Tail  long 
aud  soft,  of  eight  to  twelve  feathers;  Toes  in  pairs,  deeply  cleft  or  not  united, 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  319 

the  outer  anterior  toe  usually  versatile,  but  directed  rather  laterally  than  back- 
ward." 

SUBFAMILY  COCCYGD^E.      AMERICAN  CUCKOOS. 

"Face  covered  with  feathers;  bill  elongated,  more  or  less  cylindrical,  straight 
or  curved.  Tail  of  ten  feathers." 

GENUS  GEOCOCCYX  WAGI,ER. 

"Bill  long  and  strong,  slightly  compressed,  and  at  least  as  long  as  the  head; 
head  crested;  loral  feathers,  and  those  at  base  of  bill,  stiffened  and  bristly. 
Nostrils  elongated,  linear.  A  naked  colored  skin  around  and  behind  the  eye; 
the  eyelids  ciliated.  Tarsi  longer  than  toes;  very  stout.  Wings  very  short  and 
concave;  the  tertials  as  long  as  the  primaries.  Tail  longer  than  the  head  and 
body;  composed  of  ten  narrow,  much  graduated  feathers." 

Geococcyx  californianus  (LESS.). 

ROAD-RUNNER. 
PLATE  XXI. 

Entered  as  an  occasional  visitant  in  the  western  part  of  the 
State,  on  the  authority  of  Mr.  Charles  Dyer,  division  superin- 
tendent of  the  Atchison,  Topeka  &  Santa  Fe  Railroad,  at  Las 
Vegas,  New  Mexico,  who  writes  me  that  in  September,  1884, 
he  saw  two  of  the  birds  near  the  railroad,  and  about  fifteen 
miles  east  of  the  west  line  of  Kansas,  and  that  he  had  seen  them 
quite  often  in  Colorado,  near  the  State  line.  The  birds  are 
known  to  breed  in  Colorado  as  far  east  as  Las  Animas,  and  I 
am  inclined  to  think  that  they  may  occasionally  breed  within 
the  southwestern  limits  of  this  State. 

B.  68.     R.  385.     C.  427.     G.  178,     148.     U.  385. 

HABITAT.  Northern  Mexico;  north  to  southern  Colorado, 
and  California;  east  into  Texas  and  southwestern  Kansas. 

SP.  CHAE.  "Tail  very  long;  the  lateral  feathers  much  shortest.  An  erectile 
crest  on  the  head.  A  bare  skin  around  and  behind  the  eyes.  Legs  very  long 
and  stout.  All  the  feathers  of  the  upper  parts  and  wings  of  a  dull  metallic 
olivaceous  green,  broadly  edged  with  white  near  the  end.  There  is,  however,  a 
tinge  of  black  in  the  green  along  the  white  line,  which  itself  is  suffused  with 
brown.  On  the  neck  the  black  preponderates.  The  sides  and  under  surface  of 
the  neck  have  the  white  feathers  streaked  centrally  with  black,  next  to  which 
is  a  brownish  suffusion.  The  remaining  under  parts  are  whitish,  immaculate. 
Primary  quills  tipped  with  white,  and  with  a  median  band  across  the  outer 
webs.  Central  tail  feathers  olive  brown;  the  others  clear  dark  green,  all  edged 
and  (except  the  central  two)  broadly  tipped  with  white.  Top  of  the  head  dark 
blackish  blue.  Size  generally  very  variable." 


320  HISTORY  OF  THE 

Stretch  of 
Length.  wing.          Wing.  Tail.         Tarsus.         Bill. 

Male 22.50         20.50        6.75        11.50         2.25         1.75 

Female...     21.50         19.60        6.50        11.00         2.15         1.70 

Iris  pale  grayish  brown,  the  pupil  encircled  by  a  narrow  yel- 
low ring;  the  naked  space  around  eyes,  extending  back  to  hind- 
neck,  pale  flesh  color,  sometimes  with  a  yellowish  hue;  eyelids 
bright  blue;  bill  dusky,  with  under  pale  bluish  at  base;  legs  and 
feet  ashy  blue;  claws  blackish. 

These  remarkable  birds  are  terrestial  in  their  habits,  and  at 
home  upon  the  sterile  plains  and  lands  dotted  with  mesquite 
and  chaparral  brush.  They  are  very  fleet  of  foot,  and  although 
they  can  fly  with  ease,  and  quite  swiftly,  prefer  as  a  rule  to  es- 
cape by  running,  dodging  and  skulking.  A  solitary  and  usually 
a  silent  bird.  I  have  occasionally  heard  them  utter  a  few  low, 
whistling,  chattering  notes.  In  their  movements,  generally  run 
about  in  an  apparently  aimless  manner,  often  stopping  and  jerk- 
ing their  tails  (which  are  usually  carried  in  an  elevated  manner) 
and  assuming  many  grotesque  and  ludicrous  positions.  Their 
food  consists  chiefly  of  beetles,  grasshoppers,  snails,  lizards  and 
small,  harmless  snakes.  I  put  no  faith  in  the  general  belief  and 
many  stories  told  about  their  manner  of  killing  the  large  rattle- 
snake; for,  if  they  had  the  courage,  they  have  not  the  strength 
of  wing,  bill  or  claws  with  which  to  successfully  attack  them. 
Their  nests  are  placed  upon  a  platform  of  sticks,  in  low  trees, 
and  upon  bushes,  and  are  built  of  twigs  and  weeds,  with  occa- 
sionally a  slight  lining  of  grasses.  Eggs  usually  five  to  nine; 
as  high  as  twelve  have  been  found.  They  vary  somewhat  in 
size.  A  set  of  five,  collected  April  18,  1882,  near  Corpus 
Christi,  Texas,  measure:  1.62x1.19,  1.60x1.22,  1.60x1.21, 1.59 
xl.22,  1.58x1.23;  in  color,  white  to  buffy  white;  in  form,  ovate. 

GENUS  COCCYZUS  VIEILLOT. 

"Head  without  crest;  feathers  about  base  of  bill  soft;  bill  nearly  as  long  as 
the  head,  decurved,  slender,  and  attenuated  towards  the  end.  Nostrils  linear. 
Wings  lengthened,  reaching  the  middle  of  the  tail;  the  tertials  short.  Tail  of 
ten  graduated  feathers.  Feet  weak;  tarsi  shorter  than  middle  toe." 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  321 

Coccyzus  americanus  (LINN.). 

YELLOW-BILLED  CUCKOO. 
PLATE  XXI. 

A  summer  resident;  common.  Arrive  early  in  May;  begin 
laying  the  last  of  May;  return  early  in  September;  a  few  occa- 
sionally linger  until  the  first  of  October. 

B.  69.     R.  387.     C.  429.     G.  178,     149.     U.  387. 

HABITAT.  Eastern  North  America;  south  from  New  Bruns- 
wick, Canada,  etc. ,  to  the  West  Indies  and  Costa  Rica;  west  to 
eastern  Mexico  and  the  edge  of  the  Great  Plains.  They  are 
known  to  breed  within  their  range  as  far  south  as  the  West 
Indies. 

SP.  CHAB.  "Upper  mandible  and  tip  of  lower  black;  rest  of  lower  mandible, 
and  cutting  edges  of  the  upper,  yellow.  Upper  parts  of  a  metallic  greenish  olive, 
slightly  tinged  with  ash  towards  the  bill;  beneath  white.  Tail  feathers  (except 
the  median,  which  are  like  the  back)  black,  tipped  with  white  for  about  an  inch 
on  the  outer  feathers,  the  external  one  with  the  outer  edge  almost  entirely  white. 
Quills  orange  cinnamon;  the  terminal  portion  and  a  gloss  on  the  outer  webs 
olive." 

Stretch  of 
Length.          -wing.  Wing.  Tail.         Tarsus.         Bill. 

Male 12.25         16.60         5.75         6.00         1.00         1.00 

Female...     11.60         16.00         5.55         5.50         1.00  .95 

Iris  brown;  legs  and  feet  bluish  olive;  claws  horn  blue. 

This  species  is  generally  known  as  the  "Bain  Crow"  or  "Cow- 
bird;"  the  latter  on  account  of  its  call  notes:  "Kow,  kow,  kow, 
kow,  kow,"  uttered  rapidly;  the  former  because  the  birds  are 
more  noisy  when  the  atmosphere  is  moist  and  warm,  and  their  oft- 
repeated  notes  are  therefore  thought  to  be  an  indication  of  fall- 
ing weather.  Their  notes  are  occasionally  heard  at  night.  They 
inhabit  alike  the  deep,  solitary  woods,  the  open  groves  and  prai- 
rie thickets.  Their  flight  is  noiseless,  smooth  and  swift,  gliding 
with  ease  through  the  thick  trees  and  branches.  The  birds  feed 
upon  nearly  all  forms  of  insect  life;  even  the  ugly  caterpillar  is 
devoured  with  a  relish.  When  the  breeding  season  is  over  they 
feed  freely  upon  berries. 

The  males  arrive  about  eight  days  in  advance  of  the  females; 
their  courtships  are  of  short  duration,  and  they  soon  commence 
making  preparations  for  housekeeping. 

Their  nests,  a  loose,  frail,  flat  structure  made  of  sticks  and 

-31 


322  HISTORY  OF   THE 

weeds,  with  at  times  a  little  grass,  are  placed  in  bushes,  grape- 
vines, and  on  the  lower  branches  of  trees,  from  five  to  fifteen 
feet  from  the  ground.  The  males  assist  in  hatching  and  rear- 
ing the  young,  and  are  fully  as  attentive  as  the  females.  They 
are  said  to  occasionally  lay  eggs  in  the  nests  of  other  birds,  but 
I  think  such  cases  exceptional,  for  they  are  too  devoted  parents 
to  leave — unless  by  accident  —  the  rearing  of  their  young  to 
others.  In  this  respect  they  differ  from  their  cousins  the  Euro- 
pean Cuckoos,  that  are  polygamous,  and  exhibit  no  paternal  affec- 
tion for  their  young. 

The  birds  occasionally  lay  and  sit  at  the  same  time,  and  it  is 
not  an  unusual  occurrence  to  find  eggs  and  young  birds  of  dif- 
ferent ages  in  the  same  nest;  but  as  a  rule  they  lay,  and  hatch 
at  one  sitting,  from  three  to  five  eggs,  1.25x.  90;  light  bluish 
green;  in  form,  rather  elliptical. 

Coccyzus  erythrophthalmus  (WILS.). 

BLACK-BILLED    CUCKOO. 
PLATE  XXI. 

A  summer  resident;  not  uncommon;  but  being  of  a  shy  and 
retiring  nature,  are  not  often  noticed.  Arrive  the  first  of  May, 
returning  in  September;  begin  laying  the  last  of  May.  In  my 
Revised  Catalogue  I  entered  this  bird  as  rare,  as  I  was  only  able 
to  report  the  finding  of  two  nests,  one  at  Paola,  the  other  at 
Manhattan.  Several  nests  have  since  been  found  in  the  vicinity 
of  Lawrence,  Beatrice,  and  other  places  in  the  eastern  portion 
of  the  State. 

B.  70.     E,  388.     C.  428.     G.  179,     150.     U.  388. 

HABITAT.  Eastern  North  America;  north  to  Labrador  and 
Manitoba;  west  to  the  Rocky  Mountains;  south  in  winter  to 
northern  South  America. 

SP.  CHAR.  "Bill  entirely  black.  Upper  parts  generally  of  a  metallic  green- 
ish olive,  ashy  towards  the  base  of  the  bill;  beneath  pure  white,  with  a  brownish 
yellow  tinge  on  the  throat.  Inner  webs  of  the  quills  tinged  with  cinnamon. 
Under  surface  of  all  the  tail  feathers  hoary  ash  gray.  All,  except  the  central 
on  either  side,  suffused  with  darker  to  the  short,  bluish  white,  and  not  well  de- 
fined tip.  A  naked  red  skin  round  the  eye." 

Stretch  of 
Length.         wing.          Wing.          Tail.         Tarsus.        Bill. 

Male 12.00         16.25         5.40        6.40          .92  .95 

Female..         11.50         15.80         5.20        6.00          .92  .92 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  323 

Iris  brown;  legs,  feet  and  claws  darkish  bine. 

These  birds  are  similar  in  actions  and  habits  to  the  Yellow- 
billed;  but  more  inclined  to  nest  in  open  groves,  and  bushes 
upon  the  uplands;  and  their  nests  are  a  little  more  compactly 
built,  though  at  best  a  loose,  flat  structure.  Eggs  smaller,  a 
shade  darker,  and  more  rounded  in  form. 

SUBORDER  AlLCYONES.     KINGFISHERS. 

Toes,  three  before,  one  behiiid.  (Ridgway.) 

The  outer  and  middle  toes  with  basal  phalanges  united. 

FAMILY  ALCEDINIDJE.     KINGFISHERS. 

Bill  longer  than  head,  with  straight  outlines,  the  cutting  edges  smooth  (in  all 
American  species);  tail  much  shorter  than  wing,  with  middle  feathers  (in  Amer- 
ican species)  not  longer  than  the  rest;  tarsus  only  about  half  as  long  as  middle 
toe.  (Ridgway.) 

GENUS  CERYLE  BOIE. 

"Bill  long,  straight  and  strong,  the  culmen  slightly  advancing  on  the  fore- 
'head  and  sloping  to  the  acute  tip;  the  sides  much  compressed;  the  lateral  margins 
rather  dilated  at  the  base  and  straight  to  the  tip;  the  gonys  long  and  ascending. 
Tail  rather  long  and  broad.  Tarsi  short  and  stout." 

STTBGENTJS  STREPTOCERYLE  BONAPARTE. 

Wing  6.00,  or  more;  tarsus  about  as  long  as  hind  toe,  much  shorter  than  Inner 
anterior  toe;  plumage  without  metallic  gloss.  Upper  parts  plumbeous  blue,  or 
bluish  plumbeous,  more  or  less  streaked  with  black  (especially  on  top  of  head ), 
the  tail  feathers  transversely  spotted  with  white,  these  markings  usually  more 
or  less  hidden  in  closed  tail;  chin,  throat  and  collar  round  hindueck  pure  white. 
(Ridgway.) 

Ceryle  alcyon  (LINN.). 

BELTED  KINGFISHER. 
PLATE  XXI. 

A  common  summer  resident,  and,  when  the  winters  are  mild, 
an  occasional  resident.  Begin  laying  about  the  last  of  April. 

B.  117.     R.  882.     C.  423.     G.  177,     151.     U.  390. 

HABITAT.  The  whole  of  North  America;  south  to  Panama, 
including  the  West  Indies. 

SP.  CHAR.  "Head  with  a  long  crest.  Above,  ashy  blue,  without  metallic 
luster.  Beneath,  with  a  concealed  band  across  the  occiput,  and  a  spot  anterior 
to  the  eye,  pure  white.  A  baud  across  the  breast,  and  the  sides  of  the  body  under 
the  wings,  like  the  back.  Primaries  white  on  the  basal  half,  the  terminal  spotted. 
Tail  with  transverse  bands  and  spots  of  white.  Female  and  young  with  sides 
of  body  and  a  band  across  the  belly  (below  the  pectoral  one)  light  chestnut;  the 
pectoral  band  more  or  less  tinged  with  the  same." 


324  HISTORY  OF  THE 

The  birds  vary  somewhat  in  size;  specimens  examined,  how- 
ever, show  the  females  fully  as  large  as  the  males.  The  follow- 
ing is  an  average  measurement: 

Stretch  of 
Length.          -wing.  Wing.         Tail.        Tarsus.        Bill. 

13.00         22.00         6.30         3.80         .40         2.00 

Iris  dark  brown;  bill  black,  or  rather  slate,  with  sides  of 
upper  to  nostrils,  and  forks  of  under,  pale  blue;  legs  dull  purple 
to  greenish  blue;  feet  dusky,  bottoms  pale,  with  a  slight  yellow- 
ish hue;  claws  black. 

This  widely  distributed  and  solitary  species  appears  to  be  as 
much  at  home  in  the  Arctic  regions  as  within  the  tropical,  often 
remaining  there  until  the  ice  closes  their  natural  fishing  grounds, 
and  hunger  forces  them,  to  seek  for  the  finny  tribe  in  similar 
open  waters.  Their  favorite  resorts  are  along  the  margins  of 
ponds,  and  at  the  foot  of  shallow  rapids,  where  they  patiently 
watch  from  an  overhanging  limb,  or  perch,  ready  to  dive  for 
the  unlucky  minnow  that  approaches  to  the  surface  of  the  water, 
seldom  failing  to  capture.  They  are  equally  successful  on  the 
wing,  hovering  for  a  time  before  plunging;  in  all  cases  carrying 
the  catch  to  the  nearest  resting  place,  where  they  usually  kill  it 
by  beating  it  against  the  perch,  and  always  swallow  the  same 
head  first. 

In  flight  the  motion  of  their  wings  is  very  rapid,  and  their 
course  direct,  and  usually  near  the  surface  of  the  water.  Then- 
voice  is  shrill  and  harsh,  much  like  the  sound  of  a  watchman's 
rattle. 

Their  nests  are  placed  at  the  end  of  burrows,  which  the  birds 
tunnel  horizontally  into  the  sides  and  near  the  tops  of  perpen- 
dicular or  steep  banks  of  streams,  and  occasionally  into  the  sides 
of  gravel  banks,  some  distance  from  the  water;  are  usually 
about  two  feet  in  depth,  but  have  been  known  to  extend  over 
fifteen  feet;  in  fact,  not  stopping  work  until  a  place  is  reached 
where  they  can  safely  rear  their  young  without  fear  from  fall- 
ing earth  or  pebbles.  At  the  end  it  is  scooped  out  oven  shaped 
for  the  nest,  which  is  sometimes  sparingly  lined  with  grasses 
and  feathers.  Eggs  five  or  six,  1. 32x1. 05;  pure  white;  in  form, 
oval. 


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BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  325 


ORDER  PICI. 

WOODPECKERS,  WRYNECKS,  ETC. 

Toes  only  two  in  front,  or,  if  three,  the  middle  and  outer  toes  connected  for 
at  least  half  their  length.  Tail  feathers  stiff  aud  more  or  less  pointed,  and  bill 
more  or  less  chisel-like.  (Ridyway.) 

FAMILY  PlCID^l.     WOODPECKERS. 

"Outer  toe  turned  backwards  permanently,  not  versatile  laterally,  the  basal 
portion  of  the  tongue  capable  of  great  protrusion." 

GENUS  DE-YOBATES  Bore. 

Without  crest,  and  size  small  (wing  not  more  than  5.00).  Nasal  groove  ex- 
tending nearly  to  top  of  bill;  terminal  half  of  bill  not  distinctly  compressed. 
Tongue  greatly  extensile;  plumage  much  varied  with  black  (or  brown)  and  white, 
the  latter  prevailing  on  lower  parts.  (Ridgway.) 

Dryobates  villosus  (LINN.). 

HAIRY  WOODPECKER. 
PLATE  XXII. 

Resident;  common.      Begin  laying  the  last  of  April. 

B.  74.     K.  360.     C.  438.     G.  167,     152.     U.  393. 

HABITAT.  Middle  portion  of  the  eastern  United  States,  from 
the  Atlantic  coast  to  near  the  base  of  the  Rocky  Mountains. 

SP.  CHAB.  "Above,  black,  with  a  white  band  down  the  middle  of  the  back. 
All  the  middle  and  larger  wing  coverts  aud  all  the  quills  with  conspicuous  spots 
of  white.  Two  white  stripes  on  each  side  of  the  head;  the  upper  scarcely  con- 
fluent behind,  the  lower  not  at  all  so;  two  black  stripes  confluent  with  the  black 
of  the  nape.  Beneath  white.  Three  outer  tail  feathers  with  the  exposed  por- 
tions white.  Male  with  a  nuchal  scarlet  crescent  (wanting  in  the  female)  cov- 
ering the  white,  generally  continuous,  but  often  interrupted  in  the  middle. 
Immature  birds  of  either  sex  with  more  or  less  of  the  whole  crown  spotted  with 
red  or  yellow,  or  both,  sometimes  the  red  almost  continuous." 

Stretch  of 
Length.          wing.  Wing.         Tail.         Tarsus.          Bill. 

Male 9.10          15.00         4.80         3.40          .85          1.20 

Female...       8.75          14.75         4.70         3.25          .85          1.15 

Iris  brown;  bill  pale  horn  blue,  darkest  terminally,  tips  whit- 
ish; legs  and  feet  bluish  gray;  claws  black. 


326  HISTORY  OF  THE 

The  natural  home  of  this  species  is  along  the  timbered  streams 
and  edges  of  woodlands,  often  frequenting  the  orchards  and 
trees  about  our  dwellings,  especially  during  the  winter  months, 
though  by  no  means  as  familiar  a  bird  as  the  Downy.  Their 
loud,  clear,  "Cheep,"  which  they  often  repeat,  announces  their 
presence.  They  also  have  a  strong,  shrill,  tremulous  song  or 
call  note,  and  the  usual  family  habit  of  drumming  upon  a  dead 
limb  or  stub,  and  the  same  undulating  manner  of  flight  —  an 
alternate  rising  and  sinking,  caused  by  closing  the  wings  for  an 
instant,  after  a  few  vigorous  strokes  to  give  them  headway. 

Their  food  consists  chiefly  of  insects,  their  eggs  and  larvae, 
which  they  extract  from  crevices  in  the  bark,  and  by  chipping 
circular  holes  through  the  same  for  the  grub  feeding  upon  the 
wood  and  destroying  the  life  of  the  tree.  They  occasionally 
feed  upon  berries  and  the  meat  of  nuts,  but  they  are  not  a  fav- 
orite food,  as  is  the  case  with  the  Red-headed. 

Their  nesting  places  are  at  the  bottom  of  circular  holes,  which 
they  excavate  in  the  decaying  trunks,  limbs  or  cavities  in  trees, 
which,  in  either  case,  they  chip  out  to  suit.  The  nests  are  quite 
a  distance  below  the  entrance.  The  males  are  dutiful  husbands, 
and  share  alike  the  labors  of  nest  making,  hatching  and  rearing 
of  the  young.  Eggs  usually  four,  .96x.73;  pure  crystal  white; 
in  form,  rather  spherical. 

Dryobates  pubescens  (LINN.). 

DOWNY  WOODPECKER. 
PLATE  XXII. 

Resident;  common.     Begin  laying  the  last  of  April. 

B.  76.     R.  361.     C.  440.     G.  168,     153.     U.  394. 

HABITAT.  Northern  North  America;  south  in  the  eastern 
portion  to  the  Gulf  coast. 

SP.  CHAR.  "A  miniature  of  D.  mllosus.  Above,  black,  with  a  white  band 
down  the  back.  Two  white  stripes  on  the  side  of  the  head,  the  lower  of  oppo- 
site sides  always  separated  behind,  the  upper  sometimes  confluent  on  the  nape. 
Two  stripes  of  black  on  the  side  of  the  head,  the  lower  not  running  into  the 
forehead.  Beneath,  white;  all  the  middle  and  greater  coverts  and  all  the  quills 
with  white  spots  (the  larger  coverts  with  two  series  each);  tertiaries  or  inner 
secondaries  all  banded  with  white.  Two  outer  tail  feathers  white,  with  two 
bands  of  black  at  end;  third  white  at  tip  (and  externally);  crissum  sometimes 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  327 

spotted  with  black.     Male  with  red  terminating  the  white  feathers  on  the  nape. 
Young  with  whole  top  of  head  red." 

Stretch  of 
Length.          wing.  Wing.  Tail.         Tarsus.         Bill. 

.      Male 6.60          11.75         3.65         2.55          .65  .69 

Female  . .  .       6.50          11.60         3.55         2.40          .65  .67 

Iris  dark  brown;  bill  slate  blue;  legs,  feet  and  claws  pale  blue. 

These  restless,  energetic  little  Woodpeckers  are  very  similar 
in  their  actions  and  habits  to  the  Hairy,  but  more  social  and  less 
fearful  of  man.  Wilson  says: 

«/ 

"The  principal  characteristics  of  this  little  bird  are  diligence, 
familiarity,  perseverance,  and  strength  and  energy  in  the  head 
and  muscles  of  the  neck  which  are  truly  astonishing.  Mounted 
on  the  infected  branch  of  an  old  apple  tree,  where  insects  have 
lodged  their  corroding  and  destructive  brood  in  crevices  be- 
tween the  bark  and  wood,  he  labors  sometimes  for  half  an 
hour  incessantly  at  the  same  spot  before  he  has  succeeded  in 
dislodging  and  destroying  them.  At  these  times  you  may  walk 
up  pretty  close  to  the  tree,  and  even  stand  immediately  below 
it,  within  five  or  six  feet  of  the  bird,  without  in  the  least  em- 
barrassing him.  The  strokes  of  his  bill  are  distinctly  heard 
several  hundred  yards  off,  and  I  have  known  him  to  be  at  work 
for  two  hours  together  on  the  same  tree.  Buffon  calls  this 
'incessant  toil  and  slavery,'  their  attitude  'a  painful  posture,' 
and  their  life  'a  dull  and  insipid  existence'  —  expressions  im- 
proper because  untrue,  and  absurd  because  contradictory.  The 
posture  is  that  for  which  the  whole  organization  of  his  frame  is 
particularly  adapted,  and  though  to  a  Wren  or  a  Hummingbird 
the  labor  would  be  toil  and  slavery,  yet  to  him  it  is,  I  am  con- 
vinced, as  pleasant  and  amusing  as  the  sports  of  the  chase  to 
the  hunter,  or  the  sucking  of  flowers  to  the  Hummingbird. 
The  eagerness  with  which  he  traverses  the  upper  and  lower 
sides  of  the  branches,  the  cheerfulness  of  his  cry  and  the  liveli- 
ness of  his  motions  while  digging  in  the  tree  and  dislodging  the 
vermin,  justifies  this  belief.  He  has  a  single  note,  or  'Chink,' 
which,  like  the  former  species,  he  frequently  repeats;  and  when 
he  flies  off  or  alights  on  another  tree,  he  utters  a  rather  shriller 
cry,  composed  of  nearly  the  same  kind  of  a  note,  quickly  reit- 


328  HISTORY  OF   THE 

erated.  In  the  fall  and  winter  he  associates  with  the  Titmouse, 
Creeper,  etc.,  both  in  their  wood  and  orchard  excursions,  and 
usually  leads  the  van.  Of  all  our  Woodpeckers,  none  rid  the 
apple  trees  of  so  many  vermin  as  this,  digging  off  the  moss 
which  the  negligence  of  the  proprietor  has  suffered  to  accumu- 
late, and  probing  every  crevice.  In  fact,  the  orchard  is  his 
favorite  resort  in  all  seasons,  and  his  industry  is  unequaled 
and  almost  incessant,  which  is  more  than  can  be  said  of  any 
other  species  we  have.  In  the  fall  he  is  particularly  fond  of 
boring  the  apple  trees  for  insects,  digging  a  circular  hole  through 
the  bark  just  sufficient  to  admit  his  bill;  after  that  a  second, 
third,  etc.,  in  pretty  regular  horizontal  circles  around  the  body 
of  the  tree.  These  parallel  circles  of  holes  are  often  not  more 
than  an  inch  or  an  inch  and  a  half  apart,  and  sometimes  so 
close  together  that  I  have  covered  eight  or  ten  of  them  at  once 
with  a  dollar.  From  nearly  the  surface  of  the  ground  up  to  the 
first  fork,  and  sometimes  far  beyond  it,  the  whole  bark  of  many 
apple  trees  is  perforated  in  this  manner,  so  as  to  appear  as  if 
made  by  successive  discharges  of  buckshot,  and  our  little  Wood- 
pecker, the  subject  of  the  present  account,  is  the  principal  per- 
petrator of  this  supposed  mischief  —  I  say  supposed;  for  so  far 
from  these  perforations  of  the  bark  being  ruinous,  they  are  not 
only  harmless,  but,  I  have  good  reason  to  believe,  really  bene- 
ficial to  the  health  and  fertility  of  the  tree.  I  leave  it  to  the 
philosophical  botanist  to  account  for  this,  but  the  fact  I  am  con- 
fident of.  In  more  than  fifty  orchards  which  I,  myself,  have 
carefully  examined,  those  trees  which  were  marked  by  the 
Woodpecker  (for  some  trees  they  never  touch,  perhaps  because 
not  penetrated  by  insects)  were  uniformly  the  most  thriving, 
and  seemingly  the  most  productive.  Many  of  these  were  up- 
wards of  sixty  years  old,  their  trunks  completely  covered  writh 
holes,  while  the  branches  were  broad,  luxuriant,  and  loaded  with 
fruit.  Of  decayed  trees,  more  than  three-fourths  were  un- 
touched by  the  Woodpecker.  Several  intelligent  farmers  with 
whom  I  have  conversed  candidly  acknowledged  the  truth  of 
these  observations,  and  with  justice  look  upon  these  birds  as 
beneficial;  but  the  most  common  opinion  is  that  they  bore  the 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  329 

trees  to  suck  the  sap,  and  so  destroy  its  vegetation,  though  pine 
and  other  resinous  trees,  on  the  juice  of  which  it  is  not  pre- 
tended that  they  feed,  are  often  found  equally  perforated.  Were 
the  sap  of  the  tree  their  object,  the  saccharine  juice  of  the  birch, 
the  sugar  maple  and  several  others  would  be  much  more  invit- 
ing, because  more  sweet  and  nourishing  than  that  of  either  pear 
or  apple  tree;  but  I  have  not  observed  one  mark  on  the  former 
for  ten  thousand  that  may  be  seen  on  the  latter;  besides,  the 
early  part  of  the  spring  is  the  season  when  the  sap  flows  most 
abundantly,  whereas  it  is  only  during  the  months  of  September, 
October  and  November  that  Woodpeckers  are  seen  so  indefati- 
gably  engaged  in  orchards,  probing  every  crack  and  crevice, 
boring  through  the  bark,  and,  what  is  worth  remarking,  chiefly 
on  the  south  and  southwest  sides  of  the  tree,  for  the  eggs  and 
larvae  deposited  there  by  the  countless  swarms  of  summer  in- 
sects. These,  if  suffered  to  remain,  would  prey  upon  the  very 
vitals  (if  I  may  so  express  it)  of  the  tree,  and  in  the  succeeding 
summer  give  birth  to  myriads  more  of  their  race,  equally  de- 
structive." ' 

For  the  above  supposed  reason,  the  birds  so  beneficial,  and  in 
no  sense  injurious,  are  frequently  misnamed  "Sapsuckers,"  a 
term  not  applicable  to  any  of  our  Woodpeckers,  except  genus 
Sphyrapicas. 

The  nests  are  excavated  in  decaying  limbs,  or  bodies  of  small 
trees,  usually  ten  to  fifteen  feet  from  the  ground  (the  apple  tree 
a  favorite);  the  entrance  round  and  just  large  enough  to  admit 
the  bird,  then  smoothly  chipped  downward  for  several  inches, 
and  enlarged  to  fit  the  body.  Eggs  four  or  five,  rarely  six,  .75 
x.  58;  pure  crystal  white;  in  form,  rather  subspherical. 

GENUS  SPHYRAPICUS  BAIED. 

"Bill  as  in  Picus,  but  the  lateral  ridge,  which  is  very  prominent,  running  out 
distinctly  to  the  commissure  at  about  its  middle,  beyond  which  the  bill  is 
rounded,  without  any  angles  at  all.  The  culmen  and  gonys  are  very  nearly 
straight,  but  slightly  convex,  the  bill  tapering  rapidly  to  a  point;  the  lateral  out- 
line concave  to  very  near  the  slightly  beveled  tip.  Outer  pair  of  toes  longest; 
the  hinder  exterior  rather  longest:  the  inner  posterior  toe  very  short,  less  than 
the  inner  anterior  without  its  claw.  Wings  long  and  pointed;  the  third,  ex- 
cluding the  spurious,  longest.  Tail  feathers  very  broad,  abruptly  acuminate, 
with  a  very  long  linear  tip.  Tongue  scarcely  extensible." 


330  HISTORY  OF  THE 

Sphyrapicus  varius  (Lixx.). 

YELLOW-BELLIED  SAPSUCKER. 
PLATE  XXII. 

Migratory;  rare.  Arrive  the  last  of  March  to  middle  of 
April;  return  in  October. 

B.  85.     R.  369.     C.  446.     G.  169,     154.     U.  402. 

HABITAT.  North  America,  north  and  east  of  the  Rocky 
Mountain  slope;  breeding  from  the  northern  United  States 
northward;  south  in  winter  throughout  Mexico,  to  Guatemala; 
West  Indies. 

SP.  CHAR.  "Third  quill  longest;  second  a  little  shorter;  first  between  fourth 
and  fifth,  considerably-  shorter.  General  color  above  black,  much  variegated 
with  white.  Feathers  of  the  back  and  rump  brownish  white,  spotted  with  black. 
Crown  crimson,  bordered  by  black  on  the  sides  of  the  head  and  nape.  A  streak 
from  above  the  eye,  a  broad  stripe  from  the  bristles  of  the  bill,  passing  below 
the  eye  and  into  the  yellowish  of  the  belly,  enclosing  a  black  postocular  one, 
and  a  stripe  along  the  edges  of  the  wing  covert,  white.  A  triangular  broad 
patch  of  scarlet  on  the  chin,  bordered  on  each  side  by  black  stripes  from  the 
lower  mandible,  which  meet  behind  and  extend  into  a  large  quadrate  spot  on 
the  breast.  Rest  of  under  parts  yellowish  white,  or  yellow,  streaked  and  banded 
on  the  sides  with  black.  Inner  web  of  inner  tail  feather  white,  spotted  with 
black.  Outer  feathers  black,  edged  and  spotted  with  white.  Quills  spotted 
with  white.  Female  with  the  red  of  the  throat  replaced  by  white.  Immature 
bird  without  black  on  the  breast,  or  red  on  top  of  the  head,  as  in  every  inter- 
mediate stage  to  the  perfect  plumage." 

Stretch  of 
Length.          wing.  Wing.          Tail.         Tarsus.         Rill. 

Male 8.50         15.75         5.00         3.20  .80        1.00 

Female  .  . .        8.00         15.25         4.90         3.10  .80          .90 

Iris  brown;  bill  and  claws  brownish  black;  legs  and  feet 
olive  green. 

This  is  about  the  western  limit  of  this  attractive  migrant; 
eastward  it  is  a  common  bird,  breeding  chiefly  north  of  the 
United  States,  seldom  south  of  42°.  These  birds  are  rather  si- 
lent as  a  rule,  but  at  times  noisy,  uttering  harsh,  querulous  notes, 
and  are  great  drummers.  They  are  not  shy  or  suspicious;  vis-1 
iting  the  orchards  and  trees  about  dwellings.  Their  tongues 
are  only  slightly  extensile,  not  long  enough  to  probe  for  and 
successfully  reach  the  wood-eating  larva,  as  is  the  case  with  all 
of  our  Woodpeckers  not  of  this  genus;  and  they  therefore  hunt 
more  like  the  Nuthatches  and  Creepers,  for  the  various  forms  of 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  331 

insect  life.  They  are  also  known  to  feed  upon  the  live,  soft 
inner  bark  of  trees,  often  injuring  the  tree  by  chipping  out  here 
and  there  patches  of  the  bark,  and  for  this  reason  are  called 
1 '  Sapsuckers. ' ' 

Their  nests  are  excavated  in  dead  or  decaying  trees,  from  fif- 
teen to  sixty  feet  from  the  ground.  Eggs  four  to  seven.  A 
set  of  four,  taken  at  Pewaukee,  Wisconsin,  from  a  hole  exca- 
vated in  an  ash  tree,  measure:  . 88x. 69,  . 88x.  66,  . 86x.  66,  .85 
x.  65.  This  nest  was  about  fifteen  inches  below  the  entrance, 
and  twenty  feet  from  the  ground.  Another  set  of  four  eggs, 
taken  May  30th,  1886,  near  Bayfield,  Wisconsin,  from  a  nest 
in  a  green  poplar  tree,  thirty  feet  fr.om  the  ground,  measure: 
.89x.68,  .90x.69,  .90x.70,  .92x.68;  pure  glossy  white;  in 
form,  oblong  to  subspherical. 

Sphyrapicus  varius  nuchalis  BAIKD. 

RED-NAPED  SAPSUCKEB. 
PLATE  XXII. 

In  the  western  part  of  the  State,  migratory;  rare.  I  have 
met  with  the  birds  but  twice  in  the  State,  each  time  on  the  south 
fork  of  the  Smoky  Hill  River,  near  Wallace. 

B.  86.     R.  369«.     C.  447.     G.  ,     155.     U.  402<z. 

HABITAT.  Rocky  Mountain  regions  of  the  United  States; 
south  into  the  mountains  of  Mexico. 

SP.  CHAR.  "Markings  generally  as  in  S.  varius.  A  red  nuchal  crescent. 
Belly  yellowish  white.  The  red  of  the  throat  extending  over  and  obliterating 
the  black  stripe  from  the  lower  mandible,  except  on  the  side  of  the  jaw.  Post- 
ocular  black  patch  tinged  with  red.  Secondaries  with  little  or  no  white  on  outer 
webs.  Tail  feathers  black  (scarcely  varied),  the  innermost  with  inner  web  (as 
in  varius).  Female  similar,  but  with  the  chin  white;  the  throat  red,  bordered  (as 
in  the  male)  by  a  black  stripe  from  the  bill  to  the  black  pectoral  patch." 

Stretch  of 
Length.          wing.  Wing.         Tail.          Tarsus.         Bill. 

Male 8.50          15.40         4.95         3.30          .80  .90 

Female...      8.30          15.00         4.75         3.20          .80  .90 

Iris  brown;  bill  and  claws  slate  black;  legs  and  feet  pale 
greenish  olive. 

This  Western  variety  of  the  Yellow-bellied  is  very  similar  in 
its  habits  and  actions.  They  are  to  be  looked  for  during  the 
summer  months  in  the  high,  mountainous  regions.  The  aspen 


332  HISTORY  OF  THE 

tree  seems  to  be  their  favorite.  As  the  cold  weather  approaches, 
they  seek  the  valleys  and  work  their  way  southward,  wintering 
among  the  cottonwoods  and  willows  skirting  the  streams.  I 
have  found  them  quite  common  in  suitable  localities  that  I  have 
visited  within  their  range. 

Their  nests  are  excavated  chiefly  in  live  trees,  usually  the 
aspen,  the  center  of  the  tree  showing  signs  of  decay.  The 
cavities  are  gourd  shaped  and  quite  roomy;  and  I  have  found 
them  ranging  all  the  way  from  five  to  forty  feet  from  the  ground. 
Eggs  usually  four  or  five;  average  dimensions,  as  given  by  Kidg- 
way,  .  87x.  65.  A  set  of  four,  collected  near  Fort  Garland, 
Colorado,  measure:  .84x.66,  .84x.69,  .85x.68,  .86x.69;  pure 
lustrous  white,  with  a  pinkish  hue  before  blowing;  vary  in  form 
from  almost  subspherical  to  ovate. 


GENUS  CEOPHLCEUS  CABANIS. 

"Bill  a  little  longer  than  the  head;  considerably  depressed,  or  broader  than 
high  at  the  base;  shaped  much  as  in  Campephilus,  except  shorter,  and  without  the 
bristly  feathers  directed  forwards  at  the  base  of  the  lower  jaw.  Gonys  about 
half  the  length  of  the  commissure.  Tarsus  shorter  than  any  toe,  except  the 
inner  posterior.  Outer  posterior  toe  shorter  than  the  outer  anterior,  and  a  little 
longer  than  the  inner  anterior.  Inner  posterior  very  short,  not  half  the  outer 
anterior,  about  half  the  inner  anterior  one.  Tail  long,  graduated;  the  longer 
feathers  much  incurved  at  the  tip.  Wing  longer  than  the  tail,  reaching  to  the 
middle  of  the  exposed  surface  of  tail;  considerably  graduated,  though  pointed; 
the  fourth  and  fifth  quills  longest.  Color  uniform  black.  Head  with  pointed 
occipital  crest.  A  stripe  from  the  nasal  tufts  beneath  the  eye  and  down  side 
of  neck,  throat,  lining  of  wing,  and  basal  portion  of  under  surface  of  quills, 
white;  some  species  with  the  abdomen  and  sides  barred  black  and  brownish 
white;  other  with  a  white  scapular  stripe  in  addition.  Male  with  whole  crown 
and  crest  and  maxillary  patch  red;  female  with  only  the  crest  red." 


Ceophlceus  pileatus  (LINN.). 

PILEATED  WOODPECKER. 
PLATE  XXII. 

Not  an   uncommon   resident   along  the  streams,  in  heavily 
wooded  bottom  lands.     Begin  laying  about  the  first  of  April. 

B.  90.     K.  371.     C.  432.     G.  170,     156.     U.  405. 

HABITAT.    Said  by  other  writers  to  be  found  in  the  heavily 
wooded  districts  of  North  America  at  large.      I  have  never  met 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  333 

with  the  birds  south  of  the  United  States,  and  I  fail  to  find  any 
record  of  their  occurrence  north  of  62°. 

SP.  CHAR.  "Fourth  and  fifth  quills  equal  and  longest;  third  intermediate 
between  sixth  and  seventh.  Bill  blue  black;  more  horn  color  beneath.  Gen- 
eral color  of  body,  wings  and  tail,  dull  greenish  black.  A  narrow  white  streak 
from  just  above  the  eye  to  the  occiput;  a  wider  one  from  the  nostril  feathers 
(inclusive),  under  the  eye  and  along  the  side  of  the  head  and  the  neck;  sides  of 
the  breast  (concealed  by  the  wing),  axillars,  and  under  wing  coverts,  and  con- 
cealed bases  of  all  the  quills,  with  chin,  and  beneath  the  head,  white,  tinged  with 
sulphur  yellow.  Entire  crown,  from  the  base  of  the  bill  to  a  well-developed  oc- 
ciputal  crest,  as  also  a  patch  on  the  ramus  of  the  lower  jaw,  scarlet  red.  A  few 
faint  white  crescents  on  the  sides  of  the  body  and  on  the  abdomen.  Longer 
primaries  generally  tipped  with  white. 

"Female  without  the  red  on  the  cheek,  and  the  anterior  half  of  that  on  the 
top  of  the  head  replaced  by  black." 

Stretch  of 
Length..  iving.          Wing.          Tail.        Tarsus.          Bill. 

Male 18.50         29.00         9.60         7.25         1.35         2.20 

Female...     16.00        27.25        9.00         6.00         1.30         2.00 

Iris  yellow;  bill,  upper  dark  horn  blue,  under  sky  blue,  with 
tips  slate  black;  tarsus,  feet  and  claws  black. 

These  birds  were  formerly  quite  common,  but  being  of  a  shy 
and  solitary  nature,  they  are  fast  disappearing  wherever  the  set- 
tlements invade  their  forest  home.  Their  manner  of  flight  is 
undulating,  like  that  of  the  family,  but  very  strong  and  well  sus- 
tained. Their  loud,  cackling  notes  and  vigorous  strokes  of  the 
bill  break  the  stillness  that  surrounds  them.  Their  large  size, 
energy  and  strength  enable  them  to  chip  off  large  patches  of 
bark,  and  make  the  decaying  wood  fly,  in  their  search  for  insect 
life.  Ants  appear  to  be  a  favorite  food,  and  when  they  lay  dor- 
mant during  the  winter  months  in  hollows  at  the  base  and  center 
of  live  trees,  I  have  known  these  birds  to  chisel  in  solid  hard 
wood  to  the  depth  of  four  and  five  inches,  or  until  the  ants  are 
reached.  They  also  occasionally  feed  upon  berries,  nuts,  etc. 

Their  nesting  places  are  usually  excavated  in  the  trunks  of 
tall  trees,  ranging  from  about  twenty  to  eighty  feet  from  the 
ground.  Eggs  four  to  six;  pure  glossy,  pearly  white;  in  form, 
elliptical  to  elongate  ovate.  A  set  of  five  eggs,  taken  April  18th, 
1887,  near  Giddings,  Texas,  from  the  dead  top  of  a  pin  oak, 
twenty-five  feet  from  the  ground,  measure:  1.26x.  96,  1.33x.  96, 
1.37x.96,  1.38x.97,  1.41x.97. 


334  If  IS  TOUT  OF  THE 

GENUS  MELANERPES  SWAINSON. 

"Bill  about  equal  to  the  head;  broader  than  high  at  the  base,  but  becoming 
compressed  immediately  anterior  to  the  commencement  of  the  gonys.  Culineu 
and  gonys  with  a  moderately  decided  angular  ridge;  both  decidedly  curved  from 
the  very  base.  A  rather  prominent  acute  ridge  commences  at  the  base  of  the 
mandible,  a  little  below  the  ridge  of  the  culmen,  and  proceeds  but  a  short  dis- 
tance anterior  to  the  nostrils  (about  one-third  of  the  way),  when  it  sinks  down 
and  the  bill  is  then  smooth.  The  lateral  outlines  are  gently  concave  from  the 
basal  two-thirds;  then  gently  convex  to  the  tip,  which  does  not  exhibit  any  ab- 
rupt beveling.  Nostrils  open,  broadly  oval;  not  concealed  by  the  feathers,  nor 
entirely  basal.  Fork  of  chin  less  than  half  lower  jaw.  The  outer  pair  of  toes 
equal.  Wings  long,  broad,  lengthened.  Tail  feathers  broad,  with  lengthened 
points. 

"The  species  all  have  the  back  black,  without  any  spots  or  streaks  any- 
where." 

STJBGENUS  MELANERPES. 

Back,  scapulars  and  wing  coverts  plain  glossy  blackish  (grayish,  indistinctly 
barred  with  dusky  in  the  young  of  M.  erythrocephalus) .  Lower  parts,  rump 
and  upper  tail  coverts  white;  plumage  of  neck  and  lower  parts  soft,  blended; 
wing  less  than  6.00.  (Ridgway.) 

Melanerpes  erythrocephalus  (LINN.). 

RED-HEADED  WOODPECKER. 
PLATE  XXII. 

Summer  resident;  common.  Occasionally  linger  into  the  win- 
ter. Begin  laying  about  the  middle  of  May. 

B.  94.     R.  375.     C.  453.     G.  172,     157.     U.  406. 

HABITAT.  Eastern  provinces  of  the  United  States,  westward 
to  within  the  Rocky  Mountains,  and  occasionally  to  California. 

SP.  CHAR.  "Head  and  neck  all  round  crimson  red,  margined  by  a  narrow 
crescent  of  black  on  the  upper  part  of  breast.  Back,  primary  quills  and  tail 
bluish  black.  Under  parts  generally,  a  broad  band  across  the  middle  of  the 
wings,  and  the  rump,  white.  The  female  is  not  different.  Bill  bluish  white, 
darker  terminally;  iris  chestnut;  feet  olive  gray.  Young:  Without  any  red, 
the  head  and  neck  being  grayish  streaked  with  dusky;  breast  with  an  ashy  tinge, 
and  streaked  sparsely  with  dusky;  secondaries  with  two  or  three  bauds  of  black; 
dorsal  region  clouded  with  grayish." 

Stretch  of 
Length.          wing.  Wing.          Tail.         Tarsus.       Bill. 

Male 9.50         17.50         5.50         3.35  .85         1.00 

Female...     9.25        17.00        5.40        3.30          .85        1.00 

Iris  dark  brown;  bill  light  blue,  darkest  along  the  ridge  and 
at  tips;  legs  and  feet  olive  blue;  claws  black. 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  335 

These  familiar  birds  are  at  home  in  the  woods,  the  groves, 
and  where  there  are  solitary  trees  or  telegraph  poles  upon  the 
prairies  and  treeless  plains.  They  are  very  social  and  playful 
in  their  habits,  and  are  often  to  be  seen,  at  all  seasons  of  the 
year,  chasing  each  other  in  the  air,  and  playing  hide-and-seek 
around  the  bodies  of  trees  and  among  the  branches.  They 
are  also  quite  successful  as  flycatchers,  and  seem  at  times  to  en- 
joy darting  for  the  same,  and  returning  to  their  perch.  (This 
is  not  an  unusual  habit  with  many  of  the  family.)  Their  notes 
are  sharp  and  tremulous,  and  sound  much  like  the  voice  of  the 
tree  frog.  Their  food  consists  of  the  various  forms  of  insect 
life,  grains,  berries  and  fruits  of  all  kinds,  and  for  the  latter 
reason  are  in  bad  repute  with  the  farmer;  but  I  think  the  good 
they  do  in  the  destruction  of  injurious  worms,  etc.,  more  than 
pays  for  the  share  they  claim  at  the  harvest.  But  they  do  have 
a  bad  habit  of  marring  the  steeples  of  churches,  and  the  cornices 
of  dwellings,  by  not  only  chipping  holes  in  various  places,  in 
their  search  for  nesting  places,  but  by  drumming  upon  the 
boards. 

Their  nests  are  deep,  round  holes,  gourd  shape  at  the  bottom, 
chipped  out  by  the  birds  in  dead  or  decaying  limbs,  trunks  of 
trees,  etc.  Eggs  four  to  six;  varying  in  size.  A  set  of  four 
eggs,  taken  June  1st,  1877,  at  Pewaukee,  Wisconsin,  from  a  nest 
in  a  stub  about  twenty  feet  from  the  ground,  measure:  l.OOx 
.79,  l.Olx.74,  1.02x.77,  1.02x.76;  pure  transparent  white;  in 
form,  rather  elliptical  to  oblong  ovate. 

SUBGE^US  ASYNDESMUS  COTTES. 

Bill  almost  colaptiiie  in  general  aspect,  but  with  short,  distinct  lateral  ridges, 
as  in  Melanerpes;  as  long  as  head,  rather  longer  than  tarsus,  not  broader  than 
high  at  base,  compressed  and  somewhat  curved  toward  end;  pointed,  with 
scarcely  any  lateral  beveling.  Cnlmen  curved  and  scarcely  ridged;  gonys  straight. 
Wings  of  excessive  length,  folding  nearly  to  end  of  tail,  and  peculiar  in  pro- 
portion of  primaries;  fourth  quill  longest,  third  and  fifth  about  equal  and  shorter 
than  second.  Inner  anterior  claw  reaching  little  beyond  base  of  outer  anterior. 
Feathers  of  under  parts  and  of  a  nuchal  collar,  with  the  fibrilla  of  their  colored 
portions,  enlarged  in  caliber,  bristly,  of  silicious  hardness,  loosened  and  discon- 
nected, being  devoid  of  barbicels  and  booklets.  Dorsal  plumage  compact,  of 
intense  metallic  luster.  Feathers  of  face  soft  and  velvety.  Sexes  alike;  young 
different.  (Coues.) 


336  HISTORY  OF  THE 

Melanerpes  torquatus  (WILS.). 

LEWIS'S  WOODPECKER. 
PLATE  XXII. 

Taken  at  Ellis  by  Dr.  "Watson,  May  6th,  1878;  one  specimen 
was  obtained  from  a  flock  of  six  or  eight. 

B.  96.     R.  376.     C.  456.     G.  173,     158.     U.  408. 

HABITAT.  Western  United  States;  east  to  the  Black  Hills  and 
western  Texas. 

SP.  CHAR.  "Feathers  on  the  under  parts  bristle-like.  Fourth  quill  longest; 
then  third  and  fifth.  Above,  dark  glossy  green.  Breast,  lower  part  of  neck, 
and  a  narrow  collar  all  round,  hoary  grayish  white.  Around  the  base  of  the  bill, 
and  sides  of  the  head  to  behind  the  eyes,  dark  crimson.  Belly  blood  red,  streaked 
finely  with  hoary  whitish.  Wings  and  tail  entirely  uniform  dark  glossy  green. 
Female  similar.  Young  without  the  nuchal  collar,  and  the  red  of  head  replaced 
by  black." 

Stretch  of 
Length.          wing.          Wing.  Tail.         Tarsus.         Bill. 

Male 11.00         21.50         6.75         4.20          .90          1.25 

Female...     10.75        20.75         6.50         4.00          .90          1.15 

Iris  brown;  bill  and  claws  black;  legs  and  feet  slate  color. 

This  remarkable  Woodpecker  inhabits  the  pine  and  oak  dis- 
tricts of  the  Rocky  Mountain  region,  often  in  the  summer  months 
reaching  an  elevation  of  over  7,500  feet,  moving  on  the  ap- 
proach of  winter  into  the  foothills  and  southward.  It  differs  in 
many  respects  from  the  usual  habits  and  actions  of  the  family. 
When  going  any  distance  its  flight  is  high  and  direct,  and  ac- 
complished with  regular  strokes  of  the  wings;  but  flights  from 
tree  to  tree  are  more  or  less  undulating.  It  alights  and  hops 
about  in  the  branches  much  like  our  regular  perchers,  and  would 
hardly  be  taken  for  a  Woodpecker,  unless  observed  while  climb- 
ing about  over  the  trunks  of  trees,  pecking  here  and  there  in 
search  for  insects  and  their  larva.  It  is  an  expert  flycatcher, 
and  seems  to  delight  in  chasing  and  catching  the  festive  grass- 
hoppers, that  (in  their  season)  take  regular  afternoon  aerial 
flights.  It  is  also  a  shy,  wary  bird  of  the  tree  tops,  seldom 
visiting  the  ground;  and  as  a  rule  rather  silent,  except  during 
the  mating  season,  when  they  are  quite  noisy. 

Their  nests  are  usually  excavated  near  the  tops  of  tall,  isolated, 
dead  or  decaying  pine  trees.  I  have  often  found  the  birds  nest- 
ing in  Colorado  and  New  Mexico,  but  never  low  enough  to  be 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  337 

able  to  collect  their  eggs,  which  are  said  to  be  four  to  six;  from 
the  various  measurements  that  I  have  examined,  l.OTx. 8i  is,  I 
think,  about  the  average  size;  in  form,  rather  subspherical. 

SUBGEXUS  CENTURUS  SWAIXSON. 

"Back  and  wings  banded  transversely  with  black  and  white.  Crown  more 
or  less  red;  rest  of  head,  with  under  parts,  grayish,  and  with  red  or  yellow  tinge 
on  the  middle  of  the  abdomen.  Rump  white." 

Melanerpes  carolinus  (LINN.). 

RED-BELLIED  WOODPECKER. 
PLATE  XXII. 

Resident;  abundant.      Begin  laying  early  in  April. 

B.  91.     R.  372.     C.  450.     G.  171,     159.     U.  409. 

HABITAT.  Eastern  United  States;  west  to  eastern  base  of  the 
Rocky  Mountains;  south  to  Florida  and  central  Texas;  rare  or 
accidental  east  of  the  Hudson  River. 

SP.  CHAR.  "Third,  fourth  and  fifth  quills  nearly  equal,  and  longest;  second 
(or  outermost)  and  seventh  about  equal.  Top  of  head  and  nape  crimson  red. 
Forehead  whitish,  strongly  tinged  with  light  red,  a  shade  of  which  is  also  seen 
on  the  cheek,  still  stronger  on  the  middle  of  the  belly.  Under  parts  brownish 
white,  with  a  faint  wash  of  yellowish  on  the  belly.  Back,  rump  aud  wing  cov- 
erts banded  black  and  white;  upper  tail  coverts  white,  with  occasional  blotches. 
Tail  feathers  black,  first  transversely  banded  with  white;  second  less  so;  all 
the  rest  with  whitish  tips.  Inner  feathers  banded  with  white  on  the  inner  web; 
the  outer  web  with  a  stripe  of  white  along  the  middle.  Female  with  the  crowu 
ashy;  forehead  pale  red;  nape  bright  red." 

Stretch  of 
Length.          wing.          Wing.          Tail.        Tarsus.         Bill. 

Male 10.00         17.00         5.30         3.50          .82          1.15 

Female...       9.60         16.50         5.20         3.30          .82          1.10 

Iris  bright  red;  bill  and  claws  black;  legs  and  feet  greenish 
blue. 

This  restless,  noisy  species  prefers  for  its  home  the  timbered 
bottom  lands  bordering  the  streams;  but  it  is  by  no  means  a 
shy  or  wary  bird,  often  visiting,  and  occasionally  breeding  in, 
the  groves  and  trees  about  our  upland  dwellings.  And  in  its 
search  for  food,  regardless  of  our  presence,  it  climbs  in  its  usual 
spiral  or  zigzag  manner  the  trees  and  their  branches,  boldly  ut- 
tering now  and  then  its  familiar  "Chaw-chaw";  darting  off  oc- 
casionally to  catch  a  passing  insect  upon  the  wing.  Its  flight 
—22 


338  UI8TORY  OF   THE 

is  undulating,  and  its  habits  in  many  respects  like  the  Red- 
headed, but  it  is  not  so  much  of  an  upland  bird,  or  lover  of 
berries  and  fruits,  and  therefore  more  respected  by  the  farmer. 
Their  nests  are  excavated  in  stubs  and  decaying  trunks  and 
branches  of  trees,  ranging  from  fifteen  to  forty  feet  from  the 
ground.  Eggs  four  or  five,  occasionally  six.  A  set  of  five 
eggs,  collected  April  14th,  1878.  at  Neosho  Falls,  Kansas, 
measure:  l.OOx.70,  l.OOx.71,  1.02x.71,  1.02x.74;  pure  trans- 
parent white,  the  air  sac  or  circular  spot  at  larger  end  chalky 
white;  in  form,  rather  elliptical  to  oblong  oval.  They  were 
taken  from  a  nest  in  the  trunk  of  a  small,  leaning  walnut  tree, 
about  thirty  feet  from  the  ground;  entrance  on  the  under  side,  a 
round  hole  just  large  enough  to  admit  the  birds,  enlarged  below 
from  four  to  five  inches,  and  twelve  inches  in  depth;  a  very 
roomy  nest,  no  lining;  eggs  laid  on  the  soft,  rotten  wood. 

GENUS  COLAPTES  SWAINSON. 

"Bill  slender,  depressed  at  the  base,  then  compressed.  Culmen  much  curved 
gonys  straight;  both  with  acute  ridges,  and  coming  to  quite  a  sharp  point  with 
the  commissure  at  the 'end;  the  bill  consequently  riot  truncate  at  the  end.  No 
ridges  on  the  bill.  Nostrils  basal,  median,  oval  and  exposed.  Gonys  very  short, 
about  half  the  culmen.  Feet  large;  the  anterior  outer  toe  considerably  longer 
than  the  posterior.  Tail  long,  exceeding  the  secondaries;  the  feathers  suddenly 
acuminate,  with  elongated  points." 

Colaptes  auratus  (LINN.). 

FLICKER. 
PLATE  XXII. 

Resident;  common.     Begin  laying  the  last  of  ApriL 

B.  97.     R.  378.     C.  457.     G.  174,     160.     U.  412. 

HABITAT.  Eastern  North  America;  north  to  Hudson's  Bay; 
west  to  the  eastern  slope  of  the  Rocky  Mountains;  also  reported 
from  Alaska,  where  we  would  only  naturally  look  for  the  North- 
western Flicker. 

SP.  CHAB.  "Shafts  and  under  surfaces  of  wing  and  tail  feathers  gamboge 
yellow.  Male:  With  a  black  patch  on  each  side  of  the  cheek.  A  red  crescent 
on  the  nape.  Throat  and  stripe  beneath  the  eye  pale  lilac  brown.  Back  glossed 
with  olivaceous  green.  Female:  Without  the  black  cheek  patch. 

ADDITIONAL  CHARACTERS.  "A  crescentic  patch  on  the  breast,  and  rounded 
spots  011  the  belly,  black.  Back  and  wing  coverts  with  interrupted  transverse 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  339 

bands  of  black.  Neck  above  and  on  the  sides  ashy.  Beneath,  pale  pinkish 
brown,  tinged  with  yellow  on  the  abdomen,  each  feather  with  a  heart-shaped 
spot  of  black  near  the  end.  Bump  white." 

Stretch  of 
Length.          -wing.          Wing.          Tail.         Tarsus.         Bill. 

Male 12.50         20.00         6.20         4.50         1.10         1.30 

Female...     12.25         19.50         6.15         4.35         1.10         1.25 

Iris  dark  brown;  bill  slate  blue;  legs  and  feet  ashy  or  light 
lead  color;  claws  horn  blue. 

This  well  known,  familiar  bird  is  as  much  at  home  on  our 
prairies  as  within  the  wooded  districts.  Mr.  Langille,  in  his  in- 
teresting work,  "Our  Birds  in  their  Haunts,"  says: 

"Next  to  the  Robin,  Bluebird  or  Barn  Swallow,  few  mem- 
bers of  the  feathered  tribes  are  better  known  than  the  'Flicker,' 
'High-hole,'  'Yellow-hammer,'  etc.,  for  the  Golden-wing  is 
known  by  all  these  names.  His  several  notes  are  among  the 
most  characteristic  sounds  of  spring,  at  which  time  he  is  thor- 
oughly noisy.  Coming  from  the  South  in  large  numbers,  late 
in  March  or  early  in  April,  ascending  some  tall,  dry  tree  top,  at 
early  dawn,  he  announces  himself,  either  by  a  sonorous  rapping 
on  the  dry  wood,  or  by  a  loud  squealing,  but  jovial  call,  "Chee- 
ah,  chee-ah,"  which,  once  noted,  is  not  easily  forgotten.  But 
even  this  latter  is  not  half  so  awakening  as  a  certain  prolonged 
strain,  nearly  two  syllables  in  regular  repetition,  something  like 
"Whric'k-ah,  whric'k-ah,  whric'k-ah,  whric'k-ah,  whric'k-ah, 
whric'k-ah."  This  vocal  performance,  meant  for  a  song,  no 
doubt,  is  a  mere  rollicking  racket,  toned  down,  indeed,  amidst 
the  many  voices  of  spring,  and  even  rendered  pleasing  by  its 
good-natured  hilarity.  How  significant  is  that  little  love  note, 
"Yu-cah,"  half  guttural,  half  whisper,  which  he  repeats  at  in- 
tervals, as  he  flits  about  the  solitude  of  the  forest  in  spring,  or 
plays  bo-peep  with  his  lover,  around  the  broken-off  top  or  limb 
of  some  dead  tree. 

"His  flight  is  swift,  vigorous  and  dashing;  is  performed  in 
curves  by  a  few  flaps  of  the  wings,  curving  upward  several  feet, 
when  alighting  on  the  trunk  of  a  tree,  but  ending  horizontally 
when  alighting  crosswise  on  a  limb,  after  the  manner  of  perch- 
ing birds.  In  manner,  as  in  structure,  he  is  not  precisely  like 


340  HISTORY  OF   THE 

the  rest  of  his  family.  At  home  anywhere,  from  the  tallest  tree 
top  to  the  ground,  and  always  in  a  harry  when  afoot,  he  will 
capture  his  insect  food  after  the  manner  of  Robins  and  Spar- 
rows. Ants  of  all  sizes  are  especially  in  favor  with  him." 

Berries,  fruits,  nuts  and  grains  also  help  to  make  up  their  bill 
of  fare.  They  usually  select  for  a  nesting  place  an  old  stub  or 
decaying  tree,  and  readily  excavate  a  hole  or  dress  up  a  cavity 
in  the  same  to  suit,  and  where  suitable  trees  are  not  convenient 
to  their  chosen  homes,  they  will  chip  through  cornices  and  into 
nooks  in  outbuildings  —  in  fact,  take  possession  of  most  any  dark 
suitable  cavity.  Eggs  usually  five  to  seven;  a  much  larger 
number  have  occasionally  been  found,  but  in  such  cases  I  am 
inclined  to  think  other  females  assisted,  although,  when  robbed 
of  the  egg  as  laid,  the  bird  will  often  continue  laying  to  the 
number  of  twenty  and  upward.  They  vary  much  in  size.  Ridg- 
way  says,  l.lOx. 85;  I  make  the  average  dimensions  of  a  few 
sets  to  be  1.  OCx.  84;  pure  pearly  white;  in  form,  rather  elliptical 
to  oblong  ovate.  A  set  collected  May  llth,  1878,  at  Pewau- 
kee,  Wisconsin,  only  measure:  l.OOx.  81,  1.03x.  80,  1.03x.  82, 
1.05x.82. 

Colaptes  cafer  (GMEL.). 

RED-SHAFTED  FLICKER. 
PLATE  XXII. 

Resident;  rare  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  State,  common  in 
the  western.  Begin  laying  the  last  of  April  to  first  of  May. 

B.  98.     R.  3786.     C.  459.     G.  176,     161.     U.  413. 

HABITAT.  Western  United  States,  except  the  northwest  coast 
and  Lower  California;  south  into  southern  Mexico. 

SP.  CHAR.  "Shafts  and  under  surface  of  wing  and  tail  feathers  orange  red. 
Male  with  a  red  patch  on  each  side  of  the  cheek;  nape  without  red  crescent; 
sometimes  very  faint  indications  laterally.  Throat  and  stripe  beneath  the  eye 
bluish  ash.  Back  glossed  with  purplish  brown.  Female  without  the  red  cheek 
patch." 

ADDITIONAL  CHARACTERS.  "  Spots  on  the  belly,  a  crescent  on  the  breast, 
and  interrupted  transverse  bands  on  the  back,  black." 

Stretch  of 
Length.  iving.          Wing.         Tail.         Tarsus.         Bill. 

Male 12.75         20.50         6.40         4.75         1.10         1.45 

Female..        12.50         20.00         6.25         4.50         1.10         1.40 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  341 

Iris  dark  brown;  bill  dark  slate  blue;  legs  and  feet  light  or 
ashy  blue;  claws  horn  blue. 

The  habits  and  actions  of  this  western  and  somewhat  larger 
species  appear  to  be  identical  with  those  of  C.  auratus.  In 
treeless,  unsettled  localities,  they  are  often  found  nesting  in  the 
sides  of  steep  banks,  excavating  their  burrows  like  the  King- 
fisher. 

A  set  of  four  eggs,  collected  May  6th,  1879,  near  Fort  Gar- 
land, Colorado,  from  a  nest  in  a  pine  tree,  about  twelve  feet 
from  the  ground,  are,  in  dimensions:  1.12x.89,  1.13x.  88,  1. 13x 
.88,  1.14x.  89;  not  distinguishable  from  the  eggs  of  C.  auratus, 
except  by  their  larger  size. 


ORDER  MACROCHIRES. 

GOATSUCKERS,   SWIFTS,  ETC. 

Bill  without  soft  swollen  cere.  Wings  very  long,  with  ten  quills,  tail  of  ten 
feathers,  and  gape  very  wide  and  deeply  cleft;  or  else  bill  long  and  slender, 
tongue  extensile,  and  secondaries  only  six  in  number.  (Ridgway.) 

SUBORDER  CAPRIMULGI.     GOATSUCKERS,  ETC. 

"Secondaries  more  than  six;  bill  short,  very  broad  at  base,  the  gape  deeply 
cleft;  plumage  not  metallic." 

Middle  toe  much  longer  than  lateral  toes,  its  claws  with  inner  edge  pectina- 
ted; gape  more  or  less  distinctly  bristled;  plumage  much  spotted,  the  feathers 
soft,  with  downy  or  moth-like  surface.  (Ridgway.) 

FAMILY   CAPRIMULGIDJE.     GOATSUCKERS,  ETC. 

"Bill  very  short,  the  gape  enormously  long  and  wide,  opening  to  beneath  or 
behind  the  eyes.  Culmeu  variable.  Toes  connected  by  a  movable  skin;  sec- 
ondaries lengthened;  plumage  soft,  sometimes  very  full  and  loose,  as  in  the 
Owls."  . 

GEXUS  ANTEOSTOMUS   GOULD. 

"Bill  very  small,  with  tubular  nostrils,  and  the  gape  with  long,  stiff,  some- 
times pectinated  bristles  projecting  beyond  the  end  of  the  bill;  tarsi  moderate, 
partly  feathered  above;  tail  broad,  rounded;  wings  broad  and  rounded;  first  quill 
shorter  than  third:  plumage  soft  and  lax." 


342  HISTORY  OF  THE 

Antrostomus  vociferus  (WILS.). 

WHIP-POOR-WILL. 
PLATE  XXIII. 

Summer  resident;  rare;  quite  common  during  migration  in 
the  eastern  portion  of  the  State.  Arrive  the  middle  of  May; 
begin  laying  the  latter  part  of  May;  return  in  September. 

B.  112.     R.  354.     C.  397.     G.  163,     162.     TJ.  417. 

HABITAT.  Eastern  United  States  to  the  Plains;  north  to 
Nova  Scotia,  Manitoba,  etc. ;  south  in  winter  to  Guatemala. 

SP.  CHAR.  "Bristles  without  lateral  filaments;  wings  about  6.50  inches  long; 
top  of  head  ashy  brown,  longitudinally  streaked  with  black;  terminal  half  of  the 
tail  feathers  (except  the  four  central)  dirty  white  on  both  outer  and  inner  webs. 
In  this  species  the  bristles  at  the  base  of  the  bill,  though  stiff  and  long,  are 
without  the  lateral  filaments  of  the  Chuck-will's-widow.  The  wings  are  rather 
short;  the  second  quill  longest;  the  first  intermediate  between  the  third  and 
fourth;  the  tail  is  rounded;  the  outer  feathers  about  half  an  inch  shorter  than 
the  middle  ones.  The  colors  of  this  species  are  very  difficult  to  describe,  although 
there  is  quite  a  similarity  to  those  of  A.  carolinensis,  from  which  its  greatly  infe- 
rior size  will  at  once  distinguish  it.  The  top  of  the  head  is  ashy  gray,  finely 
mottled,  with  a  broad  median  stripe  of  black;  all  the  feathers  with  a  narrow 
stripe  of  the  same  along  their  centers;  the  back  and  rump  are  somewhat  similar, 
but  of  a  different  shade.  There  is  a  collar  of  white  on  the  under  side  of  the 
neck,  posterior  to  which  the  npper  part  of  the  breast  is  finely  mottled,  some- 
what as  on  the  top  of  the  head;  the  belly  is  dirty  white,  with  indistinct  trans- 
verse bands  and  mottlings  of  brown.  The  wings  are  brown;  each  quill  with  a 
series  of  round  rufous  spots  on  both  webs,  quite  conspicuous  on  the  outer  side 
of  the  primaries  when  the  wings  are  folded.  The  terminal  half  of  the  outer 
three  tail  feathers  is  of  a  dirty  white.  The  female  is  smaller;  the  collar  oil  the 
throat  is  tinged  with  fulvous.  The  conspicuous  white  patch  of  the  tail  is  want- 
ing, the  tips  only  of  the  outer  three  feathers  being  of  a  pale  brownish  fulvous." 

Stretch  of 
Length.  wing.  Wing.  Tail.        Tarsus.        Bill, 

Male 10.20         18.75         6.40         5.15         .60         .44 

Female...     10.00         18.25         6.20         5.00         .60         .44 

Iris  bluish  black;  bill  and  claws  black;  legs  and  feet  grayish 
brown. 

This  bird  of  the  night  secretes  itself,  during  the  day,  in  the 
deep,  shady  thickets,  and  were  it  not  for  its  oft-repeated  and 
familiar  voice,  (heard  during  the  mating  season,  and  occasion- 
ally late  in  autumn,)  its  presence,  even  when  quite  common, 
would  seldom  be  known,  as  it  does  not  leave  its  secluded  re 
treats  until  the  shades  of  evening  darken,  and  the  silvery  bugle 


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BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  343 

notes  of  the  Wood  Thrush  —  one  of  the  latest  of  the  day  song- 
sters—  are  hushed.  Wilson  says: 

"This  is  a  singular  and  very  celebrated  species,  universally 
noted,  over  the  greater  part  of  the  United  States,  for  the  loud 
reiterations  of  its  favorite  call  in  spring;  and  yet,  personally, 
is  but  little  known,  most  people  being  unable  to  distinguish 
this  from  the  preceding  species  (Nighthawk),  when  both  are 
placed  before  them,  and  some  insist  that  they  are  the  same. 
This  being  the  case,  it  becomes  the  duty  of  his  historian  to  give 
a  full  and  faithful  delineation  of  his  character,  and  peculiarity  of 
manners,  that  his  existence  as  a  distinct  and  independent  species 
may  no  longer  be  doubted,  nor  his  story  mingled  confusedly 
with  that  of  another.  I  trust  that  those  best  acquainted  with 
him  will  bear  witness  to  the  fidelity  of  the  portrait. 

"On  or  about  the  25th  of  April,  if  the  season  be  not  uncom- 
monly cold,  the  Whip-poor-will  is  first  heard  in  this  part  of 
Pennsylvania,  in  the  evening,  as  the  dusk  of  twilight  commences, 
or  in  the  morning,  as  soon  as  dawn  has  broke.  In  the  State  of 
Kentucky,  I  first  heard  this  bird  on  the  14th  of  April,  near  the 
town  of  Danville.  The  notes  of  this  solitary  bird,  from  the 
ideas  which  are  naturally  associated  with  them,  seem  like  the 
voice  of  an  old  friend,  and  are  listened  to  by  almost  all  with 
great  interest.  At  first  they  issue  from  some  retired  pp.rt  of  tne 
woods,  the  glen  or  mountain;  in  a  few  evenings,  perhaps,  we 
hear  them  from  the  adjoining  coppice,  the  garden  fence,  the 
road  before  the  door,  and  even  from  the  roof  of  the  dwelling 

o 

house,  long  after  the  family  have  retired  to  rest.  Some  of  the 
more  ignorant  and  superstitious  consider  this  near  approach  as 
foreboding  no  good  to  the  family — nothing  less  than  sickness, 
misfortune  or  death  to  some  of  its  members.  These  visits,  how- 
ever, so  often  occur  without  any  bad  consequences,  that  this 
superstitious  dread  seems  to  be  on  the  decline. 

"He  is  now  a  regular  acquaintance.  Every  morning  and 
evening  his  shrill  and  rapid  repetitions  are  heard  from  the  ad- 
joining woods;  and  when  two  or  more  are  calling  out  at  the 
same  time,  as  is  often  the  case  in  the  pairing  season,  and  at  no 
great  distance  from  each  other,  the  noise,  mingling  with  the 


34:4  HISTORY  OF  THE 

echoes  from  the  mountains,  is  really  surprising.  Strangers  in 
parts  of  the  country  where  these  birds  are  numerous  find  it 
almost  impossible  for  some  time  to  sleep,  while  to  those  long 
acquainted  with  them  the  sound  often  serves  as  a  lullaby  to 
assist  their  repose. 

"These  notes  seem  pretty  plainly  to  articulate  the  words 
which  have  been  generally  applied  to  them,  Whip-poor-will,  the 
first  and  last  syllables  being  uttered  with  great  emphasis,  and 
the  whole  is  in  about  a  second  to  each  repetition;  but,  when  two 
or  more  males  meet,  their  Whip-poor-will  altercations  become 
much  more  rapid  and  incessant,  as  if  each  were  straining  to 
overpower  or  silence  the  other.  When  near,  you  often  hear  an 
introductory  cluck  between  the  notes.  At  these  times,  as  well 
as  at  almost  all  others,  they  fly  low,  not  more  than  a  few  feet 
from  the  surface,  skimming  about  the  house  and  before  the 
door,  alighting  on  the  wood  pile  or  settling  on  the  roof.  Towards 
midnight  they  generally  become  silent,  unless  in  clear  moon- 
light, when  they  are  heard  with  little  intermission  till  morning. 
If  there  be  a  creek  near,  with  high,  precipitous,  bushy  banks, 
they  are  sure  to  be  found  in  such  situations.  During  the  day 
they  sit  in  the  most  retired,  solitary  and  deep-shaded  parts  of 
the  woods,  generally  on  high  ground,  where  they  repose  in 
silence.  When  disturbed,  they  rise  within  a  few  feet,  sail  low 
and  slowly  through  the  woods  for  thirty  or  forty  yards,  and  gen- 
erally settle  on  a  low  branch  or  on  the  ground.  Their  sight 
appears  deficient  during  the  day,  as,  like  Owls,  they  seem  then 
to  want  that  vivacity  for  which  they  are  distinguished  in  the 
morning  and  evening  twilight.  They  are  rarely  shot  or  mo- 
lested; and,  from  being  thus  transiently  seen  in  the  obscurity 
of  dusk  or  in  the  deep  umbrage  of  the  woods,  no  wonder  their 
particular  markings  of  plumage  should  be  so  little  known,  or 
that  they  should  be  confounded  with  the  Nighthawk,  whom  in 
general  appearance  they  so  much  resemble." 

The  birds  make  no  nest.  Eggs  two;  laid  in  a  depression  on 
the  ground,  among  the  leaves  in  thickets  and  heavily-wooded 
lands.  A  set  collected  June  5th,  1871,  at  Pewaukee,  Wisconsin, 
in  the  woods,  under  a  thick  growth  of  bushes,  measure:  1.09x 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  345 

.80,  1.12x.78;    cream  white,  irregularly  spotted   and  mottled 
with  lavender  and  pale  brown;  in  form,  elliptical. 

GENUS  PHAL^NOPTILUS  RIDGWAY. 

Tarsus  longer  than  middle  toe;  entirely  naked  in  front;  first  quill  shorter 
than  fourth.  Tail  even,  much  shorter  than  wing;  the  latter  less  than  6.00; 
quills  without  white  patch.  (Ridgway.) 

Phalaenoptilus  nuttalli  (AUD.). 
POOR- WILL. 
PLATE  XXIII. 

Summer  resident;  common.  Arrive  the  last  of  April  to  first 
of  May;  begin  laying  the  last  of  May;  return  in  September. 

B.  113.     R.  355.     C.  398.     G.  164,     163.     U.  418. 

HABITAT.  Western  United  States;  east  into  Iowa  and  Mis- 
souri; south  into  Mexico. 

Sr.  CHAR.  Adult  male:  Top  of  head  soft,  velvety  grayish,  barred  with 
dusky;  under  tail  coverts  plain  buff;  upper  parts  in  general,  soft  brownish 
gray,  with  a  very  velvety,  moth-like  surface,  relieved  by  irregular  spottiugs 
and  zigzags  of  black,  the  outer  webs  of  the  quills  spotted  with  deep  buff  or  ochra- 
ceous;  throat  with  a  large,  transverse  patch  of  white;  other  lower  parts  (ex- 
cept tail  coverts)  barred  with  blackish  and  light  buffy;  tail  feathers  (except 
middle  pair)  broadly  tipped  with  white.  Adult  female:  Similar  to  the  male, 
but  usually  with  white  tips  to  tail  feathers  narrower.  Young:  Much  like  adult, 
but  colors  above  more  silvery  gray,  mixed  more  or  less  with  bright  rusty  or  ochra- 
ceous,  the  black  markings  smaller  and  less  distinct,  the  white  of  throat  and  tail 
reduced  in  extent,  and  tinged  with  ochraceous  or  rusty.  (Ridgicay.) 

Stretch  of 
Length.          -wing.          Wing.  Tail.        Tarsus.       Bill. 

Male 7.80         16.50         5.65         3.70         .70      •  .40 

Female 7.60         16.00         5.45         3.60         .70         .40 

They  vary  in  size. 

Iris  dark  brown;  bill  and  claws  black;  legs  reddish  purple; 
feet  dark  brown;  edges  of  scales  whitish. 

These  nocturnal  birds  inhabit  the  upland  prairies  and  plains. 
Their  favorite  resorts  are  rocky,  bluffy  grounds,  where  at  night 
during  the  breeding  season  and  at  intervals  afterward  they  an- 
nounce their  presence  by  their  oft-repeated  wailing  song,  "Poor- 
will."  On  the  wing  they  are  quite  swift,  skimming  over  the 
ground  in  an  easy,  circling  course,  usually  uttering  a  chicking 
note  as  they  fly;,  but  when  flushed  in  the  daylight  they  rise  in 


346  HISTORY  OF  THE 

a  bewildered  manner,  fly  but  a  short  distance  and  drop  back 
suddenly  to  the  ground. 

Their  food  consists  of  moths,  beetles,  and  the  various  noctur- 
nal insects  caught  upon  the  wing.  I  once  saw,  at  eve,  in  Col- 
orado, one  of  the  birds  repeatedly  spring  from  the  ground  and 
catch  passing  moths.  The  birds,  when  mated,  seem  to  be  strongly 
attached  to  each  other,  the  males  sharing  in  the  duties  of  hatch- 
ing and  rearing  the  young.  The  eggs,  two  in  number,  are  laid 
upon  the  bare  ground,  usually  at  the  roots  of  a  bunch  of  grass, 
weeds  or  low  bushes  upon  the  prairies.  A  set  collected  by 
Prof.  D.  E.  Lantz,  on  the  high  prairie  near  Manhattan,  Kansas, 
May  25th,  1886,  were  sheltered  by  a  tuft  of  grass;  no  material 
or  lining  of  any  kind  for  a  nest.  Eggs,  l.OOx.75,  1.12x.78; 
pure  white;  in  form,  oval  to  rounded  elliptical. 

Phalsenoptilus  nuttalli  nitidus  BKEWST. 

FROSTED  POOR- WILL. 
PLATE  XXIII. 

This  bleached  race,  lately  added  to  our  list  of  North  Ameri- 
can Birds,  has  been  taken  in  the  State  at  Neosho  Falls  and 
Manhattan,  and  when  better  known,  will,  without  doubt,  prove 
to  be  a  common  summer  resident. 

B.  — .     K.  — .     C.  — .     G.  — ,      — .    IT.  418a. 

HABITAT.  As  far  as  known  the  same  as  that  of  the  Poor-will. 
Taken  in  Arizona,  Colorado,  Kansas  and  Texas. 

Sp.  CHAR.  '  Similar  to  true  P.  nuttalli,  but  with  the  dark  markings  of  the 
crown,  back,  etc.,  fewer  and  more  sharply  defined,  on  a  much  lighter  ground,  the 
transverse  bars  beneath  finer,  paler,  and  less  conspicuous.  This  bird  seems  to 
be  another  example  of  a  bleached  desert  race.  It  is  very  much  paler  than  true 
nuttalli,  with  fewer  fine  dark  markings,  which,  however,  are  more  conspicuous 
than  in  nuttalli,  owing  to  the  generally  lighter  ground  color.  This  on  the  fore- 
head, sides  of  crown,  rump,  upper  tail  coverts  and  scapulars  is  pearly  or  ashy 
white,  giving  the  parts  a  delicate,  frosted  appearance.  The  chin,  sides  of  head, 
and  a  broad  band  around  the  nape  are  light  faded  brown,  whereas  in  nuttalli 
they  are  many  shades  darker  and  (the  chin  and  cheeks  at  least)  often  strongly 
blackish.  (Brewster.) 

This  bird  does  not  appear  to  differ  in  habits,  actions  or  size 
from  P.  nuttalli,  and  I  am  impressed  with  the  thought  that  it 
may  possibly  prove  to  be  a  dichromatic  phase-,  like  that  of  the 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  347 

Screech  Owl  (Megascops  asio),  rather  than  a  sub-species  as  DOW 
entered. 

Eggs  two,  pure  white;  inform,  oval  to  rounded  elliptical.  A 
set  of  eggs  collected  in  Riley  county,  Kansas,  June  26th,  1889, 
by  Mr.  Eben  M.  Blachly,  and  kindly  loaned  me,  with  the  skin 
of  one  of  the  parent  birds,  for  identification,  are,  in  dimensions: 
1.05x.79,  1.03x.78.  They  were  laid  upon  the  bare  ground, 
under  a  bunch  of  grass  upon  the  prairie,  and  near  the  edge  of  a 
corn  field. 

GENTJS  CHOEDEILES  SWAINSOW. 

"Bill  small,  the  nostrils  depressed;  the  gape  with  feeble,  Inconspicuous 
bristles.  Wings  long,  narrow,  and  pointed;  the  first  quill  nearly  or  quite  equal 
to  the  second.  Tail  rather  narrow,  slightly  forked;  plumage  quite  compact. 
Habits  diurnal  or  crepuscular." 

Chordeiles  virginianus  (GMEL.). 

NIGHT-HAWK. 
PLATE  XXIII. 

Summer  resident;  common  in  the  eastern  to  the  middle  por- 
tion of  the  State;  rare  in  the  western.  Arrive  the  first  of  May; 
begin  laying  the  last  of  May;  return  in  September;  a  few  occa- 
sionally remain  into  October. 

B.  114.     K.  357.     C.  399.     G.  165,     164.     U.  420. 

HABITAT.  Eastern  North  America;  north  to  Hudson's  Bay; 
west  to  edge  of  Great  Plains;  (to  Pacific  Coast  along  the  north- 
ern border  of  the  United  States; )  south  in  winter  to  Bahamas, 
Cuba,  Jamaica,  (breeds?)  middle  America,  and  portions  of  east- 
ern South  America.  (Ridgway.) 

SP.  CHAR.  "•Male:  Above  greenish  black,  but  with  little  mottling  on  the 
head  and  back;  wing  coverts  varied  with  grayish;  scapulars  with  yellowish 
rufous;  a  nuchal  band  of  fine  gray  mottling,  behind  which  is  another  coarser  one 
of  rufous  spots.  A  white  V-shaped  mark  on  the  throat;  behind  this  a  collar  of 
pale  rufous  blotches,  and  another  on  the  breast  of  grayish  mottling.  Under 
parts  banded  transversely  with  dull  yellowish  or  reddish  white  and  brown;  wing 
quills  quite  uniformly  brown;  the  five  outer  primaries  with  a  white  blotch  (about 
half  an  inch  long)  midway  between  the  tip  and  carpal  joint,  not  extending  on 
the  outer  web  of  the  outer  quills.  Tail  with  a  terminal  white  patch,  which  does 
not  reach  the  outer  edge  of  the  feathers.  Female:  Without  the  caudal  white 
patch,  the  white  tail  bands  more  mottled,  the  white  of  the  throat  mixed  with 
reddish." 


348  HISTORY  OF  THE 

Stretch  of 
Length.  wing.          Wing.         Tail.         Tarsus.          Kill. 

Male 9.50          23.00         7.80         4.40          .55  .20 

Female...       9.10          22.00         7.50         4.30          .55  .25 

Iris,  bill  and  claws  blackish;  legs  and  feet  dark  grayish  brown. 

This  is  one  of  our  most  common  birds  of  the  open  lands  and 
prairies.  Strictly  speaking,  it  is  a  diurnal  bird,  but  more  or  less 
crepuscular  in  habits,  retiring  to  rest  regularly  at  the  close  of 
twilight.  In  flight  they  are  graceful  and  pleasing,  gliding  with 
ease  through  their  various  evolutions  and  quick  turns,  skimming 
with  spread  tail  in  a  buoyant,  effortless  manner  near  the  ground 
or  high  in  air,  rising  and  dropping  suddenly,  and  at  times  with 
a  quick  upward  turn  that  causes  a  hollow,  whirring  sound,  pro- 
duced, I  think,  by  the  quick  vibration  of  the  wings  upon  the 
air.  Their  voice  is  an  occasional  squeak  or  a  "Pe-up"  note, 
and,  when  wounded  or  in  the  protection  of  their  young  or  eggs, 
often  startle  the  intruder  by  quickly  raising  their  feathers  and 
emitting  through  their  widely-opened  mouth  a  sharp,  hissing 
sound;  and  during  love  making  and  caressing  I  have  heard  the 
males  utter  low,  cooing  notes. 

Their  food  consists  of  small  winged  insects  that  abound  in 
the  air,  especially  at  morn,  late  in  the  afternoon  and  at  eve,  which 
accounts  for  their  activity  at  such  times. 

Eggs  two,  1.22x.  82;  grayish  white,  thickly  mottled  all  over 
with  various  tints  of  lilac,  purple  and  yellowish  brown;  they 
are  laid  upon  the  bare  ground,  in  open  and  exposed  situations; 
in  form,  rounded  elliptical. 

Chordeiles  virginianus  henryi  (GASS.). 

WESTERN  NIGHTHAWK. 

Summer  resident;  common  in  the  western  and  middle  por- 
tions of  the  State.  Arrive  about  the  middle  of  May;  begin 
laying  the  last  of  May  to  first  of  June;  return  in  September. 

B.  115.     R.  357a.     C.  400.     G.  106,     165.     U.  420a. 

HABITAT.  Western  United  States;  occasionally  straggling 
east  into  Illinois  (western  Manitoba.  Seton);  south  into  Mexico. 

SP.  CHAK.  "Similar  to  C.  virginianus,  but  the  male  considerably  lighter, 
with  a  greater  predominance  of  the  light  mottlings,  producing  a  more  grayish 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  349 

aspect;  the  female  more  rufous.     Wing  patch  of  the  male  larger  (at  least  an 
inch  long),  and,  like  the  tail  patch,  crossing  the  whole  breadth  of  the  feathers." 

This  pale  variety  does  not  appear  to  differ  in  the  least  in  its 
habits,  actions  or  notes  from  the  Eastern  bird,  C.  virginianus, 
and,  from  the  measurements  that  I  have  made,  varies  but  little, 
if  any,  in  size.  Their  eggs,  however,  average  a  little  larger, 
and  are  paler  in  color. 

SUBORDER  CYPSELL     SWIFTS. 

Middle  toe  not  distinctly  longer  than  lateral  toes,  its  claw  with  edge  not  pec- 
tinated; gape  without  bristles;  plumage  plain  and  compact,  the  feathers  with 
smooth  surface.  (Ridgway.) 

FAMILY  MICROPODID-ffi.     SWIFTS. 

"Bill  very  small,  without  notch,  triangular,  much  broader  than  high;  the 
culmen  not  one-sixth  the  gape.  Anterior  toes  cleft  to  the  base,  each  with  three 
joints  (in  the  typical  species),  and  covered  with  skin  or  feathers;  the  middle 
claw  without  any  serrations;  the  lateral  toes  nearly  equal  to  the  middle.  Bill 
without  bristles,  but  with  minute  feathers  extending  along  the  under  margin  of 
the  nostrils.  Tail  feathers  ten.  Nostrils  elongated,  superior,  and  very  close 
together.  Plumage  compact.  Primaries  ten,  elongated,  falcate." 

SUBFAMILY  CILETURIN7E.      SPINE-TAILED  SWIFTS. 
Tarsi  and  toes  naked;  the  hind  toe  directed  backward.  (Ridgway.) 

GENUS  CENTURA  STEPHENS. 

"Tail  very  short,  scarcely  more  than  two-fifths  the  wing;  slightly  rounded; 
the  shafts  stiffened  and  extending  some  distance  beyond  the  feathers  in  a  rigid 
spine.  First  primary  longest.  Legs  covered  by  a  naked  skin,  without  scutella 
or  feathers.  Tarsus  longer  than  middle  toe.  Lateral  toes  equal,  nearly  as  long 
as  the  middle.  Hind  toe  scarcely  versatile,  or  quite  posterior;  including  claw, 
less  than  the  middle  anterior  without  it.  Toes  slender;  claws  moderate.  Feath- 
ers of  the  base  of  the  bill  not  extending  beyond  the  beginning  of  the  nostrils.' 

Chsetura  pelagica  (LINN.). 

CHIMNEY  SWIFT. 
PLATE  XXIII. 

Summer  resident;  abundant  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  State. 
Arrive  the  last  of  April;  begin  laying  the  latter  part  of  May; 
return  in  September;  a  few  occasionally  remain  into  October. 

B.  109.     R.  351.     C.  405.     G.  162,     166.     U.  423. 

HABITAT.  Eastern  North  America;  north  to  Labrador,  Man- 
itoba, etc. ;  west  to  the  edge  of  the  plains;  south  of  the  United 


350  HISTORY  OF   THE 

States  in  winter  to  Cozumel  Island,  Jalapa,  Mexico,  and  possibly 
farther. 

SP.  CHAR.  "Tail  slightly  rounded.  Sooty  brown  all  over,  except  on  the 
throat,  which  becomes  considerably  lighter  from  the  breast  to  the  bill.  Above 
with  a  greenish  tinge;  the  rump  a  little  paler." 

Stretch  of 
Length.          -wing.  Wing.          Tail.       Tarsus.         Bill. 

Male 5.05         12.30         5.10         1.90         .45         .21 

Female 4.85        12.10        5.00        1.75        .45        .21 

Iris  dark  brown;  bill  and  claws  black;  legs  and  feet  brownish 
black.  The  above  are  fresh  measurements  of  a  pair  of  adult 
birds,  shot  in  the  month  of  June.  From  other  measurements 
as  given,  the  bird  should  average  a  little  larger. 

These  wild,  restless  birds  are  gregarious  and  social  in  their 
habits.  I  have  often  found  them  in  the  Indian  Territory  and 
early  settlements  of  Kansas,  occupying  large  hollow  trees  — 
the  sycamore  the  favorite  —  and  they  occasionally  continue  to 
do  so  in  settled  localities,  but  as  a  rule  prefer  the  habitations 
of  man,  and  they  are  most  abundant  about  our  city  homes,  se- 
creting themselves  during  the  day  and  night,  chiefly  within 
unused  chimneys,  occasionally  in  other  suitable  dark  retreats, 
coming  forth  at  eve  like  the  bats,  but  a  little  earlier,  retiring  at 
dark.  They  are  occasionally  to  be  seen  flying  about  during  the 
middle  of  bright,  sunshiny  days,  but  as  a  rule  are  rather  crepus- 
cular in  their  habits. 

Their  food  consists  entirely  of  winged  insects,  in  search  of 
which  they  never  seem  to  flag  or  weary,  crossing  and  recrossing 
each  other's  course  in  their  circling,  chattering  flights,  gliding 
along  with  rapid  strokes  of  the  wings  or  sailing  with  motionless 
wings,  as  best  suits  their  purpose.  On  account  of  their  ex- 
tremely long  wings,  they  cannot  readily  rise  from  a  level  sur- 
face, and  therefore  select,  for  a  resting  place,  the  perpendicular 
sides  or  edges  of  an  elevation,  where  they  can  at  once  launch 
into  the  air.  Their  peculiarly-formed  feet  and  spine-tipped  tails 
enable  them  to  grasp  and  rest  at  ease  in  such  positions. 

Their  nests  are  placed  in  hollow  trees,  chimneys,  etc. ;  a  pe- 
culiar saucer-shaped  semicircular  structure,  composed  of  small 
sticks  of  uniform  length  and  size,  which  are  strongly  glued  to- 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  351 

gether  and  fastened  to  the  wall  with  an  adhesive  saliva  from  the 
birds.  Eggs  usually  four,  .  75x.50;  pure  white;  not  highly 
polished;  in  form,  rather  elliptical  ovate. 

SUBORDER  TROCHILL     HUMMINGBIRDS. 

Secondaries  only  six;  bill  long  as  head,  or  longer,  slender,  the  gape  not  deeply 
cleft;  plumage  more  or  less  metallic.  (Ridgway.) 

FAMILY  TROCHILID^l.     HUMMINGBIRDS. 

"Least  of  all  birds;  sternum  very  deep;  bill  subulate  and  generally  longer 
than  head,  straight,  arched  or  upcurved.  Tongue  composed  of  two  lengthened 
cylindrical  united  tubes,  capable  of  great  protrusion,  and  bifed  at  tip;  nostrils 
basal,  linear,  and  covered  by  an  operculum;  wings  lengthened,  pointed;  first 
quill  usually  longest  except  in  Aitkurus,  where  it  is  the  second;  primaries  ten; 
secondaries  six;  tail  of  ten  feathers.  Tarsi  and  feet  very  diminutive,  claws  very 
sharp." 

GENUS  TROCHILUS  LINN.EUS. 

"Metallic  gorget  of  throat  nearly  even  all  round.  Tail  forked;  the  feathers 
lanceolate,  acute,  becoming  gradually  narrower  from  the  central  to  the  exterior. 
Inner  six  primaries  abruptly  and  considerably  smaller  than  the  outer  four,  with 
the  inner  web  notched  at  the  end." 

SUBGENUS  TROCHILUS. 

Exposed  culmen  less  than  half  as  long  as  wing,  the  bill  straight.  Middle 
tail  feathers  narrower  near  end  than  at  base.  Exposed  culmeu  .60  or  more; 
outer  tail  feathers  without  white  tips  in  adult  males;  outer  tail  feathers  not  de- 
cidedly shorter  than  middle  pair,  and  not  conspicuously  narrower  than  the  next; 
adult  males  with  six  innermost  quills  abruptly  much  smaller  and  narrower  than 
the  rest,  the  top  of  head  greenish  like  back,  or  dusky,  the  tail  feathers  (except 
middle  pair)  pointed.  (Ridgway.) 

Trochilus  colubris  LINK. 

RUBY-THROATED  HUMMINGBIRD. 
PLATE  XXIII. 

Summer  resident;  common  in  the  eastern  portion  of  the  State. 
Arrive  the  last  of  April  to  first  of  May;,  begin  laying  the  last 
of  May;  the  bulk  leave  in  September;  a  few  remain  into  Octo- 
ber. 

B.  101.     H.  335.     C.  409.     G.  161,     167.     U.  428. 

HABITAT.  Eastern  North  America;  west  to  the  high  central 
plains;  north  into  the  fur  countries,  and  south  in  winter  to 
Cuba,  and  through  eastern  Mexico  to  Veragua. 


352  HISTORY  OF  THE 

SP.  CHAR.  "Tail  in  the  male  deeply  forked;  the  feathers  all  narrow  lanceo- 
late-acute. In  the  female,  slightly  rounded  and  emarginate;  the  feathers 
broader,  though  pointed.  Male:  Uniform  metallic  green  above;  a  ruby  red  gor- 
get (blackish  near  the  bill),  with  no  conspicuous  ruff;  a  white  collar  on  the 
jugulum;  sides  of  body  greenish;  tail  feathers  uniformly  brownish  violet.  Fa- 
mule:  Without  the  red  on  the  throat;  the  tail  rounded  and  emarginate,  the  in- 
ner feathers  shorter  than  the  outer;  the  tail  feathers  banded  with  black,  and 
the  outer  tipped  with  white;  no  rufous  or  cinnamon  on  the  tail  in  either  sex. 
Young:  Males  are  like  the  females;  the  throat  usually  spotted,  sometimes  with 
red;  the  tail  is,  in  shape,  more  like  that  of  the  old  male." 

Stretch  of 
Length.          wing.  Wing.  Tail.         Tarsus.         Bill. 

Male 3.55  4.15          1.55         1.10          .15          .65 

Female...       3.50  4.25          1.60         1.10         .15         .65 

Iris  dark  brown;  bill,  logs,  feet  and  claws  black. 

The  above  are  fresh  measurements  of  an  adult  pair.  From 
dimensions  as  given  by  others,  they  probably  average  a  little 
larger. 

These  hardy  little  beauties  begin  to  arrive  from  the  south  as 
soon  as  the  cherry  and  apple  trees  are  in  blossom;  the  males 
several  days  in  advance;  brave,  pugnacious  little  fellows,  that, 
during  the  mating  season,  will  fight  their  rivals  for  their  lady  loves, 
till  death;  and  in  defense  of  their  homes  boldly  attack  the  larger 
birds,  and  often  dart  at  and  try  to  frighten  man  away.  They 
breed  from  the  Gulf  coast  north  to  at  least  the  fifty-seventh  par- 
allel. The  following  beautiful  description  of  their  flights  and 
manner  of  feeding  is  taken  from  "Our  Birds  in  their  Haunts, " 
by  Mr.  Langille: 

"There  are  many  birds  the  flight  of  which  is  so  rapid  that 
the  strokes  of  their  wings  cannot  be  counted,  but  here  is  a  spe- 
cies with  such  nerve  of  wing  that  its  wing  strokes  cannot  be 
seen.  'A  hazy  semicircle  of  indistinctness  on  each  side  of  the 
bird  is  all  that  is  perceptible.'  Poised  in  the  air,  his  body 
nearly  perpendicular,  -he  seems  to  hang  in  front  of  the  flowers 
which  he  probes  so  hurriedly,  one  after  the  other,  with  his  long, 
slender  bill.  That  long,  tubular,  fork-shaped  tongue  may  be 
sucking  up  the  nectar  from  those  rather  small  cylindrical  blos- 
soms, or  it  may  be  capturing  tiny  insects  housed  away  there. 
Much  more  like  a  large  sphynx  moth,  hovering  and  humming 
over  the  flowers  in  the  dusky  twilight,  than  like  a  bird,  appears 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  353 

this  delicate  fairy-like  beauty.  How  the  bright  green  of  the 
body  gleams  and  glistens  in  the  sunlight;  while  the  ruby  colored 
throat,  changing  with  the  angle  of  light  as  the  bird  moves,  is 
like  a  bit  of  black  velvet  above  the  white  under  parts,  or  it 
glows  and  shimmers  like  a  flame.  Each  imperceptible  stroke 
of  those  tiny  wings  conforms  to  the  mechanical  laws  of  flight  in 
all  their  subtile  complications,  with  an  ease  and  gracefulness 
that  seems  spiritual.  "Who  can  fail  to  note  that  fine  adjustment 
of  the  organs  of  flight  to  aerial  elasticity  and  gravitation,  by 
which  that  astonishing  bit  of  nervous  energy  can  rise  and  fall 
almost  on  the  perpendicular,  dart  from  side  to  side,  as  if  by 
magic,  or,  assuming  the  horizontal  position,  pass  out  of  sight 
like  a  shooting  star?  Is  it  not  impossible  to  conceive  of  all  this 
being  done  by  that  rational  calculation  which  enables  the  rower 
to  row,  or  the  sailor  to  sail  his  boat  ? ' ' 

Their  deep,  cup-shaped  nests  are  usually  built  on  small,  hori- 
zontal limbs  of  trees,  six  to  twelve  feet  from  the  ground;  a  deli- 
cate, beautiful  structure,  composed  of  a  cottony  substance,  and 
soft,  silky  fibers  from  plants,  the  outside  dotted  over  with  lich- 
ens. Eggs  two  (varying  in  size),  .48x.  33;  pure  white;  in  form, 
rather  elliptical. 


ORDER  PASSERES. 

PERCHING  BIRDS. 

"Hallux  invariably  present,  completely  incumbent,  separately  movable  by 
specialization  of  the  flexor  hallucis  longus,  with  enlarged  base  and  its  claw  larger 
than  that  of  the  middle  digit.  Neither  second  nor  fourth  toe  versatile;  joints 
of  toes  always  2,  3,  4,  5,  from  first  to  fourth.  Wing  coverts  comparatively  short 
and  few;  with  the  exception  of  the  least  coverts  from  the  plica  alaris,  arranged 
in  only  two  series,  the  greater  of  which  does  not  reach  beyond  the  middle  of  the 
secondary  remiges.  Eectrices  twelve  (with  rare  anomalous  exceptions).  Mu- 
sical apparatus  present  in  greater  or  less  development  and  complexity.  Palate 
aegithognathous.  Sternum  of  one  particular  mould,  single  notched.  Carotid 
single  (sinistra).  Nature  highly  altricial  and  ptilopsedic." 

—23 


354  HISTORY  OF   THE 

SUBORDER  CLAMATORES.    SONGLESS  PERCHING  BIRDS. 

"  Sides  of  the  tarsus  covered  with  divided  plates  or  scales  variously  arranged, 
its  hinder  edge  bluut.  Musical  apparatus  weak  and  imperfect,  a  few  or  incom- 
pletely distinguished  syriugeal  muscles  (as  far  as  known).  Primaries  ten  (with 
rare  exceptions),  the  first  usually  equaling  or  exceeding  the  rest." 

FAMILY  TYRANNID.32.     TYRANT  FLYCATCHERS. 

"Primaries  ten.  Bill  in  typical  forms  broad,  triangular,  much  depressed, 
abruptly  decurved  .and  notched  at  tip,  with  long  bristles  along  gape.  Tarsi  with 
scutella  extending  round  the  outer  face  of  tarsus  from  the  front  to  back;  some- 
times divide  on  the  outer  side.  Bill  with  culrnen  nearly  as  long  as  the  head,  or 
shorter;  straight  to  near  the  tip,  then  suddenly  bent  down  into  a  conspicuous 
hook,  with  a  notch  behind  it;  tip  of  lower  jaw  also  notched.  Commissure 
straight  to  near  the  notch;  gonys  slightly  convex.  Nostrils  oval  or  rounded  in 
the  anterior  extremity  of  the  nasal  groove,  and  more  or  less  concealed  by  lonu 
bristles,  which  extend  from  the  posterior  angle  of  the  jaws  along  the  base  of  the 
bill,  becoming  smaller,  but  reaching  nearly  to  the  median  line  of  the  forehead. 
These  bristles  with  lateral  branches  at  the  base.  Similar  bristles  are  mixed  in 
the  loral  feathers  and  margin  the  chin.  Tarsi  short,  generally  less  than  middle 
toe,  completely  enveloped  by  a  series  of  large  scales,  which  meet  near  the  pos- 
terior edge  of  the  inner  side,  and  are  separated  either  by  naked  skin  or  by  a 
row  of  small  scales.  Sometimes  a  second  series  of  rather  large  plates  is  seen  on 
the  posterior  face  of  the  tarsus,  these,  however,  usually  on  the  upper  extremity 
only.  Basal  joint  of  middle  toe  united  almost  throughout  to  that  of  the  outer 
toe,  but  more  than  half  free  on  the  inner  side;  outer  lateral  toe  rather  the  longer. 
Wings  and  tail  variable;  first  quills  always  more  than  three-fourths  the  second. 
The  outer  primaries  sometimes  attenuated  near  the  tip."* 

GENUS  MILVULUS  SWAIXSON. 

"Bill  shorter  than  the  head,  and  nearly  equal  to  the  tarsus.  Tail  nearly  twice 
as  long  as  the  wing,  excessively  forked;  the  middle  feathers  scarcely  half  the 
lateral.  First  primary  abruptly  attenuated  at  the  end,  where  it  is  very  narrow 
and  linear.  Head  with  a  concealed  crest  of  red." 

Milvulus  forficatus  (GMEI,.). 

SCISSOR-TAILED  FLYCATCHER. 
PLATE  XXIII. 

Summer  resident;  quite  common  in  the  southern  parts  of  the 
State.  Arrive  the  first  to  middle  of  May;  begin  laying  the  last 
of  May;  leave  in  September. 

B.  123.     R.  301.  C.  367.     G.  149,     168.     U.  443. 

HABITAT.  Eastern  Mexico  and  southwestern  prairie  districts 
of  United  States;  north  to  Indian  Territory,  southern  Kansas 

*  Birds  of  this  fly-catching  family  occasionally  eat  berries. 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  355 

and  southwestern  Missouri;  accidental  at  Key  West,  Florida,  at 
Norfolk,  Virginia,  New  Jersey,  New  England,  Manitoba,  and 
even  at  York  Factory,  Hudson's  Bay  Territory;  south  to  Costa 
Rica.  (Ridgway. ) 

SP.  CHAR.  "Wing  with  the  outer  primary  only  abruptly  attenuated  and 
narrowly  linear  (for  about  .85  of  an  inch);  the  second  but  slightly  emarginate; 
second  quill  longest;  first  and  third  equal.  Tail  very  deeply  forked,  the  lateral 
feathers  twice  as  long  as  the  body,  all  narrow  and  linear  or  subspatulate.  Top 
and  sides  of  head  very  pale  ash;  the  back  a  little  darker  and  faintly  tinged  with 
light  brick  red;  under  parts  nearly  pure  white,  tinged  toward  the  tail  with  light 
vermilion,  rather  more  rose  on  the  under  wing  coverts;  a  patch  on  the  side  of 
the  breast  and  along  the  forearm  dark  vermilion  red.  Tail  feathers  rosy  white, 
tipped  at  the  end  for  two  or  three  inches  with  black.  Ruinp  dark  brown,  turn- 
ing to  black  on  the  coverts.  Wings  very  dark  brown;  the  coverts  and  quills, 
excepting  the  primaries  (and  including  the  outer  of  these),  edged  with  whitish. 
Crown  with  a  concealed  patch  of  white,  having  some  orange  red  in  the  center." 

Stretch  of 
Length.  wing.  Wing.          Tail.         Tarsus.          Bill. 

Male 14.25         15.50         5.00         9.25          .70  .70 

Female...      11.50         14.20         4.35         6.50          .68  .68 

Iris,  legs  and  feet  dark  brown;  bill  and  claws  black.  • 
This  very  singular  and  beautiful  species  prefers  for  its  home 
prairie  lands  that  are  dotted  with  scattering  or  lone,  shrubby 
trees.  They  are  quite  common  from  latitude  38°  southward 
through  the  Indian  Territory,  Texas  and  eastern  Mexico,  and  I 
found  them  wintering  in  large  numbers  in  the  vicinity  of  Gran- 
ada, Nicaragua,  and  along  the  west  side  of  the  lake  south  into 
Costa  Rica;  and  March  2d,  1885,  I  shot  a  straggling  male  at 
Cape  Sable,  Florida.  It  is  one  of  our  most  graceful  and  at- 
tractive birds  of  the  air,  skimming  over  the  prairies  with  inimi- 
table grace,  closing  and  expanding  its  long,  forked  tail,  and 
showing  off  in  the  changing  lights  to  the  best  advantage  its 
vermilion  markings  in  contrast  with  its  ashy  hue,  perching  often 
in  its  course  upon  a  bush  or  tall  weed,  and  at  times  rising  from 
the  same  to  quite  a  height,  and  then  suddenly  dropping  in  an 
almost  perpendicular  manner.  A  courageous  and  rather  quar- 
relsome bird,  that  not  only  attacks  the  birds  of  prey  but  drives 
all  others  away  from  its  selected  home,  uttering  in  its  chase  a 
sharp,  harsh,  scolding,  "Tish,  tish,  tish"  note.  It  is  an  expert 
fly  catcher,  and  feeds  chiefly  upon  the  various  kinds  of  winged 
insects. 


356  HISTORY  OF   THE 

Their  nests  are  placed  on  the  horizontal  branches  of  scrubby- 
trees  on  and  skirting  the  edges  of  the  prairies,  six  to  twelve  feet 
from  the  ground;  a  rather  flat,  loosely-constructed  nest,  com- 
posed of  sticks,  flowering  stems  of  weeds,  and  grasses.  Eggs 
three  to  five,  .85x.68;  white,  spotted  and  blotched  with  dark 
red  or  reddish  brown,  and  a  few  purple  stains,  chiefly  about 
larger  end;  in  form,  rather  rounded  ovate. 

GENUS  TYRANNUS  CUVIER. 

"Tail  nearly  even  or  moderately  forked;  rather  shorter  than  the  wings;  the 
feathers  broad  and  widening  somewhat  at  the  ends.  Wings  long  and  pointed; 
the  outer  primaries  rather  abruptly  attenuated  near  the  end,  the  attenuated  por- 
tion not  linear,  however.  Head  with  a  concealed  patch  of  red  on  the  crown." 

Tyrannus  tyrannus  (LINN.). 

KINGBIRD. 
PLATE  XXIII. 

Summer  resident;  abundant.  Arrive  the  last  of  April;  begin 
laying  about  the  middle  of  May;  return  in  September. 

B.  124.     R.  304.     C.  368.     G.  150,     169.     U.  444. 

HABITAT.  Temperate  North  America,  chiefly  east  of  the 
Rocky  Mountains;  very  rare  on  the  Pacific  coast;  south  in  win- 
ter into  northern  South  America. 

SP.  CHAB.  "Two,  sometimes  three,  outer  primaries  abruptly  attenuated  at 
the  end.  Second  quill  longest;  third  little  shorter;  first  rather  longer  than 
fourth,  or  nearly  equal.  Tail  slightly  rounded.  Above  dark  bluish  ash.  The 
top  and  sides  of  the  head  to  beneath  the  eye  a  bluish  black.  A  concealed  crest 
on  the  crown,  vermilion  in  the  center,  white  behind,  and  before  partly  mixed 
with  orange.  Lower  parts  pure  white,  tinged  with  pale  bluish  ash  on  the  sides 
of  the  throat  and  across  the  breast;  sides  of  the  breast  and  under  the  wings  sim- 
ilar to  but  rather  lighter  than  the  back.  Axillars  pale  grayish  brown,  tipped 
with  lighter.  The  wings  dark  brown,  darkest  toward  the  ends  of  the 'quills; 
the  greater  coverts  and  quills  edged  with  white,  most  on  the  tertials;  the  lesser 
coverts  edged  with  paler.  Upper  tail  coverts  and  upper  surface  of  the  tail 
glossy  black,  the  latter  very  dark  brown  beneath;  all  the  feathers  tipped,  and 
the  exterior  margined  externally,  with  white,  forming  a  conspicuous  terminal 
band  about  .25  of  an  inch  broad." 

The  birds  vary  somewhat  in  size;  the  females  averaging, 
from  my  measurements,  fully  as  large  as  the  males. 

Stretch  of 
Length.  wing.  Wing:          Tail.  Tarsus.         Bill. 

8.50  14.50          4.50  3.50  .70  .70 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  357 

Iris  dark  brown;  bill  and  claws  black;  legs  and  feet  grayish 
to  brownish  black. 

This  common  and  well  known  species  are  rightly  entitled  to 
the  name  they  bear,  on  account  of  their  brave,  audacious  at- 
tacks upon  the  birds  of  prey  and  others  intruding  upon  their 
breeding  grounds.  This  combative  spirit,  however,  closes  with 
the  season,  and  their  shrill,  twittering  notes  are  seldom  heard 
after  the  young  are  capable  of  providing  for  themselves.  The 
males  arrive  about  a  week  in  advance,  and  on  the  arrival  of  the 
females,  many  a  hard  battle  is  fought  for  the  choice.  Their 
courtships  are  short,  and,  when  once  mated,  they  are  true  and 
devoted,  and  zealous  guardians  of  their  homes.  The  follow- 
ing truthful  description  is  from  ' '  Birds  of  New  England, ' '  by 
Samuels: 

'"During  the  mating  and  breeding  season,  the  pugnacity  and 
courage  of  the  Kingbird  are  proverbial.  If  any  bird  approach 
the  neighborhood  of  his  nest,  he  immediately  attacks  it;  and, 
whether  Crow  (his  particular  dislike),  Hawk  or  Eagle,  the  in- 
truder is  obliged  to  flee,  so  fierce  an  onslaught  does  this  little 
warrior  make  on  him.  As  soon  as  the  cry  of  a  Crow  is  heard, 
he  is  all  activity;  he  flies  from  the  tree  where  he  is  perching  to 
reconnoiter,  uttering  his  shrill  twitter,  and  vibrating  his  wings 
in  short,  quick,  nervous  strokes;  as  soon  as  the  Crow  appears, 
the  Kingbird  pursues  it,  his  flight  being  now  very  swift  and 
powerful.  As  soon  as  he  nears  his  foe,  he  flies  above  him,  and 
darting  down  on  his  back  and  head,  attacks  him  with  such  vigor, 
that  the  Crow  dives  and  dodges  to  avoid  him.  He  repeats  his 
attacks,  and  follows  his  enemy,  sometimes  to  the  distance  of  a 
mile  or  more;  then,  returning  to  his  mate,  he  perches  on  the 
tree  by  her  nest,  and  twitters  a  volley  of  courageous  songs." 
[Song  is  not  the  word,  for  its  notes  are  not  musical,  but  rather 
a  harsh,  exulting  twitter.] 

"The  food  of  the  Kingbird  consists  mostly  of  insects,*  which 
he  captures  usually  while  on  the  wing.  It  seems  a  provision 
of  nature,  that  all  the  flycatchers  shall  only  take  those  insects 
that  have  taken  flight  from  the  foliage  of  trees  and  shrubs,  at  the 

*  Berries  also  help  to  make  up  their  bill  of  fare,  the  pokeberry  being  the  favorite. 


358  HISTORY  OF  THE 

same  time  making  the  warblers  and  other  birds  capture  those 
which  remain  concealed  in  such  places.  The  Kingbird,  in  seiz- 
ing a  flying  insect,  flies  in  a  sort  of  half  flitting  hover,  and 
seizes  it  with  a  sharp  snap  of  the  bill.  Sometimes  he  descends 
from  his  perch,  and  captures  a  grasshopper  that  has  just  taken 
a  short  flight,  and  occasionally  seizes  one  that  is  crawling  up 
some  tall  stalk  of  grass.  Those  farmers  who  keep  bees  dislike 
this  bird,  because  of  his  bad  habit  of  eating  as  many  of  those  in 
sects  as  show  themselves  in  the  neighborhood  of  his  nest;  but 
they  should  remember  that  the  general  interests  of  agriculture 
are  greater  than  those  of  a  hive  of  bees." 

Their  nests  are  usually  placed  on  branches  of  trees,  in  open 
and  exposed  situations,  six  to  twenty  feet  from  the  ground;  in 
treeless  localities,  in  almost  any  available  place;  a  rather  bulky, 
flat  structure,  composed  of  stems  of  weeds  and  grasses,  and  lined 
with  hair-like  rootlets,  and  often,  woven  in  with  the  same,  bits  of 
rags  and  twine.  Eggs  three  to  six,  usually  four,  .90x.  68.  They 
vary  greatly  in  size,  and  measurements  as  high  as  1.05x.75 
have  been  given.  (Kidgway  says  .  95x.  69.)  A  set  of  four  eggs, 
taken  at  Neosho  Falls,  only  measure:  ,78x.  64,  .79x.65,  .80x.66, 
.  82x.  67;  white  to  creamy  white,  thinly  spotted  with  purple  to 
dark  reddish  brown;  in  form,  ovate. 

Tyrannus  verticalis  SAY. 

ARKANSAS  KINGBIRD. 
PLATE  XXHI. 

Summer  resident;  common  in  the  middle  and  western  parts 
of  the  State.  Arrive  about  the  first  of  May;  begin  laying  the 
last  of  May;  return  in  September. 

B.  126.     R.  306.     C.  370.     G.  151,     170.     U.  447. 

HABITAT.  Western  United  States;  east  to  Missouri  and  west- 
ern Minnesota;  occasionally  straggling  far  eastward;  south  in 
winter  to  Guatemala. 

SP.  CHAR.  "The  four  exterior  quills  attenuated  very  gently  at  the  end,  the 
first  most  so;  third  and  fourth  quills  longest;  second  and  fifth  successively  a 
little  shorter.  Tail  slightly  forked;  bill  shorter  than  head.  Crown,  sides  of 
head  above  the  eyes,  nape  and  sides  of  neck  pale  lead  color  or  ash  gray;  a  con- 
cealed crest  on  the  crown,  vermilion  in  the  center  and  yellowish  before  and  be- 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  359 

hind.  Hindneck  and  back  ash  gray,  strongly  tinged  with  light  olivaceous  green, 
the  gray  turning  to  brown  on  the  rump;  upper  tail  coverts  nearly  black,  lower 
dusky;  chin  and  part  of  ear  coverts  dull  white;  throat  and  upper  part  of  breast 
similar  to  the  head,  but  lighter,  and  but  slightly  contrasted  with  the  chin;  rest 
of  lower  parts,  with  the  under  wing  coverts  and  axillars,  yellow,  deepening  ito 
gamboge  on  the  belly,  tinged  with  olivaceous  on  the  breast.  Wing  brown, 
the  coverts  with  indistinct  ashy  margins;  secondaries  and  tertials  edged  with 
whitish;  inner  webs  of  primaries  whitish  towards  the  base.  Tail  nearly  black 
above,  and  glossy;  duller  brownish  beneath;  without  olivaceous  edgings.  Exte- 
rior feather,  with  the  outer  web  and  the  shaft,  yellowish  white;  inner  edge  of 
latter  brown.  Tips  of  remaining  feathers  paler.  Bill  and  feet  dark  brown. 
Female:  Rather  smaller  and  colors  less  bright." 

Stretch  of 
Length.          wing.  Wing.          Tail.         Tarsus.         Bill. 

Male 9.00          16.00         5.10         3.75          .70  .65 

Female...      8.75          15.20         4.70         3.60          .70  .65 

Iris  dark  brown;  bill,  legs,  feet  and  claws  blackish. 

These  birds  are  almost  a  counterpart  of  the  Kingbird,  pos- 
sessing a  harsher  voice,  a  stronger  flight,  and,  if  possible,  a  more 
combative,  pugnacious  spirit.  Their  nesting  places  and  eggs 
are  essentially  the  same.  A  set  of  four  eggs,  taken  June  7th, 
1880,  at  San  Diego,  California,  from  a  nest  in  the  top  of  a  gate 
post,  measure:  .89x.71,  .90x.72,  .91x.72,  .92x.71. 

GEXUS  MYIARCHUS  CABAXIS. 

"Tarsus  equal  to  or  not  longer  than  middle  toe,  which  is  decidedly  longer 
than  hinder  one.  Bill  wider  at  base  than  half  the  culmen.  Tail  broad,  long, 
even  or  slightly  rounded,  about  equal  to  the  wings,  which  scarcely  reach  the 
middle  of  the  tail;  the  first  primary  shorter  than  the  sixth.  Head  with  elonga- 
ted lanceolate  distinct  feathers.  Above  brownish  olive,  throat  ashy,  belly  yel- 
low. Tail  and  wing  feathers  varied  with  rufous." 

Myiarchus  crinitus  (Lixx.). 

CRESTED  FLYCATCHER. 
PLATE  XXIII. 

Summer  resident;  abundant  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  State. 
Arrive  the  latter  part  of  April  to  first  of  May;  begin  laying 
about  the  middle  of  May;  return  in  September. 

B.  130.     R.  312.     C.  373.     G.  152,     171.     U.  452. 

HABITAT.  Eastern  North  America;  north  to  New  Brunswick 
and  Manitoba;  east  to  the  edge  of  the  Great  Plains;  south 
through  eastern  Mexico  to  Costa  Rica. 


•* 


360  HISTORY  OF  THE 

SP.  CIIAK.  "Head  with  a  depressed  crest.  Third  quill  lousiest:  fourth  and 
second  successively  but  little  shorter;  first  a  little  longer  than  seventh,  much 
shorter  than  sixth.  Tail  decidedly  rounded  or  even  graduated;  three  lateral 
feathers  about  .25  of  an  inch  shorter.  Upper  parts  dull  greenish  olive,  with  the 
feathers  of  the  crown  and  to  some  extent  of  the  back  showing  their  brown  cen- 
ters; upper  tail  coverts  turning  to  pale  rusty  brown.  Small  feathers  at  the  base 
of  the  bill,  ceres,  side  of  the  head  as  high  as  the  upper  eyelid,  sides  of  the  neck, 
throat  and  fore  part  of  the  breast,  bluish  ashy;  the  rest  of  the  lower  parts,  in- 
cluding axillars  and  lower  wing  coverts,  bright  sulphur  yellow.  A  pale  ring 
round  the  eye.  Sides  of  the  breast  and  body  tinged  with  olivaceous;  the  wings 
brown;  the  first  and  second  rows  of  coverts,  with  the  secondary  and  tertial 
quills,  margined  externally  with  dull  white,  or  on  the  latter  slightly  tinged  with 
olivaceous  yellow.  Primaries  margined  externally  for  more  than  half  their 
length  from  the  base  with  ferruginous;  great  portion  of  the  inner  webs  of  the 
quills  very  pale  ferruginous.  The  two  middle  tail  feathers  light  brown,  shafts 
paler;  the  rest  have  the  outer  web  and  a  narrow  line  on  the  inner  sides  of  the 
shaft  brown,  pale  olivaceous  on  the  outer  edge;  the  remainder  ferruginous  to 
the  very  tip.  Outer  web  of  the  exterior  feather  dull  brownish  yellow.  Feet 
black.  Bill  dark  brown  above  and  at  the  tip  below;  paler  towards  the  base." 

Stretch  of 
Length.  wing.  Wing.  Tail.         Tarsus.         Bill. 

Male 9.00          13.50         4.00         4.10          .80  .75 

Female...      8.50          12.50         3.75         3.60          .80  .75 

These  birds  seem  to  be  as  much  at  home  among  the  scatter, 
ing  trees  of  the  upland  prairies  as  within  the  heavily  timbered 
bottom  lands.  They  are  rather  retiring  in  their  habits,  but  bold 
and  courageous  during  the  breeding  season,  charging  upon  an 
intruder  with  raised  crest,  snapping  bill  and  a  rapid,  scolding 
' '  Twip. ' '  They  have  also  a  loud  and  rather  queer  whistling  call 
note,  not  —  to  my  ear  —  a  harsh  squeak  note,  as  stated  by  some 
writers.  They  fight  fiercely  for  a  mate,  and  they  have  a  habit 
that  I  have  not  noticed  in  other  birds,  of  plucking,  if  possible, 
the  tail  feathers  from  a  rival,  in  order  to  disfigure  him  so  that 
he  will  not  be  looked  upon  with  favor  by  the  opposite  sex;  and 
when  lucky  enough  to  pull  a  feather,  it  is  amusing  to  see  them 
fuss  over  it,  picking,  pulling,  in  fact  fighting  it,  forgetting  for 
the  time  the  owner,  in  their  exultation  over  the  capture. 

In  flight  they  are  swift  and  strong,  and  sweep  down  from  a 
perch  with  unerring  aim  upon  the  unlucky  insects  that  wing  them- 
selves in  sight,  and,  if  a  large  one,  beat  it  lifeless  before  swal- 
lowing. They  also  occasionally  feed  upon  small  berries. 

Their  nests  are  usually  placed  in  natural  cavities  in  trees, 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  361 

occasionally  in  a  Martin  house,  or  other  dark  recess.  In  the 
month  of  June,  1887,  a  pair  built  a  nest  in  one  of  the  cannons, 
on  the  State-House  grounds,  at  Topeka;  one  egg  was  laid,  but 
unfortunately  at  that  time  the  cannon  was  brought  into  use  for 
drill,  and  the  nest  destroyed.  Eggs  four  to  six,  rarely  over 
four;  vary  in  size.  A  set  of  four  eggs,  taken  June  7th,  1879, 
at  Shelter  Island,  New  York,  from  a  hole  in  an  apple  tree, 
measure:  .  80x.  65,  .  82x.  65,  .  83x.  66, .  84x.  67  (Kidgway  gives  the 
average  to  be  .88x.66);  -a  beautiful  egg;  buff  white,  thickly 
marked  with  wavy  longitudinal  lines,  dots  and  splashes  of  lilac, 
to  dark  reddish  brown;  in  form,  oval  to  ovate. 

GENUS  SAYORNIS  BONAPARTE. 

"Head  with  a  blended  depressed  moderate  crest.  Tarsus  decidedly  longer 
than  middle  toe,  which  is  scarcely  longer  than  the  hind  toe.  Bill  rather  narrow; 
width  at  base  about  half  the  cuhneu.  Tail  broad,  long,  slightly  forked;  equal 
to  the  wings,  which  are  moderately  pointed,  and  reach  to  the  middle  of  the  tail. 
First  primary  shorter  than  the  sixth." 

Sayornis  phoebe  (LATH.). 

PHCEBE. 
PLATE  XXIII. 

Summer  resident;  common  in  the  eastern  portion  of  the  State. 
Arrive  in  March;  begin  laying  by  the  middle  of  April;  return  in- 
October. 

B.  135.     E.  315.     C.  379.     G.  153,     172.     U.  456. 
HABITAT.    Eastern  North  America;  north  to  New  Brunswick 
and  Manitoba;  west  to  eastern  Colorado  and  western  Texas; 
south  through  eastern  Mexico  to  Cuba;  winters  from  the  Gulf 
coast  southward. 

SP.  CHAR.  "Sides  of  breast  and  upper  parts  dull  olive  brown,  fading  slightly 
toward  the  tail.  Top  and  sides  of  head  dark  brown.  A  few  dull  white  feathers 
on  the  eyelids.  Lower  parts  dull  yellowish  white,  mixed  with  brown  on  the 
chin,  and  in  some  individuals  across  the  breast.  Quills  brown,  the  outer  prima- 
ries, secondaries  and  tertials  edged  with  dull  white.  In  some  individuals  the 
greater  coverts  faintly  edged  with  dull  white.  Tail  brown;  outer  edge  of  lat- 
eral feather  dull  white;  outer  edge  of  the  rest  like  the  back.  Tibia  brown.  Bill 
and  feet  black.  Bill  slender,  edges  nearly  straight.  Tail  rather  broad  and 
slightly  forked.  Third  quill  longest;  second  and  fourth  nearly  equal;  the  first 
shorter  than  sixth." 

Stretch  of 
Length.          wing          Wing.          Tail.        Tarsus.       Bill. 

Male 6.70         10.75         3.25          3.20         .66         .50 

Female...     G.50         10.52         3.10         3.00         .66         .50 


362  HISTORY  OF  THE 

Iris  brown;  bill,  legs,  feet  and  claws  black. 

These  familiar  birds  are  among  the  first  arrivals  to  assure  us 
of  the  return  of  spring.  Their  inoffensive,  cheerful  habits  in- 
sure them  a  hearty  welcome.  Their  attachment  to  a  selected 
locality  is  very  strong,  and,  when  not  greatly  disturbed,  nest  for 
years  in  the  same  place.  I  have  occasionally  found  them  nest- 
ing under  porches,  sheds,  etc.,  on  high  prairie  lands,  but  as  a 
rule  they  prefer  to  make  their  home  near  the  water's  edge,  be- 
side a  bridge  or  steep,  rocky  cliff,  as  these  afford  natural  nesting 
places  and  a  greater  abundance  of  insect  life,  of  which  their 
food  almost  wholly  consists,  and  where,  at  all  hours  of  the  day, 
they  will  be  found  perched  upon  a  limb  or  stub,  darting  here 
and  there  to  capture  with  a  click  of  their  bills  the  insects  of 
their  choice;  and  when  at  rest  often  utter,  with  a  raised  crest 
and  a  jerk  of  the  tail,  their  plaintive  call  note,  "Phoebe,"  or  at 
times  "Pe-weet."  They  also  have,  during  the  mating  season, 
a  low,  twittering  song.  Their  flights  are  a  succession  of  light 
fluttering  motions  and  frequent  sailings. 

Their  nests  are  placed  under  bridges,  overhanging  rocks, 
roots,  and  suitable  places  in  dwellings  and  outhouses.  They 
are  composed  of  layers  of  mud,  moss,  grasses  or  other  miscel- 
laneous material  at  hand,  and  warmly  lined  with  fine  grasses, 
rootlets  or  hairs.  Eggs  four  to  six,  .75x.56;  pure  white;  oc- 
casionally sets  will  be  found  with  dots  of  reddish  brown  around 
the  larger  end;  in  form,  oval  to  ovate. 

Sayornis  saya  (BONAP.). 

SAY'S  PHCEBE. 
PLATE  XXIII. 

Summer  resident  in  the  western  portion  of  the  State;  common; 
occasionally  east  to  the  middle.  Arrive  the  middle  of  March 
to  first  of  April;  begin  laying  the  middle  to  last  of  April;  return 
in  October. 

B.  136.     R.  316.     C.  377.     G.  154,     173.     U.  457. 

HABITAT.  Western  United  States;  north  to  the  Saskatchewan; 
east  to  Dakota  (straggling  occasionally  eastward);  south  through 
middle  Kansas  into  Mexico  to  Jalapa. 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  363 

SP.  CHAR.  "Above  and  on  the  sides  of  the  head,  neck  and  breast,  grayish 
brown,  darker  on  the  crown;  region  above  the  eye  dusky.  The  chin,  throat  and 
upper  part  of  the  breast  similar  to  the  back,  but  rather  lighter,  and  tinged  with 
the  colors  of  the  rest  of  the  lower  parts,  which  are  pale  cinnamon.  Under  wing 
coverts  pale  rusty  white.  The  wings  of  a  rather  deeper  tint  than  the  back,  with 
the  exterior  veins  and  tips  of  the  quills  darker.  Edges  of  the  greater  and  sec- 
ondary coverts,  of  the  outer  vein  of  the  outer  primary,  and  of  the  secondaries 
and  tertials,  dull  white.  The  upper  tail  coverts  and  tail  nearly  black.  Edge  of 
outer  vein  of  exterior  tail  feather  white.  Second,  third  and  fourth  quills  nearly 
equal;  fifth  nearly  equal  to  sixth;  sixth  much  shorter  than  the  first.  Tail 
broad,  emargiuate.  Tarsi  with  a  posterior  row  of  scales." 

Stretch  of 
Length.          wing.  Wing.  Tail.         Tarsus.         Bill. 

Male 8.00          13.25         4.25         3.70  .90          .60 

Female...       7.50          12.50         4.00         3.40  .90          .60 

Iris  dark  brown;  bill,  legs,  feet  and  claws  black. 

These  hardy,  bleached  birds  of  the  plains  do  not  appear  to 
differ  in  actions  from  S.  ph<xbe\  their  notes  are,  however,  some- 
what different,  with  more  of  a  tremulous,  wailing  sound;  and 
the  layers  of  mud  in  their  nests  are  thinner,  often  on  the  dry, 
sterile  plains,  wholly  without  the  same.  They  winter  from 
Texas,  New  Mexico  and  California  southward.  They  are  among 
the  first  arrivals  and  last  to  leave  their  summer  homes. 

A  set  of  five  eggs,  taken  May  15th,  1882,  at  Santa  Fe,  New 
Mexico,  from  a  nest  on  the  wall  of  an  adobe  house,  measure: 
.69x.50,  .71x.55,  .72x.55,  .72x.56,  .74x.54;  chalky  white;  in 
form,  ovate. 

GENUS  CONTOPUS  CABANIS. 

"Tarsus  very  short,  but  stout;  less  than  the  middle  toe  and  scarcely  longer 
than  the  hinder;  considerably  less  than  the  culmen.  Bill  quite  broad  at  the 
base;  wider  than  half  the  culmen.  Tail  moderately  forked.  Wings  very  long 
and  much  pointed,  reaching  beyond  the  middle  of  the  tail;  the  first  primary 
about  equal  to  the  fourth.  All  the  primaries  slender  and  rather  acute,  but  not 
attenuated.  Head  moderately  crested.  Color  olive  above,  pale  yellowish  be- 
neath, with  a  darker  patch  on  the  sides  of  the  breast.  Under  tail  coverts 
streaked  in  most  species.  A  tuft  of  cottony  white  feathers  on  each  side  of  the 
rump  (concealed  in  most  species)." 

SUBGENTTS  NUTTALLORNIS  RIDGW. 

Tarsus  shorter  than  middle  toe  with  claw.  Primaries  exceeding  seconda- 
ries by  two  and  half  times  the  length  of  the  tarsus;  wing  exceeding  tail  by  about 
half  the  length  of  the  latter;  first  quill  much  longer  than  the  fourth,  often 
longer  than  third;  a  very  conspicuous  white  cottony  patch  on  each  side  of  rump; 


364  HISTORY  OF   THE 

median  lower  parts  white,  or  very  pale  yellowish  (scarcely  interrupted  on  the 
breast);  the  lateral  portions  deep  grayish  brown,  or  brownish  gray,  in  strong 
contrast.  (Ridgway.) 

Contopus  borealis  (SWAINS.). 

OLIVE-SIDED   FLYCATCHER. 
PLATE  XXIII. 

Summer  resident;  rare;  not  common  during  migration.  Ar- 
rive the  last  of  April  to  middle  of  May;  begin  laying  the  last 
of  May;  return  in  September. 

B.  137.     R.  318.     C.  380.     G.  155,     174.     U.  459. 
HABITAT.    The  whole  of  northern  North  America;  south  in 
winter  through  the  mountain  regions  to  Costa  Rica  and  Yeragua. 

SP.  CHAB.  "Wings  long,  much  pointed;  the  second  quill  longest;  the  first 
longer  than  the  third.  Tail  deeply  forked.  Tarsi  short.  The  upper  parts  ashy 
brown,  showing  darker  brown  centers  of  the  feathers  (this  is  eminently  the 
case  on  the  top  of  the  head);  the  sides  of  the  head  and  neck,  of  the  breast  and 
body,  resembling  the  back,  but  with  the  edges  of  the  feathers  tinged  with  gray, 
leaving  a  darker  central  streak.  The  chin,  throat,  narrow  line  down  the  middle 
of  the  breast  and  body,  abdomen  and  lower  tail  coverts  white,  or  sometimes 
with  a  faint  tinge  of  yellow.  The  lower  tail  coverts  somewhat  streaked  with 
brown  in  the  center.  On  each  side  of  the  rump,  generally  concealed  by  the 
wings,  is  an  elongated  bunch  of  white  silky  feathers.  The  wings  and  tail  very 
dark  brown,  the  former  with  the  edges  of  the  secondaries  and  tertials  edged  with 
dull  white.  The  lower  wing  coverts  and  axillars  grayish  brown.  The  tips  of 
the  primaries  and  tail  feathers  rather  paler.  The  young  of  the  year  similar,  but 
the  color  duller;  edges  of  wing  feathers  dull  rusty  instead  of  grayish  white." 

Stretch  of 
Length.          wing.  Wing.         Tail.         Tarsus.          Bill. 

Male 7.50          18.20         4.30         3.00          .65  .60 

Female...      7.25          12.25         4.00        2.85         .65  .60 

Iris  dark  brown;  bill  black,  with  base  of  under  mandible 
brownish  yellow;  legs,  feet  and  claws  black. 

These  birds  appear  to  prefer  for  their  homes  the  high  lands 
or  mountain  regions,  among  the  evergreen  trees;  the  cedar  is  a 
favorite.  I  have  not  found  them  abundant  or  very  common 
anywhere.  May  27th,  1883,  I  found  a  pair  nesting  near  the 
top  of  a  large,  solitary  cottonwood  tree,  on  the  south  fork  of 
the  Solomon  River,  near  Wallace,  Kansas. 

They  are  rather  bold,  quarrelsome  and  tyrannical,  zealously 
guarding  any  chosen  locality,  where  they  will  be  found  perched 
upon  the  tops  of  the  tallest  trees,  from  which  they  swoop  down 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  365 

upon  the  passing  insects,  and  often  repeat  their  plaintive  uPu-pu' ' 
or  "Pu-pip,"  the  males  occasionally  uttering  a  loud,  whistling 
call  note. 

Their  nests  are  placed  in  the  upper  branches  of  trees;  a  flat, 
loose  structure,  composed  of  twigs,  strips  of  bark,  rootlets,  weeds, 
etc.,  and  lined  with  old  grasses,  fragments  of  moss  and  lichen. 
Eggs  three  to  five,  (seldom  five,  usually  three  or  four,)  .  82x.62; 
deep  cream  or  buff  white,  marked  around  the  larger  end  with 
purple  gray  and  dull  yellowish  to  reddish  brown;  in  form,  ovate. 

Contopus  virens  (Lixx.). 
WOOD  PEWEB. 

PLATE  XXIV. 

Summer  resident;  common  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  State, 
rare  in  the  western.  Arrive  the  last  of  April  to  middle  of  May; 
begin  laying  the  last  of  May;  return  in  September;  occasion- 
ally linger  into  October. 

B.  139.     R.  320.     C.  382.     G.  156,     175.     U.  461. 
HABITAT.    Eastern  North  America;  north  to  New  Brunswick 
and  Manitoba;  west  to  the  edge  of  the  Great  Plains;  south  in 
winter  through  eastern  Mexico  to  Costa  Rica. 

SP.  CHAR.  "The  second  quill  longest;  the  third  a  little  shorter;  the  first 
shorter  than  the  fourth;  the  latter  nearly  .40  longer  than  the  fifth.  The  prima- 
ries more  than  an  inch  longer  than  the  secondaries.  The  upper  parts,  sides  of 
the  head,  neck  and  breast  dark  olivaceous  brown,  the  latter  rather  paler,  the 
head  darker.  A  narrow  white  ring  round  the  eye.  The  lower  parts  pale  yel- 
lowish, deepest  on  the  abdomen;  across  the  breast  tinged  with  ash.  This  pale 
ash  sometimes  occupies  the  whole  of  the  breast,  and  even  occasionally  extends 
up  to  the  chin.  It  is  also  sometimes  glossed  with  olivaceous.  The  wings  and 
tail  dark  brown;  generally  deeper  than  in  8.  phosbe.  Two  narrow  bands  across 
the  wing;  the  outer  edge  of  first  primary,  and  of  the  secondaries  and  tertials, 
dull  white.  The  edges  of  the  tail  feathers  like  the  back;  the  outer  one  scarcely 
lighter." 

Stretch  of 
Length.  iving.          Wing.          Tail.         Tarsus.         Bill. 

Male 6.40          10.20        3.35          2.80          .50  .50 

Female...      6.00  9.75        3.15         2.55          .50  .50 

Iris  brown;  bill,  upper  black,  lower  yellow,  with  tip  brown; 
legs,  feet  and  claws  black. 

These  rather  solitary  birds  inhabit  the  thick  woods  and  groves, 
preferring  the  bottom  lands  along  the  streams.  They  closely 


366  HISTORY  OF  THE 

resemble  the  Phoebe,  but  differ  much  in  habits,  preferring  the 
gloomy  forests  to  the  habitations  of  man. 

Their  food  consists  chiefly  of  beetles  and  flies,  which  they  are 
very  expert  in  catching;  darting  from  their  perch,  they  capture 
here  and  there  several  insects  before  returning,  and  accompany 
each  capture  with  a  snap  of  their  bill.  They  are  the  most  active 
during  the  early  part  of  the  day  and  late  at  eve.  A  rather  rest- 
less bird,  that,  on  its  perch,  often  slightly  raises  its  feathers  with 
a  quivering  motion  of  the  wings  and  tail,  uttering  its  oft-repeated, 
sad,  though  pleasing,  "Pe-r-wee."  They  are  quite  common  in 
suitable  localities  throughout  their  range,  breeding  from  near 
the  Gulf  coast  northward,  and  wintering  almost  wholly  south  of 
the  United  States. 

Their  nests  are  saddled  on  the  lower  branches  of  trees,  from 
eight  to  twenty-five  feet  from  the  ground. 

They  are  composed  of  fine  stringlets,  lint-like  fibers,  rootlets 
and  bits  of  cobwebs,  the  outside  coated  over  with  mosses  and 
lichens  glued  to  the  material  with  saliva — a  beautiful  cup- 
shaped  nest.  Eggs  three  to  five,  .73x.  52;  cream  white,  spotted 
and  blotched  with  lilac  purple  to  dark  reddish  brown,  chiefly  at 
and  running  together  around  the  larger  end;  in  form,  ovate. 

Contopus  richardsonii  (SWAINS.). 

WESTERN  WOOD  PEWEE. 
PLATE  XXIV. 

A  summer  resident  in  the  western  part  of  the  State;  rare. 
Arrive  about  the  middle  of  May;  begin  laying  the  last  of  May 
to  first  of  June;  return  in  September. 

B.  138.     K.  321.     C.  383.     G.  157,     176.     U.  462. 

HABITAT.  Western  North  America;  north  to  British  Colum- 
bia (Manitoba.  Setori)\  east  to  western  Nebraska  and  Texas; 
south  in  winter  through  Mexico  to  Costa  Rica. 

SP.  CHAR.  "  General  appearance  of  C.  virens.  Bill  broad.  Wings  very  long 
and  much  pointed,  considerably  exceeding  the  tail;  second  quill  longest;  third 
a  little  shorter;  first  shorter  than  fourth,  and  about  midway  between  distance 
from  second  to  fifth  (.60  of  an  inch).  Primaries  1.20  inches  longer  than  second- 
aries. Tail  moderately  forked.  Above,  dark  olive  brown  (the  head  darker); 
the  entire  breast  and  sides  of  head,  neck  and  body  of  a  paler  shade  of  the  same, 
tinging  strongly  also  the  dull  whitish  throat  and  chin.  Abdomen  and  under 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  367 

tail  coverts  dirty  pale  yellowish.  Quills  arid  tail  dark  blackish  brown:  the  sec- 
ondaries narrowly,  the  tertials  more  broadly,  edged  with  whitish.  Two  quite 
distinct  bands  of  brownish  white  across  the  wings." 

Stretch  of 
Length.         wing:  Wing.  Tail.         Tarsus.         Bill, 

Male.....      6.80          10.50         3.50         2.70          .50  .50 

Female...       6.00          10.00         3.25         2.50          .50  .50 

Iris  brown;  bill,  upper  black,  under  brownish  yellow,  the  tip 
dark  brown;  legs,  feet  and  claws  black. 

This  Western  form  does  not  differ  essentially  in  its  actions  or 
habits  from  the  Wood  Pewee.  Its  note  is,  however,  quite  dif- 
ferent, more  emphatic,  "Pe-ah,"  and  its  nest  a  little  deeper, 
and  without  the  external  lichens,  but  has  the  same  style  of 
structure.  It  is  composed  chiefly  of  old,  dead  grasses,  which 
are  closely  woven  in  and  together  with  fine  lints,  thread-like 
fibers  and  fine,  wiry  stemlets  from  grass  tops,  and  occasionally 
upon  the  outside  a  few  old,  dead  leaves.  Their  eggs  have  the 
same  form  and  markings,  but  average  a  little  paler  in  color. 
A  set  of  three,  taken  June  26th,  1876,  at  Santa  Cruz,  California, 
measure:  .71x.55,  .72x.54,  .74x.54r. 

GENUS  EMPIDONAX  CABANIS. 

"Tarsus  lengthened,  considerably  longer  than  bill  and  exceeding  the  middle 
toe,  which  is  decidedly  longer  than  the  hind  toe.  Bill  variable.  Tail  very 
slightly  forked,  even  or  rounded;  a  little  shorter  only  than  the  wings,  which  are 
considerably  rounded;  the  first  primary  much  shorter  than  the  fourth.  Head 
moderately  crested.  Color,  olivaceous  above,  yellowish  beneath;  throat  generally 
gray." 

.  Empidonax  acadicus  (GMEL.). 

ACADIAN  FLYCATCHER. 

Summer  resident  in  the  eastern  to  middle  portion  of  the  State; 
not  uncommon  in  the  eastern  part.  Arrive  the  first  to  the 
twentieth  of  May;  begin  laying  early  in  June;  return  in  Sep- 
tember. 

B.  143.     K.  324.     C.  384.     G.  158,     177.     U.  465. 

HABITAT.  Eastern  United  States  (western  Manitoba.  Setori); 
west  into  Nebraska  and  middle  Texas;  south  in  winter  through 
eastern  Mexico  into  northern  South  America. 

SP.  CHAR.  "The  second  and  third  quills  are  longest,  and  about  equal;  the 
fourth  a  little  shorter;  the  first  about  equal  to  fifth,  and  about  .35  less  than  the 
longest.  Tail  even;  the  upper  parts,  with  sides  of  head  and  neck,  olive  green; 


368  HISTORY  OF  THE 

the  crown  very  little  if  any  darker.  A  yellowish  white  ring  round  the  eye. 
The  sides  of  the  body  under  the  wings  like  the  back,  but  fainter  olive;  a  tinge 
of  the  same  across  the  breast;  the  chin,  throat  and  middle  of  the  belly  white; 
the  abdomen,  lower  tail  and  wing  coverts,  and  sides  of  the  body  not  covered  by 
the  wings,  pale  greenish  yellow.  Edges  of  the  first  primary,  secondaries  and 
tertials  margined  with  dull  yellowish  white,  most  broadly  on  the  latter.  Two 
transverse  bauds  of  pale  yellowish  (sometimes  with  an  ochery  tinge)  across  the 
wings,  formed  by  the  tips  of  the  secondary  and  primary  coverts,  succeeded  by 
a  brown  one.  Tail  light  brown,  margined  externally  like  the  back;  upper  man- 
dible light  brown  above,  pale  yellow  beneath;  in  autumn  the  lower  parts  are 
more  yellow.  Length,  5.65;  wing,  3.00;  tail,  2.75.  Young:  Whole  upper  sur- 
face with  indistinct  transverse  bars  of  pale  ochraceous;  wing  markings  light 
ochraceous." 

I  have  mislaid  my  list  of  fresh  measurements  of  this  species. 
Kidgwaysays:  "Male:  Wing,  2.75x3.10  (2.83);  tail,  2.30x2.70 
(2.49);  culmen,  .62x.69,  (.66);  bill  from  nostril,  .32x.39  (.35); 
width  at  base,  .28x.30  (.30);  tarsus,  .59x.67  (.62).  Female: 
Wing,  2.55x2.70  (2.65);  tail,  2.25x2.35  (2.32). 

These  birds  of  the  woodlands  are  far  from  plenty  in  their  ex- 
treme eastern  range,  but  very  common  westward,  especially  in 
the  Mississippi  valley,  breeding  from  the  Gulf  coast  northward. 
They  frequent  the  deep,  shady  groves  and  forests,  preferring  the 
low,  moist  lands.  A  rather  shy  bird,  and  their  presence  would 
seldom  be  known  were  it  not  for  their  quick,  sharp,  emphatic, 
"  Whut-er-see, "  that  breaks  with  startling  effect  the  stillness  of 
their  gloomy  surroundings.  They  are  to  be  looked  for  in  the 
low  branches  of  trees,  from  which  they  dart  in  the  pursuit  of  in- 
sects, or  to  chase  a  rival  or  fly-catching  bird — for  they  are  zeal- 
ous defenders  of  their  foraging  grounds,  as  well  as  their  nesting 
places.  In  autumn  berries  help  to  make  up  their  bill  of  fare. 

Their  nests  are  placed  in  horizontal  forks  at  the  extremity  of 
small  limbs;  they  are  never  saddled,  or  placed  on  the  top  of  a 
limb,  but  securely  fastened  to  the  branches,  partially  resting  and 
partially  suspended  between  the  forks;  a  rather  thin,  loose  struct- 
ure, composed  of  small,  wiry  stems  of  grasses,  rootlets,  fibrous 
strippings  from  plants,  intermingled  with  tree  catkins.  They 
usually  range  from  six  to  twelve  feet  from  the  ground.  Eggs 
two  to  four  (usually  three),  .  75x.  54;  cream  white,  very  sparingly 
speckled  and  spotted  (chiefly  about  the  larger  end)  with  reddish 
brown;  in  form,  ovate. 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  369 

Empidonax  pusillus  traillii   (AUB.). 

TRAILL'S  FLYCATCHER. 
PLATE  XXIV. 

Summer  resident;  not  uncommon.  Arrive  the  last  of  April 
to  middle  of  May;  begin  laying  early  in  June;  return  early  in 
September. 

B.  140.     R.  325a.     C.  385.     G.  159,     178.     U.  466a. 
HABITAT.     Eastern  North  America,  to  the  plains;   north  to 
Nova  Scotia  and  Manitoba;  south  in  winter  to  northern  South 
America. 

SP.  CHAR.  "Third  quill  longest;  second  scarcely  shorter  than  the  fourth; 
fii'st  shorter  than  fifth,  about  .35  shorter  than  the  longest.  Primaries  about  .75 
of  an  inch  longer  than  secondaries.  Tail  even.  Upper  parts  dark  olive  green; 
lighter  under  the  wings,  and  duller  and  more  tinged  with  ash  on  nape  and  sides 
of  the  neck.  Center  of  the  crown  feathers  brown.  A  pale  yellowish  white 
ring  (in  some  specimens  altogether  white)  round  the  eye.  Loral  feathers  mixed 
with  white.  Chin  and  throat  white;  the  breast  and  sides  of  throat  light  ash 
tinged  with  olive  (its  intensity  varying  in  individuals),  the  former  sometimes 
faintly  tinged  with  olive.  Sides  of  the  breast  much  like  the  back.  Middle  of 
the  belly  nearly  white;  sides  of  the  belly,  abdomen  and  the  lower  tail  coverts 
sulphur  yellow;  the  quills  and  tail  feathers  dark  brown,  as  dark  ( if  not  more  so) 
as  these  parts  in  G.  virens.  Two  olivaceous  yellow  white  bands  on  the  wing, 
formed  by  the  tips  of  the  first  and  second  coverts,  succeeded  by  a  brown  one; 
the  edge  of  the  first  primary  and  of  secondaries  and  tertials  a  little  lighter  shade 
of  the  same.  The  outer  edge  of  the  tail  feathers  like  the  back;  that  of  the  lat- 
eral one  rather  lighter.  Young:  With  the  wing  bands  ochraceous  instead  of 
grayish  olive." 

Stretch  of 
Length.          wing.          Wing.          Tail.         Tarsus.          Bill. 

Male 5.75  9.00          2.75         2.50         .65          .45 

Female...      5.60  8.60          2.60         2.35          .65  .45 

Iris  brown;  bill,  upper  black,  under  dull  brownish  yellow, 
shading  into  darker  brown  at  tip;  legs,  feet  and  claws  black. 

These  birds  are  quite  common  and  breed  throughout  their 
summer  range.  They  frequent  the  groves  and  woods  skirting 
streams  and  swampy  lands.  A  rather  noisy  bird,  that  at  short 
intervals  utters  its  loud  call  note,  "Ke-wick."  Its  ordinary 
note  is  a  sharp  "Pip,"  and,  as  it  flits  about  from  bush  to  bush, 
often  repeats  the  same  in  a  twittering  manner.  Their  food  hab- 
its and  actions  are  essentially  the  same  as  those  of  the  Acadian; 
but  their  nests  are  constructed  in  a  very  different  manner,  the 
same  being  placed  in  the  upright  forks  of  a  bush  or  sapling, 

24 


370  HISTORY  OF   THE 

usually  from  four  to  ten  feet  from  the  ground.  A  rather  com- 
pact, deep,  cup-shaped  nest,  closely  resembling  in  form  and 
make-up,  the  nest  of  the  Yellow  Warbler.  Composed  chiefly 
of  small  stems  or  twigs  from  plants,  and  flaxen,  fuzzy,  fibrous 
strippings.  from  the  same,  with  a  few  scattering  blades  of  grass, 
and  here  and  there  an  occasional  feather;  and  lined  thickly  and 
rather  evenly  with  fine,  hair-like  stems  from  grasses.  Eggs  three 
or  four,  .  72x.  54;  cream  white,  thinly  speckled  and  spotted  with 
reddish  brown,  thickest  about  the  larger  end;  in  form,  ovate. 
A  set  of  three  eggs,  taken  June  17th,  1886,  in  a  thick,  second 
growth  of  timber  at  Beattie,  Kansas,  by  Mr.  Geo.  F.  Brenniger, 
measure:  . 69x. 55,  . 7()x.  55,  .70x.  55;  and  a  set  of  four,  taken 
June  17th,  1881,  at  Galesburg,  Illinois:  .70x.54,  .72x.54,  .72x 
.55,  .72x.55. 

Empidonax  minimus  (BAIBD). 

LEAST  FLYCATCHER. 
PLATE  XXIV. 

Migratory;  common  in  the  eastern  portion  of  the  State.  Ar- 
rive the  last  of  April;  return  in  September;  a  few  occasionally 
remain  into  October. 

B.  142.     R.  326.     C.  387.     G.  160,     179.     TJ.  467. 

HABITAT.  Temperate  eastern  North  America;  west  to  the 
Yellowstone  River  and  base  of  Rocky  Mountains  in  Colorado; 
south  in  winter  to  Panama. 

SP.  CHAR.  "Second  quill  longest;  third  and  fourth  but  little  shorter;  fifth 
a  little  less;  first  intermediate  between  fifth  and  sixth.  Ta'l  even.  Above 
olive  brown,  darker  on  the  head,  becoming  paler  on  the  rump  and  upper  tail 
coverts.  The  middle  of  the  back  most  strongly  olivaceous.  The  nape  (in  some 
individuals)  and  sides  of  head  tinged  with  ash.  A  ring  round  the  eye  and  some 
of  the  loral  feathers  white;  the  chin  and  throat  white.  The  sides  of  the  throat 
and  across  the  breast  dull  ash,  the  color  on  the  latter  sometimes  nearly  obsolete; 
sides  of  the  breast  similar  to  the  back,  but  of  a  lighter  tint;  middle  of  the  belly 
very  pale  yellowish  white,  turning  to  pale  sulphur  yellow  on  the  sides  of  the 
belly,  abdomen  and  lower  tail  coverts.  Wings  brown;  two  narrow  white  bands 
on  the  wings,  formed  by  the  tips  of  the  first  and  second  coverts,  succeeded  by 
one  of  brown.  The  edge  of  the  first  primary  and  of  the  secondaries  and  tertials 
white.  Tail  rather  lighter  brown,  edged  externally  like  the  back.  Feathers 
narrow,  not  acuminate,  with  the  ends  rather  blunt.  In  autumn  the  white  parts 
are  strongly  tinged  with  yellow.  Young  with  ochraceous  instead  of  grayish 
white  wing  bauds." 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  371 

Stretch  of 
Length.          wing.          Wing.  Tail.         Tarsus.          Bill. 

Male 5.20  8.00          2.40         2.20          .64  .40 

Female...      5.00  7.70          2.30        2.10          .64          .40 

Iris  brown;  bill,  upper  black,  under  pale  brownish  at  base; 
legs,  feet  and  claws  black. 

This  active,  familiar  species  inhabits  the  edges  of  woodlands, 
hedges,  orchards  and  groves  about  the  dwelling  houses.  They 
are  quite  abundant  in  suitable  localities  throughout  their  range, 
breeding  from  about  40°  northward.  During  the  breeding 
season  they  are  very  watchful  guardians  of  their  homes;  pug- 
nacious, tyrannical  little  fellows,  that  dart  with  fury,  rapidly 
snapping  their  bills  at  any  bird  that  ventures  within  their 
grounds.  This  bold,  combative  spirit  dies  out  with  the  breed- 
ing season,  and  they  then  become  inoffensive,  peaceable  birds, 
that  do  not  appear  to  be  angered  at  the  presence  of  others. 
Like  all  of  the  family,  they  are  expert  fly  catchers,  and  for  a 
dessert  pluck  the  small  berries  in  their  season.  Their  common 
note  is  an  oft-repeated  (at  intervals  emphatic),  " Che-beck." 
They  also  occasionally  utter,  with  fluttering  wings,  a  low,  twit- 
tering song,  or  rather  an  unmusical  effort  in  that  direction. 

Their  nests  are  usually  placed  in  upright  forks  of  small  trees, 
sometimes  on  a  horizontal  limb;  a  small,  compact  felted  nest, 
composed  of  rootlets,  fine  soft  fibrous  strippings  from  plants, 
intermingled  with  vegetable  down,  and  lined  with  fine  grasses, 
shreds  of  bark,  and  frequently  insect  cocoons  and  small  downy 
feathers.  Eggs  two  to  four,  . 64x. 50;  pure  to  buff  white;  in 
form,  ovate.  A  set  of  four  eggs,  taken  June  15th,  1882,  at 
Pewaukee,  Wisconsin,  in  the  upright  forks  of  a  small  oak  tree, 
and  about  ten  feet  from  the  ground,  measure:  .  62x.  51,  .  63x.  51, 
.64x.50,  .64x.50. 

SUBORDER  OSCINES.     SONG  BIRDS. 

"Sides  of  the  tarsus  covered  in  most  or  all  of  their  extent  with  two  undi- 
vided horny  plates,  meeting  behind  in  a  sharp  ridge  (except  in  Alandidce;  one  of 
the  plates  imperfectly  divided  in  a  few  other  forms).  Musical  apparatus  highly 
developed,  consisting  of  several  distinct  pairs  of  syringeal  muscles.  Primaries 
nine  only,  or  ten  with  the  first  frequently  spurious,  rarely  over  two-thirds  the 
length  of  the  longest,  never  equaling  the  longest." 


372  HISTORY  OF  THE 

FAMILY  ALAUDID.33.     LARKS. 

"First  primary  very  short  or  wanting.  Tarsi  scutellate  anteriorly  and  pos- 
teriorly, with  the  plates  nearly  of  corresponding  position  and  number.  Hind 
claws  very  long  and  nearly  straight.  Bill  short,  conical,  frontal  feathers  ex- 
tending along  side  of  the  bill;  the  nostrils  concealed  by  a  tuft  of  bristly  feath- 
ers directed  forward.  Tertials  greatly  elongate  beyond  the  secondaries." 

GENUS  OTOCORIS  BONAPABTE. 

No  spurious  primaries;  tail  even,  or  slightly  rounded;  crown  without  crest, 
but  on  each  side  of  the  occiput  an  erectile,  narrow,  horn-like  tuft  of  lengthened 
black  feathers;  plumage  of  adult  with  plain  brown  or  vinaceous  tints  prevailing 
above,  the  lower  parts  mainly  plain  white,  the  head  and  chest  with  bold,  black 
markings  (less  conspicuous  in  female).  Eidyway. 

Otocoris  alpestris  praticola  HENSH. 

PRAIRIE  HORNED  LARK. 
PLATE  XXIV. 

Resident  in  the  eastern  portion  of  the  State,  not  observed  in 
the  western;  abundant  during  the  winter  months.  Begin  lay- 
ing the  last  of  March. 

B. .     K. .     C. .     G. ,     181.     U.  4745. 

HABITAT.  The  upper  Mississippi  Yalley  and  region  of  the 
great  lakes,  west  to  central  Dakota  and  Kansas;  south  in  win- 
ter to  South  Carolina  and  central  Texas. 

SP.  CHAR.  Adult  male,  in  spring:  Posterior  portion  of  crown,  occiput,  nape, 
sides  of  neck  and  breast,  lesser  wing  coverts  and  shorter  upper  tail  coverts  light 
vinaceous;  back,  scapulars  and  rump  grayish  brown,  the  feathers  with  darker 
centers,  becoming  darker  and  much  more  distinct  on  the  rump;  middle  wing  cov- 
erts light  vinaceous  terminally,  brownish  gray  basally.  Wings  (except  as  de- 
scribed )  grayish  brown,  the  feathers  with  paler  edges;  outer  primary  with  outer 
web  chiefly  white.  Middle  pair  of  tail  feathers  light  brown  (paler  at  edges), 
the  central  portion  (longitudinally)  much  darker,  approaching  dusky;  remain- 
ing tail  feathers  uniform  black,  the  outer  pair  with  exterior  web  broadly  edged 
with  white.  Longer  upper  tail  coverts  light  brown,  edged  with  whitish,  and 
marked  with  a  broad  lanceolate  streak  of  dusky.  Forehead  (for  about  .15  of  an 
inch)  yellowish  white,  this  continued  back  in  a  broad  superciliary  stripe  of  nearly 
pure  white;  fore  part  of  crown  (for  about  .35  of  an  inch)  deep  black,  contin- 
ued laterally  back  to  and  including  the  ear-like  tufts;  lores,  suborbital  region, 
and  broad  patch  on  cheeks  (with  convex  posterior  outline),  deep  black;  jugular 
crescent  also  deep  black,  this  extending  to  the  lower  part  of  throat;  chin  and 
throat  pale  straw  yellow,  gradually  fading  into  white  on  sides  of  foreneck;  ante- 
rior half  of  ear  coverts  white,  posterior  half  drab  gray,  each  portion  forming  a 
crescent-shaped  patch.  Lower  parts  posterior  to  the  jugulum  crescent  pure 
white,  the  Sides  of  the  breast  light  vinaceous,  the  sides  similar,  but  brown,  and 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  373 

indistinctly  streaked  with  darker.  Upper  mandible  plumbeous  black,  lower 
bluish  plumbeous;  iris  deep  brown;  legs  and  feet  brownish  black.  Adult  male, 
in  winter:  Similar  to  the  spring  plumage  but  darker,  with  the  vinaceous  some- 
what obscured  by  grayish  brown,  the  black  by  pale  tips  to  the  feathers,  and  yel- 
low of  throat  slightly  deeper.  Adult  female,  in  spring:  Above,  grayish  brown, 
the  pileum  narrowly  and  distinctly,  the  dorsal  region  broadly  and  less  sharply, 
streaked  with  dusky;  nape,  lesser  wing  coverts  and  shorter  upper  tail  coverts 
dull  light  vinaceous,  the  first  very  distinctly  streaked.  A  narrow  frontlet  and 
broader  superciliary  stripe  (the  latter  very  sharply  defined  above)  dull  white: 
lores,  suborbital  region  and  triangular  patch  on  cheeks  dull  brownish  black, 
without  sharp  definition  posteriorly;  auriculars  drab,  the  anterior  half  lighter; 
chin  and  throat  white,  the  former  faintly  tinged  with  yellowish;  jugular  crossed 
by  a  distinct  band  of  blacf ,  narrower  and  less  intense  in  color  than  in  the  male; 
rest  of  lower  parts  white,  tinged  with  pale  brownish  on  breast,  the  sides  (espe- 
cially of  breast)  pale  Isabella  brownish,  the  flanks  indistinctly  streaked  with 
darker.  Adult  female,  in  winter:  Differing  from  the  summer  plumage  in  being 
browner,  and  with  the  streaks  of  the  pileum  less  distinct,  the  whitish  frontlet 
obsolete,  and  the  superciliary  stripe  less  sharply  defined;  the  lores,  suborbital 
region  and  cheeks  dull  brownish,  like  the  auriculars,  the  latter  with  an  indis- 
tinctly lighter  central  spot;  chin  and  throat  dull  buffy  white,  with  a  tinge  of 
straw  yellow,  changing  to  clearer  buffy  white  on  sides  of  foreneck;  jugulum 
with  an  indistinct  blackish  patch,  the  feathers  broadly  bordered  with  dull  whit- 
ish. Whole  breast  and  sides  light  Isabella  color,  indistinctly  streaked'  with 
darker;  abdomen  and  crissum  white.  Young,  first  plumage:  Above,  brownish 
black,  the  wings  brownish;  back  dotted  with  sharply  defined  deltoid  and  rhom- 
boid specks  of  white;  pileum  with  similar  but  much  more  minute  markings,  and 
rump  also  varied  in  the  same  manner,  but  spots  rather  more  transverse  than  on 
the  back.  Lesser  and  middle  wing  coverts  brownish  black,  broadly  tipped  with 
buffy  white;  greater  coverts  dusky,  edged  with  Isabella  brown,  and  narrowly 
tipped  with  pale  buff;  prevailing  color  of  closed  remiges  Isabella  brown,  the  ter- 
tials,  however,  darker  brown,  bordered  with  buff,  this  bordered  internally  with 
a  dusky  submargin.  Lower  parts  dull  white,  the  jugulum,  sides  of  breast,  and 
sides,  dull  Isabella  buff,  spotted  or  clouded  with  dusky.  (Henshaw.) 

Stretch  of 
Length.  -wing.  Wing.         Tail.          Tarsus.         Bill. 

Male 7.40          13.25         4.20         2.90          .83  .45 

Female...      6.90          12.25         4.00         2.75          .80  .45 

Iris  brown;  bill  dark  brown  to  blackish,  with  under  pale  or 
bluish  white  at  base;  legs  and  feet  blackish;  claws  black. 

The  races  of  this  family  so  gradually  shade 'into  each  other 
that  it  is  often  perplexing  to  satisfactorily  separate  and  deter- 
mine the  same. 

The  birds  inhabit  the  old  fields,  roadsides,  prairies  and  plains. 
They  are  terrestial  and  gregarious  in  their  habits,  and  often  to 
be  seen  during  the  winter  months  running  about  with  the  Snow- 


374  HISTORY  OF  THE 

flake  and  Longspur,  in  their  search  for  fallen  seeds  from  weeds 
and  grasses,  of  which  their  food  chiefly  consists,  except  during 
the  breeding  season,  when  they  prove  to  be  expert  insect  catch- 
ers, on  the  wing  as  well  as  in  a  running  chase.  During  the 
early  part  of  the  breeding  season  the  males  are  quite  gallant; 
and  move  about  with  a  proud  step  and  graceful  nod  of  the  head, 
and  when  they  are  ready  to  burst  forth  in  song  they  are  so  in- 
flated with  joy  that  the  earth  will  not  hold  them,  and  their  low, 
twittering  notes  (rather  unmusical  to  us,  but  no  doubt  charming 
to  the  female  of  their  choice)  are  uttered  *on  expanded  wings  as 
they  soar  upward.  They  are  not  shy  birds,  and  when  approached 
squat  close  to  the  ground  and  remain  motionless  until  flushed, 
when  they  rise,  one  after  the  other,  with  a  sharp  note,  circle 
around  for  a  short  time,  and  then  drop  back  near  the  starting 
point. 

Their  nests  are  placed  in  a  depression  in  the  ground,  usually 
under  a  tuft  of  grass  and  often  in  very  exposed  situations.  They 
are  loosely  made  of  bits  of  old  grasses,  and  occasionally  lined 
with  hairs.  Eggs  four  or  five,  .85x. 62;  grayish  to  light  green- 
ish drab,  thickly  speckled  and  spotted  with  lavender  to  olive 
brown;  in  form,  ovate. 

Otocoris  alpestris  arenicola  HENSH. 

DESERT  HORNED  LARK. 
PLATE  XXIV. 

Resident  in  the  western  to  middle  portion  of  the  State;  com- 
mon; abundant  during  the  winter.  Begin  laying  early  in  April. 

B.  .     R.  .     C.  .     G.  ,     182.     U.  474c. 

HABITAT.  Region  of  the  Great  Plains,  Rocky  Mountains,  and 
the  great  basin;  north  into  the  British  possessions;  south  to 
about  latitude  34°. 

SP.  CHAR.  Jtfafe:  Crown,  nape,  rump,  lesser  wiug  coverts  and  sides  of  body 
pale  vinaceous,  feathers  of  middle  back  dark  brown  centrally,  darker  towards 
the  rump,  not  however,  taking  the  form  of  distinct  streaks.  Exterior  surface 
of  wing  near  shoulder  very  pale  cinnamon.  A  broad  crescent  of  black  from 
forehead  to  behind  the  eyes,  bordered  by  white  below.  Malar  and  pectoral 
patch  black;  below  white;  tail  black,  except  the  two  middle  feathers,  which  are 
dark  brown  edged  with  pale  cinnamon;  outer  tail  feathers  edged  with  white; 
throat  pale  yellow.  Female:  General  colors  similar.  Feathers  of  occiput  dark 
brown  medially,  like  the  back;  throat  showing  lines  only  of  yellow.  (Henshaw.) 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  375 

Stretch  of 
Length.          wing.  Wing.  Tail.         Tarsus.          Bill. 

Male 7.30         13.25          4.20          2.90          .83          .48 

Female  ...     6.90         12.30          4.05          2.70          .80          .45 

Iris  brown;  bill  dark  brown  to  dnsky,  with  under  bluish  white 
at  base;  legs  and  feet  blackish;  claws  black. 

This  western  form  does  not  differ  in  habits  or  actions  from 
the  Prairie  Horned  Lark.  Nest  and  eggs  similar. 

FAMILY  CORVID^E.     CKOWS,  JAYS,  MAGPIES,  ETC. 

"Primaries  ten;  the  first  short,  generally  about  half  as  long  as  the  second 
(or  a  little  more);  the  outer  four  siuuated  on  the  inner  edge.  The  nasal  fossa 
and  nostrils  usually  more  or  less  concealed  by  narrow,  stiffened  bristles  (or 
bristly  feathers),  with  short,  appressed  lateral  branches  extending  to  the  very 
tip,  all  directed  forward  (these  bristles  occasionally  wanting).  Tarsi  scutel- 
late  anteriorly,  the  sides  undivided  (except  sometimes  below),  and  separated 
from  the  anterior  plates  by  a  narrow,  naked  strip,  sometimes  filled  up  with  small 
scales.  Basal  joint  of  middle  toe  united  about  equally  to  the  lateral,  generally 
for  about  half  the  length.  Bill  generally  notched." 

SUBFAMILY  GARRULIN^E.     MAGPIES  AND  JAYS. 

"Wings  short,  rounded;  not  longer  or  much  shorter  than  the  tail,  which  is 
graduated,  sometimes  excessively  so.  Wings  reaching  not  much  beyond  the 
lower  tail  coverts.  Bristly  feathers  at  base  of  bill  variable.  Bill  nearly  as  long 
as  the  head,  or  shorter.  Tarsi  longer  than  the  bill  or  middle  toe.  Outer  lateral 
claws  rather  shorter  than  the  inner." 

GENUS  PICA  BRISSOK. 

"Tail  very  long,  forming  much  more  than  half  the  total  length;  the  feathers 
much  graduated;  the  lateral  scarcely  more  than  half  the  middle.  First  primary 
falcate,  curved,  and  attenuated.  Bill  about  as  high  as  broad  at  base;  the  cul- 
meu  and  gonys  much  curved,  and  about  equal;  the  bristly  feathers  reaching 
nearly  to  the  middle  of  the  bill.  Nostrils  nearly  circular.  Tarsi  very  long; 
middle  toe  scarcely  more  than  two-thirds  the  length.  A  patch  of  naked  skin 
beneath  and  behind  the  eye." 

Pica  pica  hudsonica  (SAB.). 

AMERICAN  MAGPIE. 
PLATE  XXIV. 

Formerly  a  resident;  rare;  now  an  occasional  fall  and  winter 
visitant.  Begin  laying  early  in  April. 

B.  432.     R.  286.     C.  347.     G.  145,     183.     U.  475. 

HABITAT.  Western  North  America  (not  found  in  California); 
north  to  Alaska;  east  to  the  edge  of  the  plains;  casually  farther; 


376  HISTORY  OF  THE 

known  to  straggle  in  winter  to  northern  Illinois  and  Michigan; 
south  to  Arizona. 

SP.  CHAR.  "Bill  and  naked  skin  behind  the  eye  black;  general  color  black. 
The  belly,  scapulars  and  inner  webs  of  the  primaries  white;  hind  part  of  back 
grayish;  exposed  portion  of  tail  feathers  glossy  green,  tinged  with  purple  and 
violet  near  the  end;  wings  glossed  with  green;  the  secondaries  and  tertials  with 
blue;  throat  feathers  spotted  with  white  in  younger  specimens.  Young:  In 
color  and  appearance  similar,  generally,  to  the  adult." 

Stretch  of 
Length.          wing.          Wing.  Tail.        Tarsus.          Bill. 

Male 20.50         24.50         8.25        12.00        1.90         1.30 

Female...     19.00        23.00         7.75        10.75        1.80         1.20 

Iris  brownish  black;  legs,  feet  and  claws  black. 

These  birds  inhabit  the  open  woods  and  trees  skirting  the 
streams.  They  are  quite  common  in  the  central  portion  of  their 
range.  I  have  found  them  quite  abundant  in  Colorado,  espe- 
cially along  the  streams  in  the  foot  hills,  or  lower  portion  of  moun- 
tain regions.  From  all  appearances  they  remain  mated  during 
the  year,  but  being  of  rather  a  social  nature  are  often  met  with 
in  small  flocks  or  family  groups.  They  are  shy,  wary,  crafty, 
noisy  birds,  and  where  hunted  much,  rather  difficult  to  capture, 
not  as  a  rule  wildly  flying  away,  but  rather  seem  to  delight  for 
a  short  time  in  tempting  one  to  follow,  by  scolding  and  fussing 
about,  just  out  of  reach.  In  flight  they  are  sustained  by  rapid 
strokes  of  the  wings,  and  while  quite  swift  and  direct,  the  effort 
is  too  great  for  an  extended  flight. 

Its  voice  is  capable  of  producing  a  variety  of  sounds,  from  a 
harsh  clatter  to  soft,  whistling  notes.  When  taken  young  they 
are  easily  tamed,  and  soon  learn  to  perform  various  tricks,  and 
to  fairly  imitate  many  words,  but  like  all  of  the  family  are  great 
thieves,  and  cannot  resist  the  temptation  to  carry  away  and  hide, 
especially  any  small,  bright  or  shining  article,  and  they  are  there- 
fore not  desirable  pets.  In  their  food  habits  omnivorous,  feed- 
ing freely  upon  offal,  carrion,  insects,  fruits,  nuts  and  grains. 
The  slaughter  houses  have  great  attractions  for  them.  I  secured 
my  first  bird  at  one. 

Their  nests  are  placed  in  low,  scrubby  trees  and  bushes,  along 
the  streams,  usually  from  six  to  fifteen  feet  from  the  ground. 
They  are  composed  of  sticks  and  twigs,  the  inside  plastered  with 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  377 

mud,  and  lined  sparingly  with  grasses  and  a  few  feathers;  upon 
this  a  rough,  dome-like  structure  of  sticks,  ingeniously  woven, 
completely  covers  the  nest,  leaving  a  small  hole  on  the  side  for 
entrance.  Several  of  the  nests  that  I  found  in  Colorado  had 
two  openings,  and  opposite  to  each  other,  doubtless  to  make 
room  for  and  protect  the  long  tail  of  the  bird,  which  must  be 
more  or  less  injured  where  but  one  entrance  is  constructed. 
Eggs  six  to  nine,  1.30x.  92;  light  green,  thickly  speckled  and 
spotted  with  drab  to  purplish  brown;  in  form,  oval  to  ovate. 

GENUS  CYANOCITTA  STRICKLAND. 

"Head  crested.  Wings  and  tail  blue,  with  transverse  black  bars;  head  and 
back  of  the  same  color.  Bill  rather  slender,  somewhat  broader  than  high  at 
the  base;  culmen  about  equal  to  the  head.  Nostrils  large,  nearly  circular;  con- 
cealed by  bristles.  Tail  about  as  long  as  the  wings,  lengthened,  graduated. 
Hind  claw  large,  longer  than  its  digit." 

Cyanocitta  cristata  (LINN.). 

BLUE  JAY. 
PLATE  XXIV. 

Kesident;  abundant  in  the  eastern  portion  of  the  State;  com- 
mon along  the  streams,  where  skirted  with  trees,  to  a  little  beyond 
the  center;  not  observed  in  the  extreme  western  part.  Begin 
laying  the  last  of  April. 

B.  434.     R.  289.     C.  349.     G.  146,     184.     U.  477. 

EtABiTAT.  Eastern  United  States,  except  Florida  (where  they 
are  replaced  by  C.  cristata  florincola};  north  into  the  fur  regions 
of  the  British  possessions;  west  to  the  Great  Plains. 

SP.  CHAR.  "Crest  about  one-third  longer  than  the  bill.  Tail  much  gradu- 
ated. General  color  above  light  purplish  blue;  wings  and  tail  feathers  ultra- 
marine blue;  the  secondaries  and  tertials,  the  greater  wing  coverts,  and  the 
exposed  surface  of  the  tail,  sharply  banded  with  black  and  broadly  tipped  with 
white,  except  on  the  central  tail  feathers.  Beneath,  white;  tinged  with  purplish 
blue  on  the  throat,  and  with  bluish  brown  on  the  sides.  A  black  crescent  on 
the  fore  part  of  the  breast,  the  horns  passing  forward  and  connecting  with  a  half 
collar  on  the  back  of  the  neck.  A  narrow  frontal  line  and  loral  region  black; 
feathers  on  the  base  of  the  bill  blue,  like  the  crown.  Female:  Rather  duller  in 
color,  and  a  little  smaller." 

Stretch  of 
Length.          -wing.          Wing.          Tail.         Tarsus.         Bill. 

Male 12.00         17.50        5.60         5.60         1.35         1.00 

Female .  .        11.25         16.70         5.35         5.35         1.30         1.00 


378  HISTORY  OF  THE 

Iris  dark  brown;  bill,  legs,  feet  and  claws  black. 

I  know  that  I  cannot  please  the  reader  better  than  by  giving 
the  following  interesting  description,  by  Nuttall,  of  this  hand- 
some, conspicuous  bird,  of  questionable  character,  wherein  he 
says: 

"The  Blue  Jay  is  a  constant  inhabitant  both  of  the  wooded 
wilderness  and  the  vicinity  of  the  settled  farm,  though  more  fa- 
miliar at  the  approach  of  winter  and  early  in  spring  than  at 
any  other  season.  These  wanderings  or  limited  migrations  are 
induced  by  necessity  alone;  his  hoards  of  grain,  nuts  and  acorns 
either  have  failed  or  are  forgotten;  for,  like  other  misers,  he  is 
more  assiduous  to  amass  than  to  expend  or  enjoy  his  stores, 
and  the  fruits  of  his  labors  very  frequently  devolve  to  the  rats 
or  squirrels,  or  accidentally  assist  in  the  replanting  of  the  forest. 
His  visits  at  this  time  are  not  unfrequent  in  the  garden  and  or- 
chard, and  his  usual  petulant  address  of  "Djay,  jay,  jay,"  and 
other  harsh  and  trumpeting  articulations,  soon  make  his  retreat 
known  to  all  in  the  neighborhood.  So  habitual  is  this  sentinel 
cry  of  alarm,  and  so  expressive,  that  all  the  birds  within  call, 
as  well  as  other  wild  animals,  are  instantly  on  the  alert,  so  that 
the  fowler  and  hunter  become  generally  disappointed  of  their 
game  by  this  his  garrulous  and  noisy  propensity;  he  is  there- 
fore, for  his  petulance,  frequently  killed  without  pity  or  profit, 
for  his  flesh,  though  eaten,  has  little  to  recommend  it.  •  His 
more  complaisant  notes,  when  undisturbed,  though  guttural  and 
echoing,  are  by  no  means  unpleasant,  and  fall  in  harmoniously 
with  the  cadence  of  the  feathered  choristers  around  him,  so  as 
to  form  a  finishing  part  to  the  general  music  of  the  grove.  His 
accents  of  blandishment,  when  influenced  by  the  softer  passions, 
are  low  and  musical,  so  as  to  be  scarcely  heard  beyond  the  thick 
branches  where  he  sits  concealed;  but,  as  soon  as  discovered,  he 
bursts  out  into  notes  of  rage  and  reproach,  accompanying  his 

voice  by  jerks  and  actions  of  temerity  and  defiance 

He  also  exhibits  a  great  antipathy  to  the  Owl,  and  by  his  loud 
and  savage  vociferation  soon  brings  together  a  noisy  troop  of 
all  the  busy  birds  in  the  neighborhood.  To  this  garrulous  at- 
tack the  night  wanderer  has  no  reply  but  a  threatening  stare  of 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  379 

indifference;  and,  as  soon  as  opportunity  offers,  he  quietly  slips 
from  his  slandering  company.  Advantage,  in  some  countries, 
is  taken  of  this  dislike  for  the  purpose  of  catching  birds;  thus 
the  Owl  being  let  out  of  a  box,  sometimes  makes  a  hoot,  which 
instantly  assembles  a  motley  group,  who  are  then  caught  by 
liming  the  neighboring  twigs  on  which  they  perch.  In  this 
gossip  the  Jay  and  Crow  are  always  sure  to  take  a  part,  if  with- 
in sight  or  hearing  of  the  call,  and  are  thus  caught  or  destroyed 
at  will.  The  common  Jay  is  even  fond  of  imitating  the  harsh 
voice  of  the  Owl  and  the  noisy  Kestril.  I  have  also  heard  the 
Blue  Jay  mock,  with  a  taunting  accent,  the  "Ke-oo,  ke-oo,"  or 
quailing  of  the  JRed-shouldered  Hawk.  Wilson  likewise  heard 
him  take  singular  satisfaction  in  teasing  and  mocking  the  little 
American  Sparrow  Hawk,  and  imposing  upon  him  by  the  pre- 
tended plaints  of  a  wounded  bird,  in  which  frolic  several  would 
appear  to  join,  until  their  sport  sometimes  ended  in  sudden  con- 
sternation, by  the  Hawk,  justly  enough,  pouncing  on  one  of 
them  as  his  legitimate  and  devoted  prey. 

"His  talent  for  mimicry,  when  domesticated,  is  likewise  so  far 
capable  of  improvement  as  to  enable  him  to  imitate  human 
speech,  articulating  words  with  some  distinctness;  and  on  hear- 
ing voices,  like  a  parrot,  he  would  endeavor  to  contribute  his 
important  share  to  the  tumult.  Bewick  remarks  of  the  common 
Jay,  that  he  heard  one  so  exactly  counterfeit  the  action  of  a  saw, 
that  though  on  a  Sunday,  he  could  scarcely  be  persuaded  but 
that  some  carpenter  was  at  work.  Another,  unfortunately,  ren- 
dered himself  a  serious  nuisance  by  learning  to  hound  a  cur  dog 
upon  the  domestic  cattle,  whistling  and  calling  him  by  name,  so 
that  at  length  a  serious  accident  occurring  in  consequence,  the 
poor  Jay  was  proscribed.  The  Blue  Jay  becomes  also,  like  the 
Crow  and  Magpie,  a  very  mischievous  purloiner  of  everything 
he  is  capable  of  conveying  away  and  hiding. 

"The  favorite  food  of  this  species  is  chestnuts,  acorns,  and 
Indian  corn  or  maize,  the  latter  of  which  he  breaks  before  swal- 
lowing. He  also  feeds  occasionally  on  the  larger  insects  and 
caterpillars,  as  well  as  orchard  fruits,  particularly  cherries,  and 
does  not  even  refuse  the  humble  fare  of  potatoes.  In  times  of 


380  HISTORY  OF  THE 

scarcity  he  falls  upon  carrion,  and  has  been  known  to  venture 
into  the  barn,  through  accidental  openings;  when,  as  if  sensible 
of  the  danger  of  purloining,  he  is  active  and  silent,  and  if  sur- 
prised, postponing  his  garrulity,  he  retreats  with  noiseless  pre- 
cipitation, and  with  all  the  cowardice  of  a  thief.  The  worst 
trait  of  his  appetite,  however,  is  his  relish  for  the  eggs  of  other 
birds,  in  quest  of  which  he  may  frequently  be  seen  prowling, 
and  with  a  savage  cruelty  he  sometimes  also  devours  the  callow 
young,  spreading  the  plaint  of  sorrow  and  alarm  wherever  he 
flits.  The  whole  neighboring  community  of  little  birds  assemble 
at  the  cry  of  distress,  sometimes,  however,  succeeding  in  driving 
off  the  ruthless  plunderer,  who,  not  always  content  with  the 
young,  has  been  seen  to  attack  the  old,  though  with  dubious 
success;  but  to  the  gallant  and  quarrelsome  Kingbird  he  submits 
like  a  coward,  and  driven  to  seek  shelter,  even  on  the  ground, 
from  the  repeated  blows  of  his  antagonist,  sneaks  off  well  con- 
tented to  save  his  life." 

Their  nests  are  placed  on  branches,  near  the  trunks  or  bodies 
of  trees  and  bushes,  in  the  forests,  and  in  the  vicinity  of  dwel- 
lings, six  to  thirty  feet  from  the  ground.  They  are  rudely  com- 
posed of  small  sticks,  roots  and  various  kinds  of  material  at  hand, 
strongly  interwoven,  and  lined  with  fine  rootlets.  Eggs  four 
or  five,  l.lOx. 82;  olive,  sparingly  spotted  with  drab  and  olive 
brown;  in  form,  ovate. 

SUBFAMILY  COKVIN^E.     CROWS. 

"Wings  long  and  pointed;  longer  than  the  tail,  and,  when  closed,  reaching 
nearly  to  its  tip,  extending  far  beyond  the  under  tail  coverts;  the  third,  fourth 
and  fifth  quills  forming  the  tip  of  the  wing." 

GENUS  CORVUS  LINN^US. 

"The  nasal  feathers  lengthened,  reaching  to  or  beyond  the  middle  of  the  bill. 
Nostrils  large,  circular,  overhung  behind  by  membrane,  the  edges  rounded  else- 
where. Kictus  without  bristles.  Bill  nearly  as  long  as  the  tarsus,  very  stout; 
much  higher  than  broad  at  the  base;  culmen  much  arched.  Wings  reaching 
nearly  or  quite  to  the  tip  of  the  tail,  the  outer  four  primaries  sinuated  internally. 
Tarsi  longer  than  the  middle  toe,  with  a  series  of  small  scales  on  the  middle  of 
each  side  separating  the  anterior  scutellate  portion  from  the  posterior  continu- 
ous plates.  Sides  of  the  head  occasionally  with  nearly  naked  patches.  Tail 
graduated  or  rounded." 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  381 

Corvus  corax  sinuatus  (WAGL.). 

MEXICAN  RAVEN. 
PLATE  XXIV. 

Formerly  a  resident;  never  common;  may  still  occasionally 
breed  in  unsettled  localities,  but  disappear  as  the  settlements  in- 
crease, and  probably  at  the  present  time  only  a  visitant  to  the 
State. 

B.  423,     424.     K.  280.     C.  338.     G.  141,     185.     U.  486. 

HABITAT.  Western  United  States;  south  to  Guatemala.  I 
am  unable  to  give  its  northern  and  eastern  range  to  where  it  is 
replaced  by  the  northern  form,  C.  corax  principals. 

SP.  CHAR.  Adult:  Tail  graduated;  feathers  of  throat  lanceolate;  those  of 
neck,  jugulum  and  fore  part  of  back  gray  at  bases..  Entire  plumage  glossy 
black,  the  upper  parts,  especially  wings  and  tail,  with  rich  purplish  reflections. 
(Ridgway.) 

Stretch  of 
Length.          -wing.  Wing.  Tail.         Tarsus.       Bill. 

Male 25.00         50.00         17.25         10.00         .60         2.75 

Female...     22.50        46.00        15.75          9.00        .50        2.60 

Iris  dark  brown;  bill,  legs,  feet  and  claws  black. 

These  magnificent  stately  birds  are  quite  common  in  the  Rocky 
Mountain  region  and  westward,  especially  in  Lower  California 
and  the  adjacent  isles,  where  I  found  them  breeding  in  abund- 
ance on  the  steep,  rocky  cliffs,  subsisting  and  feeding  their  little 
ones  almost  exclusively  upon  the  eggs  and  young  of  the  Gulls, 
Boobies  and  the  many  water  birds  that  nest  in  communities, 
where  they  are  to  be  seen  silently  perched  upon  a  tree  or  rock, 
ready  the  moment  the  parent  birds  leave  a  nest  to  dash  down, 
kill  the  young  or  pierce  an  egg  with  their  bill  and  carry  it  safely 
away.  A  bold,  sagacious  bird,  and,  when  not  shot  at,  will  closely 
follow  the  intruder  in  order  to  rob  the  nests  of  the  birds  fright- 
ened away.  They  are  indiscriminate  eaters,  greedily  devouring 
offal,  carrion,  fruits,  grain,  etc.  Young  lambs  and  pigs  often 
help  to  make  up  their  bill  of  fare. 

They  are  not  garrulous  like  the  Jay,  or  as  noisy  as  the  Crow, 
but  they  can  and  do  croak  vigorously  at  times,  and  with  various 
modulations.  They  also  have  a  habit,  when  at  rest,  of  uttering 
in  a  low  voice  a  self-satisfied,  chuckling,  cawing  attempt  at  song. 
They  are  naturally  solitary,  unsocial  birds,  and  when  found  in 


382  HISTORY  OF   THE 

flocks  show  no  attachment  outside  of  the  mated  pairs,  except 
when  one  is  wounded  or  in  trouble  and  calls  for  help. 

They  are  very  intelligent,  easily  tamed,  and  capable  of  learn- 
ing many  tricks,  and  would  be  entertaining  pets  were  it  not  for 
their  thieving  propensities.  Pages  of  interesting  anecdotes 
could  be  given  showing  that  the  birds  are  capable  of  thinking, 
yes,  reasoning  well. 

Their  nests  are  placed  on  the  sides  of  high,  precipitous  cliffs 
and  in  trees;  a  coarse,  bulky  structure  of  sticks,  lined  with 
grasses,  hairs,  and  sometimes  bits  of  wool  and  moss.  Eggs, 
1.88x1.30;  light  greenish  blue,  thickly  spotted  and  blotched 
with  purple  and  blackish  brown,  in  some  cases  chiefly  at  larger 
end;  in  form,  oval  to  ovate.  A  set  of  five  eggs,  taken  March 
24:th,  1884,  from  a  nest  on  the  side  of  a  high,  steep,  rocky  bank, 
on  the  beach,  in  northwestern  Lower  California,  measure:  1.88 
xl.26,  1.88x1.30,  1.90x1.30,  1.91x1.30,  2.00x1.30. 

Corvus  cryptoleucus  (COUCH). 

WHITE-NECKED  RAVEN. 
PLATE  XXIV. 

A  resident  in  the  western  part  of  the  State;  rare;  quite  com- 
mon during  the  fall  and  winter,  but  decreasing  in  numbers  as 
the  settlements  increase.  Begin  laying  in  May. 

B.  425.     R.  281.     C.  339.     G.  142,     186.     U.  487. 

HABITAT.  Southwestern  United  States  and  table  lands  of 
Mexico;  north  to  southern  Wyoming — on  the  Pacific  side  I 
can  find  no  mention  north  of  southern  California;  east  to  the 
edge  of  the  Plains;  south  to  about  latitude  20°. 

SP.  CHAK.  "The  fourth  quill  longest;  the  third  and  fifth  equal;  the  second 
longer  than  the  sixth;  the  first  about  equal  to  the  seventh.  Glossy  black,  with 
violet  reflections;  feathers  of  neck  all  round,  back  and  breast,  snow  white  at 
the  base;  feathers  of  throat  lanceolate;  bristly  feathers  along  the  base  of  the 
bill,  covering  it  for  nearly  two-thirds  its  length." 

Stretch  of 
Length.          wing.          Wing,          Tail.        Tarsus.         Bill. 

Male 21.00         43.00        14.25        8.50         2.35         2.20 

Female...     19.50         41.50        13.50        8.00        2.30        2.20 

Iris  dark  brown;  bill,  legs,  feet  and  claws  black. 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  383 

These  birds  of  the  plains  are  essentially  the  same  in  habits 
and  actions  as  the  Mexican  Haven,  differing,  however,  in  their 
manner  of  nesting,  and  are  more  gregarious.  I  first  met  with 
them  in  New  Mexico,  in  the  fall  of  1880,  and  captured  my  first 
pair  at  San  Marcial.  I  copy  from  my  notes  written  at  the  time: 

"I  was  surprised  to  find  the  birds  so  abundant  in  this  vicin- 
ity (San  Marcial).  They  were  in  company  with  the  common 
Raven —  C.  corax  sinuatus  —  from  which  they  were  readily  dis- 
tinguished by  their  smaller  size,  slimmer  build,  and  in  flight,  by 
their  wings,  which  appear  less  rounded.  I  first  noticed  a  pair 
at  Galisteo,  and  now  and  then  one  or  more  on  my  way  down 
the  Rio  Grande;  but  nowhere  abundant  until  I  reached  this 
place  (the  present  terminus  and  headquarters  of  the  railroad 
builders  of  the  A.  T.  &  S.  F.  R.  R.,  which  will  soon  be  com- 
pleted to  El  Paso),  where  they  have  assembled  in  numbers  to 
feed  about  the  camps  of  the  graders  and  workmen  scattered 
along  the  line.  I  am  told  that  they  follow  the  railroad  builders, 
rarely  ever  far  to  the  front  or  rear.  They  are  quite  bold,  flock- 
ing about  the  camps  as  soon  as  the  men  roll  out  for  work,  to 
pick  up  the  scattering  grains  where  the  horses  and  mules  have 
been  fed,  and  the  offal  about  the  tents.  I  counted  one  morning 
at  sunrise  over  a  hundred,  and  with  them  at  least  thirty  common 
Ravens. 

"Their  voice  differs  in  not  being  so  loud  and  coarse;  and  I 
now  know  from  their  notes  that  I  saw,  several  years  ago.  a  pair 
at  McAllister,  Indian  Territory." 

I  will  add  that  I  have  since  met  with  the  birds  in  Arizona, 
Mexico,  Colorado,  and  severa1!  times  in  western  Kansas.  The 
following  interesting  description  of  their  nesting  habits  is  given 
by  Capt.  Chas.  Bendire: 

"This  species  is  the  most  abundant  of  the  Corvidce  found  in 
Arizona,  and  is  a  resident  throughout  the  year.  It  is  not  at  all 
shy.  Lieutenant  Benson  writes  me,  that  numbers  of  them  are 
seen  almost  daily  about  the  officers'  and  men' s  quarters,  at  Fort 
Huachuca,  and  that  they  are  so  tame  that  they  will  often  let  one 
pass  within  twenty  feet  of  them  without  flying  off.  I  have  per- 
sonally shot  numbers  of  them,  in  my  camp  on  Rillito  Creek,  in 


384  HISTORY  OF  THE 

the  winter  of  1872,  where  I  found  them  quite  common,  but  they 
did  not  breed  in  that  vicinity  to  any  great  extent.  After  riding- 
many  miles,  and  patiently  searching,  I  succeeded  in  finding  two 
of  their  nests  with  eggs,  one  on  May  6,  the  other  on  June  5, 
1872.  Both  of  these  nests  were  placed  in  the  tops  of  oak  trees, 
from  fifteen  to  twenty  feet  from  the  ground,  in  the  foot  hills  of 
the  Santa  Catarina  and  Rincon  Mountains,  respectively. 

"Lieutenant  Benson  was  more  fortunate  in  finding  the  nesta 
of  this  species,  taking  over  fifty  sets  of  their  eggs  between  May 
8th  and  June  18th  of  this  present  year.  He  states  in  one  of 
his  letters  to  me  that  the  White-necked  Raven,  in  the  vicinity 
of  Fort  Huachuca,  usually  builds  in  mesquit  bushes,  from  seven 
to  fifteen  feet  from  the  ground,  placing  the  nests  in  the  top. 
Occasionally  a  pair  will  build  on  top  of  a  yucca  plant.  The 
nests  are  mostly  found  on  the  more  open  plains,  not  far  from 
the  edge  of  the  thicker  chaparral,  and  usually  within  a  mile  of 
this  more  bushy  tract.  The  nests  are  constructed  of  sticks  of 
various  sizes;  the  cavity  is  rather  deep,  and  this  is  lined  with 
hair  of  cattle  and  rabbits,  and  frequently  with  pieces  of  the  hide 
of  these  animals. 

"They  are  extremely  filthy,  and  smell  horribly.  Old  nests 
are  repaired  from  year  to  year,  some  of  them  being,  as  Lieuten- 
ant Benson  expresses  it,  'seven  or  eight  stories,'  showing  use 
for  many  years.  The  series  of  eggs  of  this  Raven  is  one  of  the 
finest  and  most  complete  in  the  National  Museum  collection, 
containing  nearly  three  hundred  specimens,  almost  all  obtained 
from  Lieutenant  Benson.  Their  ground  color  ranges  from  a 
light  green  to  a  pale  grayish  green,  and  this  is  more  or  less  cov- 
ered with  numerous  streaks,  blotches  and  spots  of  sepia  brown 
and  French  gray,  as  well  as  in  some  instances  of  dark  moss 
green  and  deep  grayish  olive  markings.  One  peculiar  and  con- 
stant feature  of  these  eggs  is  their  resemblance  in  the  pattern  of 
the  less  pronounced  markings  (the  lighter  colored  ones)  to  those 
found  in  the  eggs  of  the  genus  Myiarckus,  in  this:  that  these 
markings  run  lengthways  of  the  egg,  or  from  pole  to  pole,  a 
feature  not  found  by  me  in  the  eggs  of  the  common  Crow, 
Corvus  americanus  Amx,  and  only  very  rarely  in  those  of  the 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  385 

Raven,  Corvw  corax  sinuatus  WAGL.,  the  eggs  of  both  of  these 
species  being  also  represented  by  excellent  series  in  the  Museum 
collection.  The  general  average  of  the  eggs  of  the  White- 
necked  Raven  is  much  lighter  colored  than  the  eggs  of  above 
mentioned  species  —  one  set,  indeed,  is  almost  unspotted;  and 
usually  there  is  one  egg  in  each  set  which  is  much  lighter  col- 
ored generally  than  the  balance.  All  the  eggs  of  this  species 
can  readily  be  distinguished  from  those  of  the  balance  of  the 
Corvidce  which  breed  within  the  limits  of  the  United  States. 
The  usual  shape  of  these  eggs  is  an  elongated  ovate,  and  there 
is  a  great  variation  in  their  size. 

"Three  of  the  largest  measure  as  follows:  1.92x1.33,  1.95x 
1.25,  2.00x1.24  inches. 

"Three  of  the  smallest  measure:  1.57x1.17,  1.62x1.08  and 
1.52x1.09  inches.  Their  average  size  is  about  1.78  inches  in 
length  by  1.16  in  width. 

"From  four  to  seven  eggs  are  laid  to  a  set,  six  being  the 
most  common  number  found,  and  presumably  but  one  brood  is 
raised  a  year." 

Corvus  americanus  ATJD. 

AMERICAN  CROW. 
PLATE  XXV. 

Resident;  abundant  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  State,  not  com- 
mon in  the  western  portion.  Begin  laying  the  last  of  March  to 
the  first  of  April. 

B.  426.     R.  282.     C.  340.     G.  143,     187.     U.  488. 

HABITAT.     North  America,  from  the  fur  countries  to  Mexico. 

SP.  CIIAR,  "Tail  slightly  rounded.  Feathers  of  throat  short,  blended; 
those  of  the  neck,  etc.,  dusky  grayish  at  bases.  Adult:  Deep  black,  with  vio- 
let gloss,  the  latter  fainter  on  lower  parts." 

Stretch  of 
Length.         wing.  Wing.          Tail.         Tarsus.        Bill. 

Male 19.00         38.00        13.00         8.00        2.30        2.00 

Female 18.50         37.00         12.50        7.90        2.30        2.00 

Iris  dark  brown;  bill,  legs,  feet  and  claws  black. 

As  much  as  I  love  the  birds,  I  cannot  find  it  in  my  heart  to 
put  in  a  plea  for  this  well  known  nest  robber  and  bird  of  ill  re- 
pute, for  their  thievish  propensities  are  too  great  to  attempt  to 

-25 


386  HISTORY  OF   THE 

show  that  the  good  they  do  overbalances  the  harm.  Various 
are  the  ways  resorted  to  by  the  farmer  to  not  only  scare  them 
away,  but  to  destroy  them.  Notwithstanding  this,  the  cunning, 
sagacious  birds  manage  to  live  and  thrive  in  their  midst.  They 
are  rather  gregarious  and  social  in  their  habits,  often  assembling 
together  in  large  flocks,  and  they  select  and  have  common  roost- 
ing places,  where  they  gather  from  miles  and  miles  around,  ar- 
riving silently  at  eve,  and  stealing  away  at  early  dawn.  Their 
flights  are  direct  and  well  sustained. 

Their  nests  are  placed  in  the  forks  of  trees,  in  groves  and  on 
the  timbered  bottom  lands,  thirty  to  seventy  feet  from  the 
ground.  They  are  composed  of  sticks  and  lined  with  grasses, 
fibrous  strippings  from  plants,  and  hairs.  Eggs  four  or  five, 
1.65x1.20;  light  to  dark  green,  and  irregularly  spotted,  splashed 
or  blotched  with  various  shades  of  pale  to  dark  brown  and  pur- 
ple, usually  the  thickest  around  the  larger  end;  in  form,  oval 
to  ovate. 

GENUS  PICICORVUS  BONAPARTE. 

"  Leaden  gray  color,  with  black  wings  and  tail;  bill  longer  than  the  head, 
considerably  longer  than  the  tarsus,  attenuated,  slightly  decurved;  tip  without 
notch;  culmen  and  commissure  curved;  gonys  straight  or  slightly  concave,  as  long 
as  the  tarsi;  nostrils  circular,  completely  covered  by  a  full  tuft  of  incumbent 
white  bristly  feathers;  tail  much  shorter  than  the  wings,  nearly  even,  or  slightly 
rounded.  Wings  pointed,  reaching  to  the  tip  of  the  tail;  third,  fourth  and  fifth 
quills  longest;  tarsi  short,  scarcely  longer  than  the  middle  toe,  the  hind  toe  and 
claw  very  large,  reaching  nearly  to  the  middle  of  the  middle  claw,  the  lateral 
toe  little  shorter.  A  row  of  small  scales  on  the  middle  of  the  sides  of  tarsus; 
color  of  the  single  species  leaden  gray,  with  black  wings  and  tail." 

Picicorvus  columbianus  (WILS.). 

CLARK'S  NUTCRACKER. 
PLATE  XXV. 

An  accidental  visitant.  Mr.  L.  L.  Jewell,  of  Irving,  kindly 
sent  me  for  examination  a  portion  of  the  skin  saved  from  a 
male  bird,  shot  August  13th,  1888,  by  Mr.  Chas.  Netz,  near  the 
south  line  of  Marshall  county. 

B.  430.     R.  284.     C.  344.     G.  ,     .     U.  491. 

HABITAT.  The  high,  coniferous  forests  of  western  North 
America;  north  to  Alaska;  south  to  Arizona;  east  to  the  edge 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  387 

of  the  plains.  (Dr.  Cooper  met  with  a  straggling  pair  at  Ft. 
Kearney,  Neb. ,  and  Mr.  G.  S.  Agersborg,  a  pair  in  southeastern 
Dakota;  but,  like  the  Kansas  visitant,  they  were  accidental  wan- 
derers. They  are  seldom  found  below  an  altitude  of  4,000  feet.) 

SP.  CHAR.  "Tail  rounded  or  moderately  graduated,  the  closed  wings  reach- 
ing nearly  to  its  tip.  Fourth  quill  longest;  second  considerably  shorter  than 
the  sixth.  General  color  bluish  ash,  changing  on  the  nasal  feathers,  the  fore- 
head, sides  of  head  (especially  around  the  eye),  and  chin,  to  white.  The  wings, 
including  their  inner  surface,  greenish  black;  the  secondaries  and  tertials,  except 
the  innermost,  broadly  tipped  with  white;  tail  white;  the  inner  web  of  the  fifth 
feather  and  the  whole  of  the  sixth,  with  upper  tail  coverts,  greenish  black.  The 
axillars  plumbeous  black.  Bill  and  feet  black.  Young  similar  in  color,  with- 
out additional  markings  of  any  kind.  The  gouys,  however,  convex,  and  the  bill 
generally  more  like  that  of  the  Jays." 

Dimensions  of  a  pair  in  "The  Goss  Ornithological  Collec- 
tion," shot  March  5th,  1879,  near  Central  City,  Colorado: 

Stretch  of 
Length.         wing.  Wing.          Tail.       Tarsus.         Bill. 

Male 13.25       23.25         7.75         5.00       1.30        1.60 

Female 12.00       21.50         7.25         4.50       1.20        1.45 

Iris  dark  brown;  bill,  legs,  feet  and  claws  black. 

This  bird  has  the  actions  and  habits  of  several  species.  Like 
the  Jays,  it  is  at  times  noisy,  and  in  flocks,  and  when  upon  the 
ground  hops  about  in  the  same  manner;  it  clings,  like  the 
"Woodpecker,  to  the  side  of  a  tree,  while  it  hunts  for  and  ex- 
tracts from  old  excavations,  interstices  of  the  bark,  etc.,  the 
various  forms  of  life  found  therein;  and  its  flights  are  similar. 
In  clasping  with  its  sharp  claws  the  cones  on  the  pines  and  other 
coniferous  trees,  in  order  to  pry  with  its  bill  for  the  seeds,  it 
often  hangs  with  its  head  downward,  swaying  back  and  forth 
with  the  ease  and  movements  of  the  Titmouse.  The  birds  are 
very  shy,  and,  at  or  near  their  nesting  places,  silent. 

In  May,  1879,  my  brother  found  the  birds  breeding  near  Fort 
Garland,  Colorado.  It  was  too  late  in  the  season  for  their  eggs, 
but  in  one  nest  he  found  young  birds;  he  says  the  old  bird  sat 
very  close,  only  leaving  when  touched  by  his  hand.  The  nest 
was  built  near  the  end  of  a  horizontal  limb  of  a  pine  tree,  and 
about  ten  feet  from  the  ground,  in  an  open,  conspicuous  situa- 
tion. It  was  bulky,  and  coarsely  constructed  of  sticks,  twigs, 
strips  of  bark,  rootlets,  grass,  moss,  etc.,  and  very  deeply  hoi- 


388  HISTORY  OF   THE 

lowed,  the  bird  when  on  the  nest  showing  only  part  of  her  bill 
and  tail,  pointing  almost  directly  upward.  At  a  distance  it 
would  be  taken  for  a  squirrel's  nest.  Capt.  Chas.  Bendire  writes 
me  that,  during  the  month  of  April,  1876-8,  he  found,  in  the 
vicinity  of  Camp  Harney,  Oregon,  quite  a  number  of  their  nests, 
as  described  above,  with  eggs,  and  gives  the  following  dimen- 
sions of  four  eggs:  1.30x.92,  1.26x.95,  1.22x.95,  1.20x.90. 
Usual  number  three;  ground  color  light  grayish  green,  irregu- 
larly spotted  and  blotched  with  a  deeper  shade  of  gray,  prin- 
cipally about  the  larger  end ;  elongated  oval  in  shape,  and 
considerably  pointed  at  the  smaller  end. 

GENUS  CYANOCEPHALUS  BONAPARTE. 

"  Bill  elongated,  compressed,  shorter  than  the  tarsus,  longer  than  the  head, 
without  notch,  similar  to  that  of  sturnella  in  shape.  Culmen  nearly  straight; 
commissure  curved;  gonys  ascending.  Nostrils  small,  oval,  entirely  exposed, 
the  bristly  feathers  at  the  base  of  the  bill  being  very  minute.  Tail  short,  nearly 
even,  much  shorter  than  the  pointed  wings,  which  cover  three-fourths  of  the 
tail.  Tarsi  considerably  longer  than  the  middle  toe.  Color  of  the  single  species- 
blue,  most  intense  anteriorly;  the  throat  streaked  with  white." 

Cyanocephalus  cyanocephalus  (WIED.). 
PINON  JAY. 
PLATE  XXV. 

A  rare  visitant.  Three  specimens  shot,  out  of  a  flock  of  six 
or  seven,  near  Lawrence,  October  23,  1875.  (Reported  by  Prof. 
F.  H.  Snow.) 

B.  431.     R.  285.     C.  345.     G.  144,     188.     TJ.  492. 

HABITAT.  Rocky  Mountain  region,  and  coast  range  of  the  Pa- 
cific slope;  north  into  British  America;  south  to  Mexico. 

SP.  CHAK.  "Wings  considerably  longer  than  tail,  and  reaching  to  within  an 
inch  of  its  tip.  Tail  nearly  even.  General  color  dull  blue,  paler  on  the  abdo- 
men, the  middle  of  which  is  tinged  with  ash;  the  head  and  neck  of  a  much 
deeper  and  more  intense  blue,  darker  on  the  crown.  Chin  and  fore  part  of  the 
throat  whitish,  streaked  with  blue.  Young  bird  not  differing  in  markings." 

Stretch  of 
Length.  wing.          Wing.         Tail.         Tarsus.          Bill. 

Male 11.00         18.00        5.80        4.75         1.40         1.35 

Female...     10.60         17.60         5.65         4.50        1.40         1.30 

The  above  are  the  average  measurements  of  several  pairs; 
they  vary  somewhat  in  size,  one  of  the  females  being  fully  as 
large  as  the  males. 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  389 

Iris  dark  brown;  bill,  legs,  feet  and  claws  black. 

These  noisy,  characteristic  birds  are  quite  common  within  the 
central  portion  of  their  range.  They  are  gregarious,  and  very 
social  in  their  habits,  and  are  usually  to  be  found  flying  about  in 
flocks,  among  the  scattering  cedars  and  piiions  of  the  open,  hilly 
lands,  making  their  presence  known  upon  all  occasions,  except 
about  their  nesting  places,  by  keeping  up  their  almost  continu- 
ous, loud,  harsh,  querulous  notes;  hurriedly  alighting,  and  pass- 
ing each  other,  in  their  search  for  food,  each  anxious  to  be  in 
the  lead,  in  order  to  secure  the  choicest  nuts  and  seeds  upon  the 
ground,  as  well  as  in  the  trees.  The  pifion  is  the  favorite,  and 
in  extracting  the  nuts  from  cones  they  often  hang  feet  upper- 
most, and  swing  about  like  the  Crossbills.  During  the  breed- 
ing season,  they  prove  themselves  quite  expert  and  busy  insect 
catchers,  darting  from  a  tree  top  and  returning  after  the  cap- 
ture much  like  the  true  Flycatcher. 

I  have  never  found  the  birds  very  shy,  but  on  account  of  their 
restless  flights  they  are  not  easy  to  capture  by  following  the  trail. 
When  going  a  distance,  their  flights  are  swift  and  compact,  but 
rather  straggling  in  their  search  for  food. 

The  following  interesting  description  of  the?  •  nesting  habits, 
by  my  brother,  is  taken  from  the  bulletin  of  he  Nuttall  Orni- 
thological Club: 

"In  May,  1879,  I  took  nine  sets  of  the  eggs  of  the  Pinon 
Jay,  in  Colorado.  Their  nests  were  found  all  within  from  five 
to  nine  miles  east  and  southeast  of  Fort  Garland.  This  region 
lies  along  the  western  base  of  the  Sangre  de  Christo  Mountains, 
is  broken  by  hills  and  spurs  from  the  main  range,  and  has  an 
elevation  of  about  9,000  feet.  The  nests  were  all  in  high, 
open  situations,  two  of  them  well  up  the  steep  mountain  sides. 
and  none  in  valleys  or  thick  timber.  All  were  in  small  pinon 
pines,  from  five  to  ten  feet  up,  out  some  distance  from  the  body 
of  the  tree,  and  not  particularly  well  concealed.  They  are  large, 
coarse  and  deeply-hollowed  structures,  much  alike,  being  made 
mostly  of  grayish  shreds  of  some  fibrous  plant  or  bark,  which 
breaks  up  into  a  mass  of  hair-like  fibers,  these  forming  the  lining, 
while  some  weeds  and  grass  are  worked  into  the  general  fabric. 


390  HISTORY  OF  THE 

I  did  not  measure  any  of  them  before  removal,  and  afterward 
accurate  measurement  could  not  be  made,  as,  being  loosely  con- 
structed, they  spread  and  flattened.  They  must  have  been  about 
as  deep  as  wide  —  deep  enough  to  receive  the  whole  body  of 
the  bird,  only  part  of  the  head  and  tail  showing  above  the  edge. 
The  birds  are  close  sitters,  several  not  leaving  the  nest  till  it 
was  shaken,  and  I  could  have  caught  some  of  them  in  my  hand. 
On  being  driven  from  the  nest,  they  would  alight  on  an  adjoin- 
ing limb,  and,  with  lowered  head  and  half-extended  wings,  utter 
their  peculiar  querulous  cry.  One  nest  contained  five  eggs,  six 
contained  four  each,  and  two,  three  each;  both  sets  of  three  were 
partly  incubated.  Two  nests  were  taken  May  5th,  five  on  the 
10th  and  two  on  the  llth,  1879.  The  eggs  were  quite  pointed 
at  the  smaller  end.  The  ground  color  is  bluish  white,  splashed 
all  over  with  small  spots  of  dark  brown,  thickest  at  the  larger 
end.  Nine  eggs  measure  respectively:  1.19x.88,  1.21x.93, 
1.22x.92,  1.25x.91,  1.17x.87,  l.lSx.84,  1.17x.85,  1.20x.82, 
1.17x.80;  average,  1.19x. 87." 

The  nest  is  easily  seen,  and  I  am  surprised  that  so  few  have 
been  found.  The  bird  is  a  restless  wanderer,  choosing  the  most 
unfrequented  places.  It  often  changes  its  haunts,  and  may  be 
plenty  one  year  where  it  is  scarcely  found  in  another.  Prob- 
ably the  food  supply  has  something  to  do  with  its  movements. 
It  is  gregarious,  and  partly  so  even  in  the  breeding  season. 

FAMILY  ICTERID.52.     BLACKBIRDS,  ORIOLES,  ETC. 

"Primaries  nine.  Tarsi  scutellate  anteriorly;  plated  behind.  Bill  long, 
generally  equal  to  the  head  or  longer,  straight  or  gently  curved,  conical,  without 
any  notch,  the  commissure  bending  downwards  at  an  obtuse  angle  at  the  base. 
Gonys  generally  more  than  half  the  culmen,  no  bristles  about  the  base  of  the 
bill.  Basal  joint  of  the  middle  toe  free  on  the  inner  side;  united  half  way  on 
the  outer.  Tail  rather  long,  rounded.  Legs  stout." 

GENUS  DOLICHONYX  SWAINSOIT. 

"Bill  short,  stout,  conical,  little  more  than  half  the  head;  the  commissure 
slightly  sinuated;  the  culmen  nearly  straight.  Middle  toe  considerably  longer 
than  the  tarsus  (which  is  about  as  long  as  the  head);  the  inner  lateral  toe  long- 
est, but  not  reaching  the  base  of  the  middle  claw.  Wings  long,  first  quill  long- 
est. Tail  feathers  acuminately  pointed  at  the  tip,  with  the  shaft  stiffened  and 
rigid,  as  in  the  Woodpeckers. 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  391 

"The  peculiar  characteristic  of  this  genus  is  found  in  the  rigid  scansorial 
tail  and  the  very  long  middle  toe,  by  means  of  which  it  is  enabled  to  grasp  the 
vertical  stems  of  reeds  or  other  slender  plants.  The  color  of  the  single  species 
is  black,  varied  with  whitish  patches  on  the  upper  parts." 

Dolichonyx  oryzivorus  (LINN.). 

BOBOLINK. 
PLATE  XXV. 

Summer  resident;  very  rare;  during  migration  quite  common. 
Arrive  the  last  of  April  to  middle  of  May;  begin  laying  the  last 
of  May;  return  in  September. 

In  the  early  part  of  June,  1867,  I  found  a  pair  in  Anderson 
county,  and  from  actions  was  positive  the  birds  had  a  nest  near 
by,  but  was  unable  to  find  it,  and  I  have  in  "The  Goss  Orni- 
thological Collection  "  a  male  shot  May  23d,  1877,  near  Neosho 
Falls,  out  of  a  small  flock.  I  have  often  met  with  them  in  the 
State  since,  but  cannot  recall  seeing  them  later  than  the  middle 
of  May,  and  I  think  their  remaining  so  late,  or  breeding  so  far 
south,  rare  and  exceptional,  and  that  latitude  40°  to  41°  is  their 
southern  breeding  limit,  and  54°  their  northern. 

B.  399.     R.  257.     C.  332.     G.  129,     189.     U.  494. 

HABITAT.  Eastern  North  America;  north  into  the  fur  regions; 
west  to  the  high  plains;  south  to  South  America;  West  Indies. 

SP.  CHAB.  "General  color  of  male  in  spring,  black;  the  nape  brownish 
cream  color;  a  patch  on  the  side  of  the  breast,  the  scapulars  and  rump  white, 
shading  into  light  ash  on  the  upper  tail  coverts  and  the  back  below  the  inter- 
scapular  region.  The  outer  primaries  sharply  margined  with  yellowish  white; 
the  tertials  less  abruptly;  the  tail  feathers  margined  at  the  tips  with  pale  brown- 
ish ash.  In  autumn  totally  different,  resembling  the  female.  Female:  Yellow- 
ish beneath;  two  stripes  on  the  top  of  the  head,  and  the  upper  parts  throughout, 
except  the  back  of  the  neck  and  rump,  and  including  all  the  wing  feathers, 
generally  dark  brown,  all  edged  with  brownish  yellow,  which  becomes  whiter 
near  the  tips  of  the  quills.  The  sides  sparsely  streaked  with  dark  brown,  and 
a  similar  stripe  behind  the  eye.  There  is  a  superciliary  and  a  median  band  of 
yellow  on  the  head." 

Stretch  of 
Length.          wing.  Wing.         Tail.         Tarsus.         Bill. 

Male 7.30          12.25         3.90         3.00         1.03          .55 

Female    . .      7.00          10.50         3.55        2.80         1.00          .55 

Iris  brown;  bill,  upper  blackish,  under  bluish,  with  the  end 
dusky;  legs  and  feet  brown;  claws  dark  brown. 


392  HISTORY  OF  THE 

The  following  description  of  this  familiar  species  is  from 
"North  American  Land  Birds,"  Vol.  II,  p.  150: 

"Of  all  our  unimitative  arid  natural  songsters,  the  Bobolink 
is  by  far  the  most  popular  and  attractive.  Always  original, 
and  peculiarly  natural,  its  song  is  exquisitely  musical.  In  the 
variety  of  its  notes,  in  the  rapidity  with  which  they  are  uttered, 
and  in  the  touching  pathos,  beauty  and  melody  of  their  tone 
and  expression,  its  notes  are  not  equaled  by  those  of  any  other 
North  American  bird.  We  know  of  none  among  our  native 
feathered  songsters  whose  song  resembles  or  can  be  compared 
with  it. 

"In  the  earliest  approaches  of  spring,  in  Louisiana,  when 
small  flocks  of  male  Bobolinks  make  their  first  appearance,  they 
are  said  by  Mr.  Audubon  to  sing  in  concert;  and  their  song, 
thus  given,  is  at  once  exceedingly  novel,  interesting,  and  strik- 
ing. Uttered  with  a  volubility  that  even  borders  upon  the  bur- 
lesque and  the  ludicrous,  the  whole  effect  is  greatly  heightened 
by  the  singular  and  striking  manner  in  which  first  one  singer, 
and  then  another,  one  following  the  other,  until  all  have  joined 
their  voices,  take  up  the  note  and  strike  in,  after  the  leader  has 
set  the  example  and  given  the  signal.  In  this  manner,  some- 
times a  party  of  thirty  or  forty  Bobolinks  will  begin,  one  after 
the  other,  until  the  whole  unite  in  producing  an  extraordinary 
medley,  to  which  no  pen  can  do  justice,  but  which  is  described 
as  very  pleasant  to  listen  to.  All  at  once  the  music  ceases,  with 
a,  suddenness  not  less  striking  than  extraordinary.  These  con- 
certs are  repeated  from  time  to  time,  usually  as  often  as  the 
flock  alights.  This  performance  may  also  be  witnessed  early  in 
April,  in  the  vicinity  of  Washington,  the  Smithsonian  grounds 
being  a  favorite  place  of  resort. 

' '  By  the  time  these  birds  have  reached  in  their  spring  migra- 
tions the  fortieth  parallel  of  latitude,  they  no  longer  move  in 
large  flocks,  but  have  begun  to  separate  into  small  parties  and, 
finally,  into  pairs.  In  New  England  the  Bobolink  treats  us  to 
no  such  concerts  as  those  described  by  Audubon,  where  many 
voices  join  in  creating  their  peculiar,  jingling  melody.  When 
they  first  appear,  usually  after  the  middle  of  May,  they  are  in 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  393 

small  parties,  composed  of  either  sex,  absorbed  in  their  court- 
ships and  overflowing  with  song.  When  two  or  three  male 
Bobolinks,  decked  out  in  their  gayest  spring  apparel,  are  paying 
their  attentions  to  the  same  drab-colored  female,  contrasting  so 
strikingly  in  her  sober  brown  dress,  their  performances  are  quite 
entertaining,  each  male  endeavoring  to  outsing  the  others.  The 
female  appears  coy  and  retiring,  keeping  closely  to  the  ground, 
but  always  attended  by  the  several  aspirants  for  her  affection. 
After  a  contest,  often  quite  exciting,  the  rivalries  are  adjusted, 
the  rejected  suitors  are  driven  off  by  their  more  fortunate  com- 
petitor, and  the  happy  pair  begin  to  put  in  order  a  new  home. 
It  is  in  these  love  quarrels  that  their  song  appears  to  the  greatest 
advantage.  They  pour  out  incessantly  their  strains  of  quaint 
but  charming  music,  now  on  the  ground,  now  on  the  wing,  now 
on  the  top  of  a  fence,  a  low  bush  or  a  swaying  stalk  of  a  plant 
that  bends  with  their  weight.  The  great  length  of  their  song, 
the  immense  number  of  short,  variable  notes  of  which  it  is  com- 
posed, the  volubility  and  confused  rapidity  with  which  they  are 
poured  forth,  the  eccentric  breaks,  in  the  midst  of  which  we 
detect  the  words  'Bob-o-link'  so  distinctly  enunciated,  unite 
to  form  a  general  result  to  which  we  can  find  no  parallel  in  any 
of  the  musical  performances  of  our  other  song  birds.  It  is  at 
once  a  unique  and  a  charming  production.  Nuttall  speaks  of 
their  song  as  monotonous,  which  is  neither  true  nor  consistent 
with  his  own  description  of  it.  To  other  ears  they  seem  ever 
wonderfully  full  of  variety,  pathos  and  beauty. 

"When  their  contests  are  ended,  and  the  mated  pair  take 
possession  of  their  selected  meadow,  and  prepare  to  construct 
their  nest  and  rear  their  family,  then  we  may  find  the  male  bird 
hovering  in  the  air  over  the  spot  where  his  homely  partner  is 
brooding  over  her  charge.  All  this  while  he  is  warbling  forth 
his  incessant  and  happy  love  song;  or  else  he  is  swinging  on 
some  slender  stalk  or  weed  that  bends  under  him,  ever  over- 
flowing with  song  and  eloquent  with  melody.  As  domestic 
cares  and  paternal  responsibilities  increase,  his  song  becomes 
less  and  less  frequent.  After  a  while  it  has  degenerated  into  a 
few  short  notes,  and  at  length  ceases  altogether.  The  young  in 


394  HISTORY  OF  THE 

due  time  assume  the  development  of  mature  birds,  and  all  wear 
the  sober  plumage  of  the  mother.  And  now  there  also  appears 
a  surprising  change  in  the  appearance  of  our  gaily  attired  musi- 
cian. His  showy  plumage  of  contrasting  white  and  black,  so 
conspicuous  and  striking,  changes  with  almost  instant  rapidity 
into  brown  and  drab,  until  he  is  no  longer  distinguishable,  either 
by  plumage  or  note,  from  his  mate  or  young. 

"At  the  north,  where  the  Bobolink  breeds,  they  are  not 
known  to  molest  the  crops,  confining  their  food  almost  entirely 
to  insects,  or  the  seeds  of  valueless  weeds,  in  the  consumption 
of  which  they  confer  benefit  rather  than  harm.  At  the  south, 
they  are  accused  of  injuring  the  young  wheat  as  they  pass  north- 
ward in  their  spring  migrations,  and  of  plundering  the  rice 
plantations  on  their  return.  About  the  middle  of  August  they 
appear  in  almost  innumerable  flocks  among  the -marshes  of  the 
Delaware  river.  There  they  are  known  as  the  Reedbirds.  Two 
weeks  later  they  begin  to  swarm  among  the  rice  plantations  of 
South  Carolina.  There  they  take  the  name  of  Eicebirds.  In 
October  they  again  pass  on  southward,  and  make  another  halt 
among  the  West  India  Islands.  There  they  feed  upon  the  seeds 
of  the  Guinea  grass,  upon  which  they  become  exceedingly  fat. 
In  Jamaica  they  receive  a  new  appellation,  and  are  called  But- 
terbirds.  They  are  everywhere  sought  after  by  sportsmen,  and 
are  shot  in  immense  numbers  for  the  table  of  the  epicure.  More 
recently  it  has  been  ascertained  that  these  birds  feed  greedily 
upon  the  larva  of  the  destructive  cotton  worm,  and  in  so  doing 
render  an  immense  service  to  the  cultivators  of  Sea  Island  cot- 
ton." 

Their  nests  are  placed  in  a  depression  on  the  ground,  in  the 
grass,  on  the  low  bottom  lands,  composed  of  slender,  wire-like 
stems  of  grasses.  Eggs  four  or  five,  . 85x.  63;  ashy  white, 
evenly  specked  with  light  drab  to  grayish  and  reddish  brown, 
and  pale  surface  markings  in  the  shell;  in  form,  oval.  A  set 
of  four,  taken  June  2d,  1867,  at  Pewaukee,  Wisconsin,  from  a 
nest  on  marshy  grounds,  only  measure:  .78x.  63,  .80x.  61,  .80x 
.63,  .85x.63. 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  395 

GENUS  MOLOTHRUS  SWAIXSOX. 

"Bill  short,  stout,  about  two-thirds  the  length  of  head;  the  commissure 
straight,  culmen  and  gonys  slightly  curved,  convex,  the  former  broad,  rounded, 
convex,  and  running  back  on  the  head  in  a  point.  Lateral  toes  nearly  equal, 
reaching  the  base  of  the  middle  one,  which  is  shorter  than  the  tarsus;  claws 
rather  small;  tail  nearly  even;  wings  long,  pointed,  the  first  quill  longest.  As 
far  as  known,  the  species  make  no  nest,  but  deposit  the  eggs  in  the  nests  of 
other  (usually  smaller)  birds." 

Molothrus  ater  (BODD.). 

COWBIRD. 
PLATE  XXV. 

Summer  resident;  abundant.  Arrive  early  in  March  to  first 
of  April;  begin  laying  about  the  last  of  May;  return  in  October; 
occasionally  linger  into  November. 

B.  400.     R.  258.     C.  313.     G.  130,     190.     U.  495. 

HABITAT.  The  United  States,  from  the  Atlantic  to  the  Pacific; 
north  into  the  southern  British  possessions;  south  in  winter  to 
southern  Mexico. 

SP.  CHAR.  "Second  quill  longest;  first  scarcely  shorter;  tail  nearly  even,  or 
very  slightly  rounded.  Male:  With  head,  neck  and  anterior  half  of  the  breast 
light  chocolate  brown,  rather  lighter  above;  rest  of  body  lustrous  black,  with  a 
violet  purple  gloss  next  to  the  brown,  of  steel  blue  on  the  back,  and  of  green 
elsewhere.  Female:  Light  olivaceous  brown  all  over,  lighter  on  the  head  and 
beneath." 

Stretch  of 
Length.          wing.  Wing.  Tail.         Tarsus.        Bill. 

Male 8.00         13.75         4.40         3.25         1.00         .65 

Female...     7.25         12.25        3.90         2.70         1.00        .62 

Iris  brown;  bill,  legs,  feet  and  claws  black. 

This  widely  distributed  species  are  strictly  gregarious  and 
polygamous  in  their  habits,  and  indiscriminate  eaters  of  seeds, 
grains,  berries  and  insects.  During  the  winter  months,  in  com- 
pany with  the  Bobolink  and  Red-winged  Blackbird,  do  much 
damage  in  the  rice  fields,  and  are  to  be  looked  for  in  summer 
about  the  corrals  and  grazing  grounds,  following  the  cattle  and 
horses  about  over  the  range  to  catch  the  flies  that  bite  and  annoy 
them;  welcome  friends,  they  are  allowed  to  perch  and  rest  upon 
their  backs  at  pleasure.  In  spring  and  early  summer  the  males, 
with  raised  feathers,  spread  tails  and  throats  puffed  out,  utter  a 
guttural  song,  or  rather  attempt  at  one,  which  is  no  doubt  pleas- 


396  HISTORY  OF  THE 

ing  to  the  females,  but  in  all  of  their  amourous  actions  there 
appears  to  be  but  little  rivalry  or  jealousy — a  happy  family  of 
free-lovers. 

These  birds  never  build  a  nest,  but  drop  their  eggs  into  the 
nests  of  smaller  birds;  in  doing  so,  do  not  try  to  take  possession 
by  force,  but  by  stealth,  during  the  absence  of  the  owners,  and, 
as  these  birds  are  polygamous,  exhibit  no  conjugal  affection  or 
love  for  their  offspring,  leaving  the  labor  and  care  of  hatching 
and  rearing  their  young  to  their  foster  parents;  and  I  find  by 
observation  that  the  egg  or  eggs  so  dropped  are  the  first  to 
hatch,  and,  being  much  the  larger  and  stronger,  receive  the 
greater  share  of  food,  the  rightful  little  claimants  being  soon 
trodden  to  death  or  crowded  out  of  their  home. 

On  account  of  their  manner  of  laying,  we  have  no  way  of  de- 
termining the  number  of  eggs  laid  in  a  season.  As  a  rule,  but 
one  egg  is  found  in  a  nest,  and  I  think  that,  with  a  view  to  sur- 
vival, the  bird  distributes  her  eggs,  and  that  the  extra  ones  oc- 
casionally found  are  the  eggs  of  different  Cowbirds.  They  vary 
greatly  in  size,  averaging  about  .85x.63;  bluish  white,  thickly 
spotted  and  specked  with  ashy  to  reddish  brown  and  occasional 
splashes  of  purple;  in  form,  oval. 

GENUS  XANTHOCEPHALUS  BONAPARTE. 

"Bill  conical,  the  length  about  twice  the  height;  the  outlines  nearly  straight. 
Claws  all  very  long;  much  curved;  the  inner  lateral  the  longest,  reaching  be- 
yond the  middle  of  the  middle  claw.  Tail  narrow,  nearly  even,  the  outer  \vel> 
scarely  widening  to  the  end.  Wings  long,  much  longer  than  the  tail;  the  first 
quill  longest." 

Xanthocephalus  xanthocephalus  (BOXAP.). 

YELLOW-HEADED  BLACKBIRD. 
PLATE  XXV. 

Summer  resident;  not  uncommon;  in  migration  common. 
Arrive  the  middle  to  last  of  April;  begin  laying  the  last  of  May 
to  first  of  June;  return  in  September. 

On  the  first  of  June,  1885,  I  found  quite  a  colony  building  in 
the  giant  rushes  of  the  genus  Juncus,  growing  in  marshy  ponds, 
near  Crooked  Creek,  in  Meade  county;  and  I  have,  on  several 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  397 

occasions,  found  them  breeding  in  small  flocks,  in  different  parts 
of  the  State. 

B.  404.     R.  260.     C.  319.     G.  131,     191.     U.  497. 
HABITAT.    Temperate  western  North  America,  from  "Wiscon- 
sin, Illinois  and  Texas  to  the  Pacific  coast;  accidental  in  the  At- 
lantic States;  south  into  Mexico  and  Cuba. 

SP.  CHAR.  "Adult  male,  in  summer:  Head,  neck  and  jugulum  yellow,  vary- 
ing from  a  lemon  to  a  rich  orange  shade — very  rarely  to  a  pinkish  saffron  hue; 
primary  coverts  and  lower  greater  wing  coverts  white;  rest  of  plumage  uniform 
dull  black,  the  lower  portion  of  the  tibia  and  the  feathers  immediately  surround- 
ing the  anus  yellow;  lores,  eyelids  and  feathers  bordering  the  base  of  the  bill 
also  black.  Adult  male,  in  winter:  Similar,  but  top  of  the  head  and  nape 
washed  with  dusky.  Adult  female:  Brownish  dusky,  the  throat  and  jugulum 
dull  yellow,  the  middle  of  the  breast  mixed  with  whitish.  Young  male,  in  first 
winter:  Similar  to  adult  female,  but  larger  and  deeper  colored.  Young,  first 
plumage:  General  color  light  Isabella  brown,  or  dull  brownish  buff,  the  wings 
and  tail  dusky." 

Stretch  of 
Length.          wing.  Wing.  Tail.         Tarsus.         Bill. 

Male 10.30         17.00         5.65         4.55         1.30          .85 

Female...      8.70          14.50         4.50         3.35         1.25          .75 

Iris  brown;  bill  bluish  black;  legs,  feet  and  claws  black. 

The  above  measurements  are  of  a  pair  in  "The  Goss  Ornitho- 
logical Collection;"  as  given  by  other  writers,  they  average  a 
little  larger. 

These  birds  are  largely  terrestrial  in  their  habits,  and  during 
the  fall  and  winter  months  are  rather  generally  distributed  over 
the  prairies  and  plains,  often  following  and  running  about  with 
the  cattle,  in  company  with  the  Cowbirds;  but  their  natural 
home  is  on  or  about  the  marshy,  reedy  grounds,  and,  during  the 
breeding  season,  seldom  to  be  met  with  far  away. 

I  have  met  with  them  in  central  Mexico  as  far  south  as  lati- 
tude 26°,  and  found  them  breeding  along  the  Rio  Grande,  in 
southern  New  Mexico;  and  I  am  inclined  to  think  they  breed  in 
suitable  localities  throughout  their  range. 

Their  notes  are  harsh  and  their  attempt  at  song  a  laborious, 
whistling,  squeaky,  chuckling  sound.  They  are  rather  omniv- 
orous in  their  food  habits;  hardly  anything  eatable  comes  amiss; 
in  the  insect  line,  grasshoppers  and  beetles  are  much  sought 
after. 


398  HISTORY  OF  THE 

Their  nests  are  built  in  reeds  and  rushes,  and  are  composed 
of  flexible  leaves  of  flags  and  grasses,  lined  with  a  finer  material 
of  the  same,  and  attached  to  and  woven  in  and  around  the 
standing,  growing  stalks.  Eggs  three  to  six,  usually  four;  vary 
greatly  in  size;  according  to  Ridgway,  1.05x.  71.  A  set  of  four 
eggs,  taken  May  30th,  1882,  from  a  nest,  as  above,  attached  to 
standing,  growing  rushes,  about  two  feet  above  the  water,  on  a 
bog  in  Pewaukee  Lake,  Wisconsin,  measure:  .  93x.70,  .  94x.  72, 
,95x.75,  .  96x.  74;  grayish  to  greenish  white,  profusely  covered 
with  spots  and  blotches  of  drab  and  purplish  brown;  in  form, 
oval. 

GENUS  AGELAIUS  VIEILLOT. 

"First  quill  shorter  than  second;  claws  short;  the  outer  lateral  scarcely 
reaching  the  base  of  the  middle.  Culmeu  depressed  at  base,  parting  the  frontal 
feathers;  length  equal  to  that  of  the  head,  shorter  than  tarsus.  Both  man- 
dibles of  equal  thickness,  and  acute  at  tip,  the  edges  much  curved;  the  culmen, 
gonys  and  commissure  nearly  straight  or  slightly  simiated;  the  length  of  bill 
about  twice  its  height.  Tail  moderate,  rounded,  or  very  slightly  graduated. 
Wings  pointed,  reaching  to  end  of  lower  tail  coverts  Colors  black  with  red 
shoulders  in  North  American  species.  One  West  Indian  with  orange  buff.  Fe- 
males streaked  except  in  two  West  Indian  species. 

"  The  nostrils  are  small,  oblong,  overhung  by  a  membraneous  scale.  The 
bill  is  higher  than  broad  at  the  base.  There  is  no  division  between  the  anterior 
tarsal  scutella  and  the  single  plate  on  the  outside  of  the  tarsus." 

Agelaius  phoeniceus  (LINN.). 

BED- WINGED  BLACKBIRD. 
PLATE  XXV. 

A  very  rare  resident;  abundant  in  summer.  Begin  laying 
early  in  May. 

B.  401.     R.  261.     C.  316.     G.  132,     192.     U.  498. 

HABITAT.  Temperate  North  America  in  general,  except  west- 
ern Mexico  and  lower  Colorado  valley;  north  to  Great  Slave 
Lake;  south  to  Costa  Rica. 

SP.  CHAR.  "Tail  much  rounded;  the  lateral  feathers  about  half  an  inch 
shorter.  Fourth  quill  longest ;  first  about  as  long  as  fifth.  Bill  large,  stout ; 
half  as  high,  or  more  than  half  as  high  as  long.  Male:  General  color  uniform 
lustrous  velvet  black  with  a  greenish  reflection.  Shoulders  and  lesser  wing 
coverts  of  a  bright  crimson  or  vermilion  red.  Middle  coverts  brownish  yellow, 
or  buff,  and  usually  paler  toward  the  tips.  Female:  Brown  above,  the  feathers 
edged  or  streaked  with  rufous  brown  and  yellowish ;  beneath  white,  streaked 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  399 

•with  brown.  Fore  part  of  throat,  superciliary  and  median  stripe  strongly 
tinged  with  brownish  yellow.  There  is  some  variation  in  the  shade  of  red  on 
the  shoulders,  which  is  sometimes  the  color  of  arterial  blood,  or  bright  crimson. 
It  never,  however,  has  the  hsematitic  tint  of  the  red  in  a  A.  tricolor.  The  middle 
•coverts  are  usually  uniformly  brownish  yellow  to  the  very  tips ;  sometimes 
some  of  these  middle  coverts  are  tipped  at  the  end  with  black,  but  these  black 
tips  are  usually  of  slight  extent,  and  indicate  immaturity,  or  else  a  transition  of 
hybridism  or  race  to  A.  gubernator." 

Stretch  of 
Length.  wing.  Wing.          Tail.         Tarsus.         Bill. 

Male 9.25          15.00        4.90          3.75         1.12          .90 

Female...      7.80          12.50        3.90         3.00         1.05          .75 

Iris  dark  brown;  bill  dark  brown  to  black;  legs,  feet  and 
claws  black. 

This  common  species  frequents  the  prairies,  low  meadows  and 
marshy  grass  lands,  preferring  grounds  dotted  over  with  low, 
scattering  bushes.  During  the  fall  and  winter  months  they  as- 
semble in  large  flocks,  and  do  much  damage  in  the  rice  fields, 
and  are  often  more  or  less  injurious  to  the  grains  within  their 
summer  homes;  but  the  damage  they  do  in  the  latter  case  is 
overbalanced  by  the  destruction  of  injurious  insects,  upon  which 
they  almost  wholly  feed  during  the  breeding  season;  busy  hunt- 
ers of  the  field  and  followers  of  the  plow.  It  is  only  within 
their  winter  quarters  that  I  am  unable  to  find  sufficient  plea  for 
their  protection. 

The  birds  arrive  from  the  south  early  in  the  spring,  and  scat- 
ter about  in  small  flocks;  the  males  arrive  about  a  week  in 
advance,  and  make  their  presence  known  from  early  morn  till 
late  at  eve,  by  their  peculiar  squeaky  song,  "  Kauk-quer-ree. " 
Their  courtships  are  short,  the  birds  mating  soon  after  the  arri- 
val of  the  females. 

Their  nests  are  placed  in  low  bushes  and  occasionally  in  tus- 
socks of  grass,  on  wet,  marshy  grounds;  a  rather  compact  basket- 
like  nest,  composed  of  coarse  grasses,  weeds,  and  in  some  cases 
bits  of  rushes,  fastened  to  and  around  the  branches  upon  and 
against  which  it  rests,  and  lined  with  fine  grasses.  Eggs  four 
or  five,  .97x.70;  light  blue,  with  thick,  zigzag  markings  of  light 
and  dark  purple  and  blackish  brown  around  larger  end,  and  a 
few  spots  of  the  same  colors  scattered  over  the  egg;  in  form, 
oval. 


400  HISTORY  OF   THE 

GENUS  STURNELLA  VIEII/LOT. 

"Body  thick,  stout;  legs  large,  toes  reaching  beyond  the  tail.  Tail  short, 
even,  with  narrow  acuminate  feathers.  Bill  slender,  elongated;  length  about 
three  times  the  height;  commissure  straight  from  the  basal  angle.  Culmen  flat- 
tened basally,  extending  backwards  and  parting  the  frontal  feathers;  longer 
than  the  head,  but  shorter  than  tarsus.  Nostrils  linear,  covered  by  an  incum- 
bent membranous  scale.  Inner  lateral  toe  longer  than  the  outer,  but  not  reach- 
ing to  basal  joint  of  middle;  hind  toe  a  little  shorter  than  the  middle,  which  is 
equal  to  the  tarsus.  Hind  claw  nearly  twice  as  long  as  the  middle.  Feathers 
of  head  stiffened  and  bristly;  the  shafts  of  those  above  extended  into  a  black 
seta.  Tertials  nearly  equal  to  the  primaries.  Feathers  above  all  transversely 
banded.  Beneath  yellow,  with  a  black  pectoral  crescent." 

Sturnella  magna  (LINX.). 

MEADOWLABK. 
PLATE  XXV. 

Resident;  abundant  in  the  eastern  and  middle  portion  of  the 
State;  rare  in  the  western.  Begin  laying  early  in  May. 

B.  406.     K.  263.     C.  320.     G.  133,     193.     U.  501. 

HABITAT.  Eastern  North  America;  north  to  Nova  Scotia  and 
Canada;  west  to  the  edge  of  the  Great  Plains.  Breeds  through- 
out its  range. 

SP.  CHAR.  "The  feathers  above  dark  brown,  margined  with  brownish 
white,  and  with  a  terminal  blotch  of  pale  reddish  brown.  Exposed  portion  of 
the  wings  and  tail  with  dark  brown  bars,  which  on  the  middle  tail  feathers  are 
confluent  along  the  shaft.  Beneath  yellow,  with  a  black,  pectoral  crescent,  the 
yellow  not  extending  on  the  side  of  the  maxilla;  sides,  crissum  and  tibia  pale 
reddish  brown,  streaked  with  blackish.  A  light  median  and  superciliary  stripe, 
the  latter  yellow  anterior  to  the  eye;  a  black  line  behind.  Female  smaller  and 
duller.  Young  with  pectoral  crescent  replaced  by  streaks;  the  yellow  of  under 
surface  replaced  more  or  less  by  ochraceous  or  pale  fulvous." 

Stretch  of 
Length.         -wing.         Wing.          Tail.        Tarsu*.          Bill. 

Male 10.25         15.50        4.70        3.50         1.45         1.25 

Female...        9.50        14.25        4.20        3.00         1.35         1.20 

Iris  brown;  bill  reddish  to  olive  brown,  with  basal  half  of 
under  pale  bluish;  legs  light  bluish  flesh  color;  feet,  especially 
the  joints,  darker;  claws  brown. 

These  well-known,  plump,  pretty  birds  inhabit  the  prairies 
and  open  grass  lands,  where,  during  the  summer  months,  they 
feed  almost  exclusively  upon  beetles,  grasshoppers,  etc.,  and  in 
winter  upon  the  fallen  seeds  and  grains,  often  visiting  the  cattle 
yards;  harmless,  beautiful  birds,  in  no  sense  injurious,  and  there- 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  401 

fore  general  favorites.  They  are  very  hardy,  wintering  from 
the  Middle  States  southward,  and  the  earliest  of  our  spring 
songsters.  Mounted  upon  a  fence  post,  bush  or  knoll,  they 
repeat  at  intervals  their  whistling  notes,  not  varied  but  pleasing, 
and  expressive  of  tenderness  and  joy.  Their  flights  are  rather 
laborious,  an  alternate  changing  from  a  rapid  vibration  of  the 
wings  to  sailing;  terrestrial  birds,  that,  during  the  breeding 
season,  remain  in  pairs,  but  are  afterwards  usually  met  with  in 
small  flocks  or  family  groups. 

Their  nests  are  placed  on  the  ground,  in  a  thick  tuft  of  grass, 
composed  of  grasses,  which  are  often  interwoven  so  as  to  form 
a  cover  overhead.  Eggs  four  to  six,  l.lOx.80;  white,  finely 
spotted  with  lilac  and  reddish  brown;  in  form,  oval. 

Stnrnella  magna  neglecta  (Am>.). 

WESTERN  MBADOWLARK. 
PLATE  XXV. 

Resident;  common  in  the  western  and  middle  portions  of  the 
State;  rare  in  the  eastern.  Begin  laying  about  the  middle  of 
May. 

B.  407.     E.  264.     C.  322.     G.  134,     194.     U.  501&. 

HABITAT.  Western  North  America,  from  Nebraska  and  Texas 
(casually  Wisconsin  and  Illinois)  west  to  the  Pacific  coast;  north 
to  British  Columbia  and  Manitoba;  south  through  western 
Mexico. 

SP.  CHAR.  "Feathers  above  dark  brown,  margined  with  brownish  white, 
with  a  terminal  blotch  of  pale  reddish  brown;  exposed  portion  of  wings  and 
tail  with  transverse  bands,  which  in  the  latter  are  completely  isolated  from 
each  other,  narrow  and  linear;  beneath  yellow,  with  a  black  pectoral  crescent. 
The  yellow  of  the  throat  extending  on  the  sides  of  the  maxilla;  sides,  crissum 
and  tibia  very  pale  reddish  brown,  or  nearly  white,  streaked  with  blackish; 
head  with  a  light  median  and  superciliary  stripe,  the  latter  yellow  in  front  of 
the  eye;  a  blackish  line  behind  it;  the  transverse  bars  on  the  feathers  above 
(less  so  on  the  tail)  with  a  tendency  to  become  confluent  near  the  exterior 
margin." 

Stretch  of 
Length.         wing.  Wing.         Tail.         Tarsus.         Bill. 

Male 10.25         16.00         4.80         3.50         1.50        1.80 

Female...      9.50         14.50        4.30        3.00        1.40        1.20 

Iris  brown;  bill  dark  olive  brown,  with  edges  of  upper  and 
base  of  lower  pale  bluish;  legs  and  feet  bluish  flesh  color,  joints 
darker;  claws  brown. 

-28 


402  HISTORY  OF   THE 

This  western  form  is  similar  in  habits  and  actions  to  the  east- 
ern bird,  and  differs  so  slightly  in  markings  and  color  that  were 
it  not  for  its  widely  different  song  —  rather  bugle-like  —  it  would 
have  a  doubtful  standing  as  a  race.  It  is  thought  by  some  writ- 
ers to  be  less  suspicious  and  more  at  home  about  our  dwellings; 
this  I  account  for  on  the  ground  that  they  are  seldom  disturbed 
or  shot  at,  as  is  too  often  the  case  in  the  Eastern  States. 

Nesting  habits,  color  and  form  of  the  eggs  the  same.  A  set 
of  four  eggs,  collected  April  26th,  1877,  at  Santa  Cruz,  Califor- 
nia, measure:  1.08x.78,  1.08x.79,  1.08x.80,  JL.09x.81. 

GENUS  ICTERUS  BKISSON. 

"  Bill  slender,  elongated,  as  long  as  the  head,  generally  a  little  decurved  and 
very  acute;  tarsi  not  longer  than  the  middle  toe,  nor  than  the  head;  claws  short, 
much  curved;  outer  lateral  toe  a  little  longer  than  the  inner,  reaching  a  little 
beyond  base  of  middle  toe;  feet  adapted  for  perching;  tail  rounded  or  graduated. 
Prevailing  colors  yellow  or  orange  and  black." 

SUBGENUS  PENDULINUS  VIEILLOT. 

Not  tenable,  there  being  a  gradual  transition  through  intermediate  forms  be- 
tween the  type  and  the  typical  species  of  Icterus.  (Ridgway.) 

Icterus  spurius  (  LINN.). 

ORCHARD   ORIOLE. 
PLATE  XXV. 

Summer  resident;  abundant.  Arrive  the  last  of  April  to  first 
of  May;  begin  laying  the  last  of  May;  return  the  last  of  August 
to  middle  of  September. 

B.  414.     R.  270.     C.  324.     G.  135,     195.     U.  506. 

HABITAT.  Eastern  United  States;  west  to  the  base  of  the 
Rocky  Mountains;  south  in  winter  to  Panama. 

SP.  CHAB.  Adult  male:  Head,  neck,  middle  of  chest,  back,  scapulars,  wings 
(except  middle  and  lesser  coverts)  and  tail  deep  black,  the  greater  wing  coverts, 
quills  and  secondaries  edged  more  or  less  distinctly  with  pale  chestnut  or  whit- 
ish; rest  of  plumage  uniform  rich  dark  chestnut  or  bay,  deepest  on  breast. 
Adult  female:  Upper  parts  yellowish  olive,  much  duller  and  grayer  on  back  and 
scapulars;  wings  grayish  dusky,  with  two  white  bands,  all  the  feathers  with 
paler  brownish  gray  edgings,  tail  yellowish  olive,  like  rump,  etc.;  lower  parts 
entirely  light  olive  yellow.  Young  male,  second  year:  Similar  to  adult  male, 
but  lores,  chin  and  throat  black  —  (the  chestnut  and  rest  of  the  black  appearing 
in  patches,  increasing  in  extent  during  successive  seasons.)  Young  of  year: 


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BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  403 

Similar  to  adult  female,  but  suffused  with  brownish,  especially  on  upper  parts. 
(Bidgway.) 

Stretch  of 
Length.  wing.          Wing.         Tail.         Tarsus.          Bill. 

Male 6.50  9.50          3.00         3.00  .75  .60 

Female...      6.30  9.15          2.80         2.80  .75  .60 

Iris  dark  brown;  bill,  upper  black,  under  pale  blue;  legs,  feet 
and  claws  bluish  black. 

This  species  is  rarely  met  with  in  the  northern  United  States, 
but  is  very  common  in  the  middle  and  southern  portions.  Its 
favorite  resorts  are  along  the  prairie  streams  skirted  with  timber, 
and  the  groves  and  orchards  about  our  dwellings;  an  active, 
restless  bird,  ever  upon  the  move,  flying  and  hopping  about 
among  the  branches  of  trees,  often  swinging  head  downward 
in  its  search  for  insect  life,  upon  which  it  almost  wholly  feeds 
during  the  early  breeding  season,  singing  as  it  flies,  or  from 
the  perch  uttering  its  hurried  but  pleasing  song,  which  is  occa- 
sionally heard  in  autumn. 

Their  nests  are  suspended  from  twigs,  at  the  end  of  branches 
of  small  trees,  along  the  banks  of  streams  and  in  orchards  and 
gardens;  a  beautiful,  hemispherical  nest,  made  wholly  of  along, 
slender,  wire-like  grass,  and  occasionally  bits  of  a  cottony  sub- 
stance, neatly  and  ingeniously  woven  together  and  around  the 
leaf-like  twigs  that  support  it.  Eggs  four  or  five,  .  85x.  60;  pale 
bluish  white,  thinly  marked  with  specks  and  zigzag  lines  of 
light  to  reddish  brown  and  lilac,  thickest  about  larger  end;  in 
form,  oval. 

STJBGENTTS  TPHANTES  VIEILLOT. 

Depth  of  bill  at  base  equal  to  half  the  length  of  the  exposed  culmen.  (Ridg- 
tcay.) 

Icterus  galbula  (LIXN.). 

BALTIMORE  ORIOLE. 
PLATE  XXVL 

Summer  resident;  common.  Arrive  the  last  of  April  to  first 
of  May;  begin  laying  the  last  of  May;  return  the  last  of  August 
to  middle  of  September. 

B.  415.     R.  271.     C.  S26.     G.  136,     196.     U.  507. 

HABITAT.  Eastern  North  America;  north  to  New  Brunswick 
and  Manitoba,  west  to  the  base  of  the  Rocky  Mountains;  south 
in  winter  to  Panama. 


404  HISTORY  OF  THE 

SP.  CHAR.  Head,  neck,  middle  line  of  chest,  back,  scapulars,  wings  (except 
lesser  and  middle  coverts)  and  greater  part  of  tail  black;  broad  tips  to  greater 
wing  coverts,  and  narrow  edgings  to  some  of  the  quills  and  secondaries  (these 
sometimes  worn  away),  white;  rest  of  plumage,  including  lesser  and  middle 
wing  coverts,  base  and  tip  of  tail  (except  middle  feathers,  but  on  outer  feathers 
occupying  nearly  half  their  total  length),  rich  cadmium  orange,  sometimes  vary- 
ing to  intense  orange  red,  very  rarely  to  lemon  yellow.  Adult  female:  Very 
variable  in  color,  but  usually  (?)  with  upper  parts  olive,  indistinctly  streaked  or 
spotted  with  black,  the  wings  dusky,  with  two  white  bands,  and  light  grayish 
edges  to  most  of  the  feathers;  rump  dull  ochraceous  orange;  tail  duller,  more 
olivaceous,  orange;  lower  parts  dull  orange,  paler  on  flanks,  the  throat  usually 
with  more  or  less  admixture  of  black.*  Young  of  year:  Similar  to  adult  female, 
as  described  above,  but  colors  softer  and  more  blended,  and  upper  parts  suffused 
with  brownish.  (Ridgway.) 

Stretch  of 
Length.          tiling.          Wing.          Tail.         Tarsus.        Bill. 

Male......      7.75          12.00         3.75         3.20  .90         .70 

Female...      7.50         11.50        3.55        8.00          .90         .70 

Iris  dark  brown;  bill,  ridge  black,  rest  light  blue;  legs,  feet 
and  claws  dark  blue. 

This  familiar  Oriole  is  very  similar  in  habits  to  the  Orchard, 
but  is  less  lively  in  actions,  and  ranges  much  farther  north. 
The  males  arrive  in  the  spring  at  least  a  week  ahead  of  the 
females,  and  their  brilliant  plumage  and  varied  mellow  whist- 
ling song  insure  them  a  welcome.  The  females  also  occasion- 
ally warble  a  few  low,  pleasing  notes.  They  are  very  beneficial 
in  their  destruction  of  caterpillers  and  other  injurious  worms  and 
insects,  upon  which  they  almost  wholly  subsist,  occasionally 
plucking  for  a  dessert  a  berry  from  a  bush  or  a  pea  from  the 
pod;  but  never  claim  a  hundredth  part  of  the  share  to  which 
they  are  rightfully  entitled. 

Their  nests  are  suspended  from  the  extremities  of  branches 
(the  elm  appears  to  be  the  favorite  tree),  fifteen  to  forty  feet 
from  the  ground;  a  compact,  strongly-woven,  deep,  purse-like 
structure,  composed  of  and  attached  to  the  twigs  from  which  it 
hangs,  with  flax-like  strippings  from  plants  and  vines,  and  lined 
with  hair-like  stems  of  grasses;  when  in  the  vicinity  of  dwell- 
ings, twine  and  thread  are  used  largely  in  its  make-up.  Eggs 

*  The  adult  female  often  has  the  black  pattern  of  head,  neck  and  back  as  in  male,  but  the 
color  much  duller  and  less  uniform.  The  young  male  also  varies  between  the  two  extremes 
( adult  male  and  female)  as  described  above,  and  cannot  in  any  stage  be  with  certainty  distin- 
guished from  the  adult  female,  except  by  dissection. 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  405 

four  or  five,  .92x.60;  pale  bluish  white,  with  a  rosy  hue  when 
fresh,  marked  with  long,  waving  lines  and  spots  of  purple  and 
blackish  brown,  chiefly  at  larger  end;  in  form,  oval  to  ovate. 

Icterus  bullocki  (SWAIXS.). 

BULLOCK'S  ORIOLE. 
PLATE  XXVI. 

Prof.  "W.  W.  Cook,  in  his  "Report  on  Bird  Migration  in  the 
Mississippi  Yalley,"  says:  "It  is  common  in  western  Kansas, 
passing  eastward  even  to  Manhattan,  where  in  1883  the  first 
was  seen  May  5."  I  have  never  met  with  the  birds  in  the 
State,  and  think  their  occurrence  very  rare. 

B.  146.     R.  272.     C.  327.     G.  137,     197.     U.  508. 

HABITAT.  Western  United  States;  east  to  Dakota  and  Texas; 
south  in  winter  to  central  Mexico. 

SP.  CHAR.  "Tail  very  slightly  graduated.  Upper  part  of  the  head  and 
neck,  back,  wings,  two  central  tail  feathers,  line  from  base  of  bill  through  the 
eye  to  the  back  of  the  nape,  and  a  line  from  the  base  of  the  bill  miming  to  a 
point  on  the  throat,  black.  Under  parts  generally,  sides  of  head  and  neck, 
forehead  and  line  over  the  eye,  rest  of  tail  feathers,  rump  and  upper  tail  coverts, 
yellow  orange.  A  broad  band  on  the  wings,  involving  the  greater  and  mid- 
dle coverts,  and  the  outer  edge  of  the  quills,  white.  Young  male  with  the  black 
replaced  by  greenish  yellow,  that  on  the  throat  persistent;  female  without  this. 
The  first  plumage  of  the  young  differs  from  that  of  Baltimore  in  being  more 
whitish  beneath ;  lighter  olive  above,  and  without  dark  spots  on  back ;  white  of 
middle  and  greater  coverts  connected  by  white  edges  of  the  latter." 

Stretch  of 
Length.          wing.  Wing.          Tail.        Tarsus.          Bill, 

Male 7.90          12.25         4.10         3.55          .90  .70 

Female...      7.50          11.50         3.80         8.10          .85  .70 

Iris  dark  brown;  bill,  upper  black,  with  edges  and  under  man- 
dible light  blue;  legs,  feet  and  claws  plumbeous. 

This  beautiful  western  species  is  a  counterpart  in  form,  habits 
and  actions,  of  its  eastern  cousin  the  Baltimore.  I  have  met 
with  it  in  Colorado,  New  Mexico,  Arizona,  Washington,  South- 
ern California,  and  at  Culiacan,  Mexico,  but  nowhere  in  abund- 
ance. The  following  extract  is  from  a  description  of  the  birds 
by  our  eminent  naturalist,  Dr.  Elliott  Coues: 

"All  the  Orioles  are  wonderful  architects,  weaving  pensile 
nests  of  soft,  pliable,  fibrous  substances,  with  a  nicety  and  beauty 


406  HISTORY  OF  THE 

of  finish  that  human  art  would  vainly  attempt  to  rival.  These 
elegant  fabrics  are  hung  at  the  end  of  slender  twigs,  out  of 
the  reach  of  ordinary  enemies,  and,  though  they  may  swing  with 
every  breath  of  wind,  this  is  but  a  cradle  rocking  for  the  callow 
young,  and  it  is  a  rude  blast  indeed  that  endangers  the  safety 
of  their  leafy  home. 

"Little  time  passes  after  their  arrival  before  the  modestly 
attired  females,  rambling  silently  through  the  verdure,  are  singled 
out  and  attended  each  by  her  impetuous  consort,  who  sings  his 
choicest  songs,  and  displays  the  prowess  she  admires  most.  His 
song  is  an  elegant  paraphrase  of  the  Baltimore's,  with  all  its 
richness  and  variety,  though  an  ear  well  skilled  in  distinguish- 
ing bird's  notes  can  readily  detect  a  difference.  Their  court- 
ship happily  settled,  the  pair  may  be  seen  fluttering  through 
the  thicket  they  have  chosen,  in  eager  search  for  a  building 
place;  and  when  a  suitable  one  is  found,  no  time  is  lost  in  be- 
ginning to  weave  their  future  home.  It  is  a  great  mistake  to 
suppose  that  birds  of  the  same  species  always  build  in  the  same 
way.  Though  their  nests  have  a  general  resemblance  in  style 
of  architecture,  they  differ  greatly  according  to  their  situation, 
to  the  time  the  birds  have  before  the  nest  must  be  used  for  the 
reception  of  the  eggs,  and  often,  we  are  tempted  to  think,  accord- 
ing to  the  taste  and  skill  of  the  builders.  In  their  work  of  this 
sort,  birds  show  a  remarkable  power  of  selection,  as  well  as 
adapting  themselves  to  circumstances;  in  proof  of  which  we  have 
only  to  examine  the  three  beautiful  specimens  now  lying  before 
us.  Each  is  differently  constructed,  and  while  all  three  evince 
wonderful  powers  of  weaving,  one  of  them  in  particular,  is 
astonishingly  ingenious,  displaying  the  united  accomplishments 
of  weaving  and  basket  making.  Before  proceeding  we  may 
premise  that,  the  idea  of  the  nest  is  a  sort  of  bag  or  purse,  closely 
woven,  of  slender,  pliant  substances,  like  strips  of  fibrous  bark, 
grasses,  hair,  twine,  etc.,  open  at  the  top  and  hung  by  its  rim 
in  the  fork  of  a  twig,  or  at  the  very  end  of  a  floating  spray. 

"The  first  nest  was  built  in  a  pine  tree;  and  if  the  reader 
will  call  to  mind  the  stiff  nature  of  the  terminal  branchlets, 
each  bearing  a  thick  bunch  of  long,  straight,  needle-like  leaves, 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  407 

he  will  see  that  the  birds  must  have  been  put  to  their  wits'  end, 
though  very  likely  he  will  not  be  able  to  guess  how  they  made 
shift  with  such  unpromising  materials.  They  made  up  their 
minds  to  use  the  leaves  themselves  in  the  nest,  and  with  this 
idea  they  commenced  by  bending  down  a  dozen  or  twenty  of 
the  stiff,  slender  filaments,'  and  tying  their  ends  together  at  the 
bottom.  If  you  have  ever  seen  a  basket  maker  at  work,  with 
his  upright  pieces  already  in  place,  but  not  yet  fixed  together 
with  the  circular  ones,  you  will  understand  exactly  what  the 
birds  had  thus  accomplished.  They  had  a  secure  framework  of 
nearly  parallel  and  upright  leaves  naturally  attached  to  the 
bough  above,  and  tied  together  below  by  the  bird's  art.  This 
skeleton  of  a  nest  was  about  nine  inches  long,  and  four  across 
the  top,  running  to  a  point  below;  and  the  subsequent  weaving 
of  the  nest  upon  this  basis  was  an  easy  matter  to  the  birds. 
Though  if  one  were  to  examine  a  piece  of  the  fabric  cut  away 
from  the  nest,  he  could  hardly  believe  that  the  thin  yet  tough 
and  strong  felting  had  not  been  made  by  some  shoddy  con- 
tractor for  the  supply  of  army  clothing.  Yet  it  was  all  de- 
signed in  a  bird's  little  brain,  and  executed  with  skillful  bill  and 
feet." 

A  set  of  four  eggs,  taken  June  10th,  1875,  at  Camp  Harney, 
Oregon,  from  a  nest  suspended  in  a  willow  tree,  measure:  ,86x 
.67,  .89x.66,  .89x.70,  .90x.63;  pale  bluish,  with  long  irregular 
wavy  lines,  thickest  around  the  larger  end,  and  a  few  scattering 
specks  and  marks  over  the  egg,  of  reddish  to  blackish  brown; 
in  form,  oval  to  ovate. 

GENUS  SCOLECOPHAGUS  SWAIXSON. 

"Bill  shorter  than  the  head,  rather  slender,  the  edges  inflexed  as  in  Quisca- 
lus,  which  it  otherwise  greatly  resembles;  the  commissure  sinuated.  Culmen 
rounded,  but  not  flattened.  Tarsi  longer  than  the  middle  toe.  Tail  even  or 
slightly  rounded. 

"The  above  characteristics  will  readily  distinguish  the  genus  from  its  allies. 
The  form  is  much  like  that  of  Aydaius.  The  bill,  however,  is  more  attenuated, 
the  culmen  curved  and  slightly  siuuated.  The  bend  at  the  base  of  the  commis- 
sure is  shorter.  The  culmen  is  angular  at  the  base  posterior  to  the  nostrils,  in- 
stead of  being  much  flattened,  and  does  not  extend  so  far  behind." 


408  HISTORY  OF   THE 

Scolecophagus  carolinus  (MULL.). 

RUSTY  BLACKBIRD. 
PLATE  XXVI. 

.Winter  sojourner;  quite  common  in  the  eastern  part  of  the 
State.  Arrive  the  last  of  October;  leave  in  March. 

B.  417.     K.  273.     C.  331.     G.  138,     198.     U.  509. 

HABITAT.  Eastern  and  northern  North  America;  west  to 
Behring'  s  Sea  and  the  Great  Plains;  breeding  from  the  northern 
United  States  northward;  south  in  winter  to  the  Gulf  coast. 

SP.  CHAR.  "Bill  slender;  shorter  than  the  head;  about  equal  to  the  hind 
toe;  its  height  not  quite  two-fifths  the  total  length.  Wing  nearly  an  inch  longer 
than  the  tail;  second  quill  longest;  first  a  little  shorter  than  the  fourth.  Tail 
slightly  graduated;  the  lateral  feathers  about  a  quarter  of  an  inch  shortest. 
General  color  black,  with  purple  reflections;  the  wings,  under  tail  coverts,  and 
hinder  part  of  the  belly,  glossed  with  green.  In  autumn  the  feathers  largely 
edged  with  ferruginous  or  brownish,  so  as  to  change  the  appearance  entirely. 
Spring  female:  Dull  opaque  plumbeous  or  ashy  black;  the  wings  and  tail  some- 
times with  a  green  luster.  Young:  Like  the  autumnal  birds." 

Stretch  of 
Length.         wing.  Wing.         Tail.         Tarsus.         Bill. 

Male 9.25          14.50         4.70         4.00         1.24          .80 

Female...      8.60          13.60        4.30         3.50         1.22          .75 

Iris,  yellow;  bill,  legs,  feet  and  claws  black. 

This  hardy  species  inhabits  the  low  lands  and  marshy  thickets. 
They  mate  early  in  the  spring,  and  share  alike  in  the  duties  of 
hatching  and  rearing  the  young.  At  the  close  of  the  breeding 
season  they  collect  together  in  flocks.  They  are  largely  omniv- 
orous in  their  food  habits,  preferring  the  various  forms  of  insect 
life,  snails,  etc.,  that  abound  in  the  aquatic  grasses;  but  during 
the  winter  months,  when  forced  to  feed  largely  upon  grains  and 
seeds,  they  frequent  the  cattle  yards  and  corn  fields,  and  farther 
south  forage  off  the  rice  plantations.  Their  flights  are  rather 
direct,  and  sustained  by  regular  strokes  of  the  wings.  Their 
call  or  alarm  note  sounds  much  like  "  Cheek-che-weeck. "  Dur- 
ing the  love  season  and  occasionally  in  autumn  the  males  indulge 
in  a  low  and  somewhat  musical  song. 

Their  nests  are  usually  placed  in  bushes  and  low  trees,  occa- 
sionally upon  the  ground,  and  are  composed  of  twigs,  vines, 
weeds  and  grass,  the  latter  mixed  with  mud,  and  usually  lined 
with  leaves  and  fine  grasses.  Eggs  usually  three  to  five  (as  high 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  409 

as  seven  have  been  taken),  l.OOx.73;  vary  in  ground  color  from 
a  grayish  to  a  light  bluish  green,  spotted  with  various  shades  of 
brown,  usually  thickest  around  the  larger  end,  but  sometimes 
clouding  the  entire  surface,  so  as  to  nearly  conceal  the  ground 
color,  over  which  are  occasionally  small,  wavy  lines  of  very 
dark  brown;  in  form,  oval  to  ovate. 

Scolecophagus  cyanocephalus  (WAGL.). 

BREWER'S  BLACKBIRD. 
PLATE  XXVI. 

An  occasional  resident  in  the  western  part  of  the  State;  dur- 
ing the  fall  and  winter  months  quite  common,  visiting  now  and 
then  the  eastern  portion.  Begin  laying  the  middle  to  last  of  May. 

B.  418.     R.  274.     C.  332.     G.  139,     199.     U.  510. 

HABITAT.  Western  North  America;  north  to  the  Saskatche- 
wan region;  east  to  western  Minnesota  and  Texas  (occasionally 
to  Illinois),  etc. ;  south  into  Mexico. 

SP.  CHAR.  "Bill  stout,  quiscaline,  the  commissure  scarcely  sinuated;  shorter 
than  the  head  and  hind  toe;  the  height  nearly  half  length  of  culmen.  Wing 
nearly  an  inch  longer  than  the  tail;  the  second  quill  longest;  the  first  about 
equal  to  the  third.  Tail  rounded  and  moderately  graduated;  the  lateral  feathers 
about  .35  of  an  inch  shorter.  General  color  of  male  black,  with  lustrous  green 
reflections  everywhere  except  on  the  head  and  neck,  which  are  glossed  with  pur- 
plish violet.  Female:  Much  duller,  of  a  light  brownish  anteriorly;  a  very  faint 
superciliary  stripe." 

Stretch  of 
Length.          wing.  Wing.        Tail.        Tarsus.         Bill. 

Male 9.75          16.00         5.00         4.25         1.22          .75 

Female...      9.20          15.30        4.70        4.00         1.22          .72 

Iris  of  males  light  or  creamy  yellow,  of  females  brown;  bill, 
legs,  feet  and  claws  black. 

This  is  one  of  the  most  abundant  species  in  the  West.  Social, 
gregarious  birds,  breeding  in  small  colonies,  and  foraging  to- 
gether over  the  cultivated  fields,  pastures  and  plains;  indiscrim- 
inate eaters  of  insect  life,  seeds,  etc.,  and  are  regular  visitants 
of  the  slaughter  houses,  where,  in  company  with  the  Ravens  and 
Magpies,  they  fatten  upon  the  offal. 

They  are  graceful  walkers  and  swift  runners,  and  when 
startled  rise  with  one  accord,  circle  in  a  compact  body  and 
alight  upon  one  of  the  nearest  trees,  or  perching  place,  dropping 


410  HISTORY  OF  THE 

back  one  after  the  other,  as  soon  as  the  fright  is  over,  to  con- 
tinue their  rambling  search  for  food. 

Their  song  is  a  mixture  of  guttural  and  whistling  notes,  not 
very  loud  or  musical;  but  when  the  males  sing  together,  as  they 
usually  do,  the  effect  is  rather  pleasing.  Their  ordinary  note  is 
a  rather  sharp  chirp. 

They  breed  on  the  low,  wet  lands,  or  along  the  borders  of 
streams,  and  build  their  nests  as  it  suits  them  best,  on  the 
ground  or  in  the  forks  of  trees  and  bushes;  usually  a  rather 
bulky  structure,  composed  of  sticks  interlaid  with  grass,  weeds 
and  tracings  of  mud,  and  lined  with  fine  rootlets  and  hairs.  In 
Chama,  New  Mexico,  I  found  a  small  flock  nesting  on  the 
ground,  beside  a  mountain  rivulet,  in  grassy  lands,  dotted  here 
and  there  with  trees  and  bushes.  The  nests  examined  were  all 
without  a  trace  of  mud,  and  were  composed  almost  wholly  of 
the  grass  about  them.  Eggs  four  to  seven  (usually  four  or  five), 
1.02x.74;  they  vary  in  size,  density  of  color  and  shape;  dull 
greenish  white  to  gray,  and  clouded  with  specks  and  blotches 
(thickest  about  the  larger  end)  of  light  to  dark  reddish  brown, 
and  occasionally  with  streaks  of  the  same;  in  form,  oval  to 
ovate.  A  set  of  four  eggs,  taken  May  28th,  1878,  at  Santa 
Cruz,  California,  measure:  .99x.72,  l.OOx.71,  l.Olx.73,  1.02 
x.72. 

GENUS  QUISCALUS  VIEILT-OT. 

"Bill  as  long  as  the  head,  the  culmen  slightly  curved,  the  gonys  almost 
straight;  the  edges  of  the  bill  inflected  and  rounded;  the  commissure  quite 
strongly  sinuated.  Outlines  of  tarsal  scutella  well  defined  on  the  sides;  tail 
long,  boat  shaped,  or  capable  of  folding  so  that  the  two  sides  can  almost  be 
brought  together  upward,  the  feathers  conspicuously  and  decidedly  graduated, 
their  inner  webs  longer  than  the  outer." 

SUBGENUS  QUISCALUS. 

"Tail  not  decidedly  longer  than  wing  (ususally  decidedly  shorter);  adult 
males  with  varied,  rich  metallic  tints  (the  head  and  neck  rich,  silky  steel  blue 
violet  or  grassy  green);  adult  females  similar,  but  duller.  (Ridyicay.) 

Quiscalus.  quiscula  aeneus  (RIDGW.). 

BRONZE  GRACKLB. 
PLATE  XXVI. 

An  occasional  resident;  abundant  in  summer.  Begin  laying 
about  the  middle  of  April. 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  411 

B.  — .     K.  278*.     C.  337.     G.  140,     200.     U.  5116. 

HABITAT.  Eastern  North  America;  north  from  the  gulf  coast 
of  Texas,  Louisiana  and  northern  Virginia  to  Nova  Scotia, 
Hudson's  Bay  and  the  Saskatchawan  region;  west  to  the  Rocky 
mountains;  occasionally  east  of  the  Alleghanies. 

SP.  CHAR.  "Third  and  fourth  quills  longest  and  equal;  first  shorter  than 
fifth;  projections  of  primaries  beyond  secondaries,  1.28;  graduation  of  tail,  1.48. 
Metallic  tints  rich,  deep  and  uniform.  Head  and  neck  all  round  rich,  silky  steel 
blue;  this  strictly  confined  to  these  portions,  and  abruptly  defined  behind,  vary- 
ing in  shade  from  an  intense  Prussian  blue  to  brassy  greenish,  the  latter  tint 
always,  when  present,  most  apparent  on  the  neck,  the  head  always  more  viola- 
ceous; lores  velvety  black.  Entire  body,  above  and  below,  uniform  continuous 
metallic  brassy  olive,  varying  to  burnished  golden  olivaceous  bronze,  becoming 
gradually  uniform  metallic  purplish  or  reddish  violet  on  wings  and  tail,  the  last 
more  purplish;  primaries  violet  black.  The  female  is  smaller  and  duller  in 
color  than  the  male." 

Stretch  of 
Length.          -wing.  Wing.          Tail.         Tarsus.          Bill. 

Male 12.50         17.50         5.70         5.75         1.40         1.24 

Fem'ale...     11.25         16.20         5.05         4.90         1.35         1.12 

Iris  yellow;  bill,  legs,  feet  and  claws  black. 

This  abundant  species  (generally  known  as  the  "Crow  Black- 
bird") breeds  throughout  its  range,  but  chiefly  north  of  their 
southern  winter  quarters,  arriving  at  their  summer  homes  early 
in  the  spring.  They  are  very  social  and  strictly  gregarious,  pre- 
ferring, even  while  mated,  to  live  in  communities.  In  their  food 
habits  omnivorous,  but  during  the  breeding  season  very  benefi- 
cial in  the  destruction  of  caterpillars,  moths,  beetles,  grasshop- 
pers, insect  life  unearthed  by  the  plow,  etc.,  but  for  this  service 
they  claim  too  large  a  share  at  the  harvest,  especially  of  the 
corn,  to  be  looked  upon  by  the  farmers  as  friends.  I  arn,  how- 
ever, led  to  believe  that  in  this  respect  they  are  far  more  benefi- 
cial than  injurious,  and  were  it  not  for  their  nest  robbing  habits, 
destroying  in  this  way  so  many  of  our  little  friends,  I  should 
plead  earnestly  for  their  protection. 

Their  nests  are  saddled  onto  horizontal  limbs,  or  in  forks  and 
in  excavations  in  trees,  along  the  streams  and  in  the  orchards 
and  shade  trees  about  our  dwellings;  a  large  and  rather  com- 
pact structure,  composed  of  coarse  grasses,  weeds,  blades  of 
corn,  or  most  any  handy  material,  plastered  together  with  mud 


412  HISTORY  OF  THE 

and  lined  with  fine  grasses,  sometimes  rootlets  and  hairs.  Eggs 
four  to  six,  1.20x.83;  light  greenish  white,  irregularly  spotted 
and  marked  with  zigzag  lines  of  rusty  blackish  brown,  chiefly 
about  larger  end.  They  vary  greatly  in  depth  of  color,  marking, 
size  and  form. 

FAMILY  FRINGILLID^l.    FINCHES,    SPARROWS,   ETC. 

"Primaries  nine.  Bill  very  short,  abruptly  conical,  and  robust.  Commis- 
sure strongly  angulated  at  base  of  bill.  Tarsi  scutellate  anteriorly,  but  the  sides 
with  two  undivided  plates  meeting  behind  along  the  median  line,  as  a  sharp 
posterior  ridge.  Eyes  hazel  or  brown,  except  in  Pipilo,  where  they  are  reddish 
or  yellowish.  Nest  and  eggs  very  variable  as  to  character  and  situation." 

GENTTS  COCCOTHRAUSTES  BRISSON. 

Width  of  bill  at  base  decidedly  less  than  its  length,  and  basal  outline  of  lower 
mandible  underneath  simply  concave.  Depth  of  bill  at  base  greater  than  length 
of  hind  toe  with  claw,  and  more  than  three-fourths  as  long  as  tarsus.  (Bidgway.) 

SUBGENUS  HESPERIPHONA  BONAPARTE. 

"Bill  largest  and  stoutest  of  all  the  United  States  fringilline  birds.  Upper 
mandible  much  vaulted;  culmen  nearly  straight,  but  arched  toward  the  tip;  com- 
missure concave.  Lower  jaw  very  large,  but  not  broader  than  the  upper,  nor 
extending  back,  as  in  Ouiraca;  considerably  lower  than  the  upper  jaw.  Gonys 
unusually  long.  Feet  short;  tarsus  less  than  middle  toe;  lateral  toes  nearly 
equal,  and  reaching  to  the  base  of  the  middle  claw.  Claws  much  curved,  stout, 
and  compressed.  Wings  very  long  and  pointed,  reaching  beyond  the  middle  of 
the  tail.  Primaries  much  longer  than  the  nearly  equal  secondaries  and  tertials; 
outer  two  quills  longest;  the  others  rapidly  graduated.  Tail  slightly  forked; 
scarcely  more  than  two-thirds  the  length  of  the  wings,  its  coverts  covering 
nearly  three-fourths  of  its  extent." 

Coccothraustes  vespertina  (Coop.). 

EVENING  GROSBEAK. 
PLATE  XXVL 

Winter  visitant;  rare. 

B.  303.     R.  165.     C.  189.     G.  83,     201.     U.  514. 

HABITAT.  Western  North  America;  north  to  British  Colum- 
bia and  the  Saskatchewan;  east  to  Manitoba,  Michigan  and  Il- 
linois; casually  to  Ontario,  Ohio  and  Kentucky;  south  in  Mexico 
to  the  highlands  of  Yera  Cruz. 

SP.  CHAR.  "Anterior  half  of  the  body  dusky  yellowish  olive,  shading  into 
yellow  to  the  rump  above  and  the  under  tail  coverts  below.  Outer  scapulars, 
a  broad  frontal  band  continued  on  each  side  over  the  eye,  axillaries  and  middle 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  413 

of  under  wing  coverts  yellow.  Feathers  along  the  extreme  base  of  the  bill,  the 
crown,  tibia,  wings,  upper  tail  coverts  and  tail  black ;  inner  greater  wing 
coverts  and  tertiaries  white.  The  female  differs  in  having  the  head  of  a  dull 
olivaceous  brown,  which  color  also  glosses  the  back.  The  yellow  of  the  ruinp 
and  other  parts  is  replaced  by  a  yellowish  ash.  The  upper  tail  coverts  are 
spotted  with  white.  The  white  of  the  wing  is  much  restricted.  There  is  an 
obscure  blackish  line  on  each  side  of  the  chin." 

Stretch  of 
Length.         -wing.  Wing.  Tail.         Tarsus.         Bill. 

Male 7.70          13.75         4.55         2.75          .78  .75 

Female...      7.50         13.00        4.30        2.60         .78          .70 

Iris  brown;  bill  pale  yellowish  green,  with  an  occasional  rosy 
hue;  legs  light  brown  to  dull  flesh  color;  feet  a  shade  darker; 
claws  dark  brown. 

This  handsome  species  of  the  wooded  lands  and  openings  can 
hardly  be  classed  with  the  regular  migratory  birds,  as  they  are 
found  wintering  in  their  northern  homes,  and,  by  Mr.  Swinburn, 
breeding  in  Arizona;  but  rather  a  hardy,  roving  bird,  and  where 
known  to  be  a  resident,  irregular  in  their  habits,  here  in  large 
numbers  to-day,  and  to-morrow  perhaps  in  another  locality,  to 
which  food  or  the  spirit  moves  them.  Gregarious,  social,  un- 
suspicious, noisy  birds,  that  make  their  presence  known  by  their 
loud  call  note,  uttered  almost  continually.  The  males  have  a 
short,  and  not  very  pleasing,  warbling  song.  Their  food  con- 
sists chiefly  of  the  pine,  cedar,  etc.,  berries,  buds  and  tender 
leaves.  As  familiar  and  noticeable  as  these  birds  are,  the  fol- 
lowing from  "Nests  and  Eggs  of  North  American  Birds,"  by 
Davie,  is  the  only  knowledge  we  have  of  their  nesting  habits: 

June  5th,  1884,  Mr.  John  Swinburn  found  a  nest  of  the 
Evening  Grosbeak  in  a  thickly  wooded  canon,  about  fifteen 
miles  west  of  Springerville,  Apache  county,  Arizona.  The  nest 
was  placed  about  fifteen  feet  from  the  ground,  in  the  top  of  a 
small  willow  bush,  on  the  border  of  a  stream.  It  was  a  com- 
paratively slight  structure,  rather  flat,  and  composed  of  small 
sticks  and  roots,  lined  with  finer  portions  of  the  latter.  This 
nest  contained  three  fresh  eggs,  of  a  clear  greenish  ground 
color,  blotched  with  pale  brown. 

May  10th,  1886,  Mr.  E.  H.  Fiske  —  reported  by  Mr.  Walter 
E.  Bryant  —  found  a  nest  in  Yolo  county,  California.  It  was 


HISTORY  OF  THE 

built  in  a  small  live  oak  tree,  about  ten  feet  from  the  ground, 
and  composed  of  small  twigs  supporting  a  thin  layer  of  fibrous 
bark,  and  a  lining  of  horse  hair.  The  eggs,  four  in  number, 
were  too  far  advanced  in  incubation  to  be  preserved.  In  gen- 
eral shape,  color  and  markings  similar  to  the  eggs  of  the  Black- 
headed  Grosbeak,  but  he  thinks  a  little  larger  in  size.  And  Dr. 
Merrill  observed  the  birds  in  Washington  Territory,  carrying 
material  for  a  uest  into  a  huge  fir  tree,  but  was  unable  to  locate 
the  nest,  as  the  tree  was  practicably  inaccessible. 

GENUS  PINICOLA  VIEILI.OT. 

"Bill  short,  nearly  as  high  as  long;  upper  outline  much  curved  from  the 
base;  the  margins  of  the  mandibles  rounded;  the  commissure  gently  concave, 
and  abruptly  deflexed  at  the  tip;  base  of  the  upper  mandible  much  concealed 
by  the  bristly  feathers  covering  the  basal  third.  Tarsus  rather  shorter  than  the 
middle  toe;  lateral  toes  short,  but  their  long  claws  reach  the  base  of  the  middle 
one,  which  is  longer  than  the  hind  claw.  Wings  moderate;  the  first  quill  rather 
shorter  than  the  second,  third  and  fourth.  Tail  rather  shorter  than  the  wings; 
nearly  even." 

Pinicola  enucleator  (LINN.). 

PINE  GROSBEAK. 
PLATE  XXVL 

A  rare  winter  visitant. 

B.  304.     R,  166.     C.  190.     G.  84,     202.     U.  515. 

HABITAT.  Northern  portion  of  the  northern  hemisphere;  south 
in  North  America  to  the  northern  United  States,  and  in  the 
Rocky  Mountains  and  Sierra  Nevada  regions  to  California  and 
Colorado;  casually  to  Kansas,  Kentucky,  etc. 

Professor  Ridgway,  in  his  "Manual  of  North  American 
Birds, ' '  enters  this  bird  as  variety  canademis,  and  confines  the 
species  to  northern  Europe  and  Asia.  I  have  never  had  an 
opportunity  to  compare  specimens,  but,  from  my  knowledge  of 
the  man,  feel  confident  that  the  conclusions  reached  were  based 
on  a  large  series  of  specimens,  and  that  his  action  will  be  sus- 
tained by  the  council  of  the  A.  O.  U.  In  the  meantime,  how- 
ever, it  must  stand  as  entered. 

SP.  CHAK.  "Male:  General  color  light  carmine  red  or  rose,  not  continuous 
above,  however,  except  on  the  head;  the  feathers  showing  brownish  centers  on 
the  back,  where,  too,  the  red  is  darker.  Loral  region,  base  of  lower  jaw  all 
round,  sides  (under  the  wings),  abdomen  and  posterior  part  of  the  body,  with 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  415 

under  tail  coverts,  ashy,  whitest  behind.  Wings  with  two  white  bands  across  the 
tips  of  the  greater  and  middle  coverts;  the  outer  edge  of  the  quills  also  white, 
broadest  on  the  tertiaries,  on  secondaries  tinged  with  red.  Female:  Ashy,  brown- 
ish above,' tinged  with  greenish  yellow  beneath;  top  of  head,  rump  and  upper 
tail  coverts  brownish  gamboge  yellow.  Wings  much  as  in  the  male.  Young 
like  female,  but  more  ashy." 

Stretch  of 
Length.  wing.  Wing.          Tail.        Tarsus.          Bill. 

Male 9.00          14.00         4.60         4.00          .88  .55 

Female...      8.75          13.70         4.50         3.80          .88  .55 

The  birds  vary  in  size;  in  some  specimens  examined  the  fe- 
males were  fully  as  large  as  the  males. 

Iris  dark  brown;  bill,  legs,  feet  and  claws  black. 

This  extremely  northern  species  inhabits  the  wooded  lands, 
the  pine  tree  —  as  its  name  indicates  —  being  the  favorite.  The 
birds  feed  during  the  late  fall  and  winter  months  almost  exclu- 
sively upon  coniferous  seeds,  in  the  spring  upon  the  tender  buds 
and  blossoms  of  deciduous  trees,  insects,  etc.,  and  for  a  dessert 
berries  in  their  season.  I  have  met  with  the  birds  twice  in  the 
mountains  of  Colorado,  and  in  February  and  March  of  1880,  at 
Digby,  Nova  Scotia,  saw  several  small  flocks  several  times. 
They  were  quite  tame,  and  mating;  .the  males  singing  from  the 
topmost  limbs,  or,  rather,  repeating  a  loud,  but  soft,  clear  whist- 
ling note,  and  occasionally  a  few  low,  pleasing,  twittering  notes. 
Very  little  is  known  in  regard  to  their  nesting  habits.  Dr. 
Coues  found  them  breeding  in  Labrador;  and  Mr.  G.  A.  Board- 
man  describes  a  nest  with  two  eggs,  taken  near  Calais,  Maine, 
which  he  thinks  belongs  to  this  bird,  but  he  failed  to  see  the 
parent  birds.  In  the  Smithsonian  Institute  are  young  birds 
taken  in  the  Kocky  Mountains  of  Colorado.  From  this  it  would 
appear  that  Colorado,  Labrador,  and  probably  northern  New 
England,  are  the  extreme  southern  limits  of  their  breeding 
grounds,  south  of  which  they  are  only  occasional  winter  vis- 
itants. 

Eidgway  says:  "Their  nest  is  a  rather  flat,  thin  structure  of 
fine  rootlets,  etc.,  in  coniferous  trees.  Eggs,  l.Olx.74;  deep 
greenish  blue,  or  bluish  green,  rather  sparingly  spotted  with 
dark  brown  and  black." 


416  HISTORY  OF  THE 

GENTJS  CARPODACUS  KAUP. 

"Bill  short,  stout,  vaulted;  the  culmen  decurved  towards  the  end;  the  com- 
missure nearly  straight  to  the  slightly  decurved  end.  A  slight  development  of 
bristly  feathers  along  the  sides  of  the  bill,  concealing  the  nostrils.  Tarsus 
shorter  than  the  middle  toe;  lateral  claws  reaching  to  the  base  of  the  middle 
one.  Claw  of  hind  toe  much  curved,  smaller  than  the  middle  one,  and  rather 
less  than  the  digital  portion.  Wings  long  and  pointed,  reaching  to  the  middle 
of  the  tail,  which  is  considerably  shorter  than  the  wing,  and  moderately  forked. 
Colors  red,  or  red  and  brown.  Female  with  the  red  replaced  by  brown." 

Carpodacus  purpureus  (GMEL.)- 

PURPLE  FINCH. 
PLATE  XXVI. 

A  rare  winter  sojourner;  during  migration,  not  uncommon  in 
the  eastern  portion  of  the  State.  Leave  in  March;  a  few  occa- 
sionally linger  until  the  first  of  April;  begin  to  return  in  Sep- 
tember. 

B.  305.     R.  168.     C.  194.     G.  85,     203.     U.  517. 

HABITAT.  Eastern  North  America;  north  to  Labrador  and 
the  Saskatchewan;  west  to  the  high  plains;  wintering  in  the 
Southern  States;  breeding  from  about  latitude  40°  northward. 

SP.  CHAB.  "Second  quill  longest;  first  shorter  than  third,  considerably 
longer  than  the  fourth.  Body  crimson,  palest  on  the  rump  and  breast,  darkest 
across  the  middle  of  back  and  wing  coverts,  where  the  feathers  have  dusky  cen- 
ters. The  red  extends  below  continuously  to  the  lower  part  of  the  breast,  and 
in  spots  to  the  tibia.  The  belly  and  under  tail  coverts  white,  streaked  faintly 
with  brown,  except  in  the  very  middle.  Edges  of  wings  and  tail  feathers  brown- 
ish red;  lesser  coverts  like  the  back;  two  reddish  bands  across  the  wings  (over 
the  ends  of  the  middle  and  greater  coverts).  Lores  dull  grayish.  Female:  Oliva- 
ceous brown  above,  brighter  on  the  rump.  Beneath  white;  all  the  feathers 
everywhere  streaked  with  brown,  except  on  the  middle  of  the  belly  and  under 
coverts.  A  superciliary  light  stripe." 

Stretch  of 
Length,         wing.          Wing.          Tail.         Tarsus.        Bill. 

Male 6.25          10.20         8.35         2.40         .65  .46 

Female...      6.00  9.70         3.10         2.20          .65  .46 

Iris  dark  brown;  bill  dark  brown  above,  a  shade  paler  beneath, 
with  a  faint  bluish  tint;  legs  and  feet  brown;  claws  blackish. 

These  birds  are  very  social  and  unsuspicious  in  their  habits, 
frequenting  the  orchards  and  groves  about  the  dwelling  houses; 
the  evergreen  trees  seem  to  be  their  favorites.  They  feed  upon 
seeds,  berries,  insects,  etc.,  and  in  the  early  spring  largely  upon 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  417 

buds  and  blossoms,  and  for  this  injurious  habit  are  much  dreaded 
by  fruit  growers.  Were  it  not  for  this,  their  gentle  ways  and 
rich  musical,  warbling  song  would  insure  them  a  hearty  welcome. 
As  they  are  quite  constant  singers  and  easily  tamed,  they  are 
much  sought  after  for  cage  birds. 

They  usually  move  about  in  small  flocks,  flying  in  a  rather 
compact  form  and  with  an  undulating  motion,  as  they  go  from 
tree  to  tree  in  search  of  food,  where  at  the  ends  of  the  slender 
branches  they  sway  about,  often  hanging  head  downward,  like 
the  Titmice,  as  they  pluck  the  buds  and  berries,  or  seeds  from 
the  cones. 

Their  nests  are  usually  placed  in  evergreen  trees,  sometimes 
in  orchard  trees.  They  are  composed  of  weeds,  strippings  from 
plants,  rootlets,  grasses,  etc.,  and  lined  with  hairs.  Eggs  usually 
four  or  five;  they  vary  greatly  in  size;  dull  greenish  blue,  irreg- 
ularly specked  and  spotted  —  chiefly  about  the  larger  end  —  with 
black,  umber  and  lilac,  the  black  markings  occasionally  in  short 
lines;  in  form,  oval.  A  set  of  four  eggs,  taken  May  30th,  1879,  at 
Eastport,  Connecticut,  from  a  Norway  spruce,  and  about  twelve 
feet  from  the  ground,  are,  in  dimensions:  .70x.53,  .74x.54r, 
.76x.54,  .77x54. 

GENUS  LOXIA 


"Mandibles  much  elongated,  compressed  and  attenuated;  greatly  curved  or 
falcate,  the  points  crossing  or  overlapping  to  a  greater  or  less  degree.  Tarsi 
very  short;  claws  all  very  long,  the  lateral  extending  beyond  the  middle  of  the 
central;  hind  claw  longer  than  its  digit.  Wings  very  long  and  pointed,  reach- 
ing beyond  the  middle  of  the  narrow,  forked  tail.  Colors  reddish  in  the  male." 

Loxia  curvirostra  minor  (BREHM.). 

AMERICAN  CROSSBILL.. 
PLATE  XXVL 

Irregular  winter  visitant;  rare. 

B.  318.     R.  172.     C.  199.     G.  86,     204.     U.  521. 

HABITAT.  North  America  in  general,  but  chiefly  far  north- 
ward and  east  of  the  Great  Plains;  breeding  sporadically  south 
to  Maryland  and  Virginia,  near  the  coast,  and  to  northern 
Georgia,  Tennessee  and  Kentucky,  in  mountains.  (Ridgway.) 

SP.  CHAR.  "Old  male:  Dull  red  (the  shade  differing  in  the  specimens,  some- 
times brick  red,  sometimes  vermilion,  etc.);  darkest  across  the  back;  wings 

-27 


418  HISTORY  OF   THE 

and  tail  darkish  brown.  Young  male  yellowish.  Female:  Dull  greenish  olive 
above,  each  feather  with  a  dusky  center;  rump  and  crown  bright  greenish  yellow. 
Beneath  grayish;  tinged  (especially  on  the  sides  of  the  body)  with  greenish  yel- 
low. Young:  Olive  above;  whitish  beneath,  conspicuously  streaked  above  and 
below  with  blackish." 

Stretch  of 
Length.  wing.  Wing:  Tail.         Tarsus.         Bill. 

Male 6.10          10.25         3.40         2.35          .65  .62 

Female...      5.90          10.00         3.30         2.17          .63  .60 

Iris,  bill,  legs,  feet  and  claws  dark  brown,  the  bill  with  a 
bluish  hue. 

These  social,  gregarious  birds  inhabit  the  coniferous  forests, 
feeding  chiefly  upon  the  seeds  extracted  from  the  cones.  When 
far  away  from  their  natural  haunts,  seldom  stop,  even  to  rest, 
except  in  the  vicinity  of  scattering  cedars  to  be  met  with  on  the 
rocky  bluffs  and  banks  of  our  prairie  streams,  or  where  ever- 
green trees  have  been  planted  to  beautify  and  shade  the  dwell- 
ing grounds,  parks,  etc.  As  soon  as  such  trees  mature  and  are 
in  numbers  to  furnish  a  sufficient  supply  of  food,  I  am  confident 
the  birds  will  become  winter  sojourners,  but  not  common,  as 
will  be  the  case  with  the  Mexican  variety,  which  I  predict  will 
become  an  occasional  resident. 

They  are  noisy  birds,  that  often  utter  their  sharp  call  note, 
and  chatter  in  their  undulating  flights.  The  males  have  a  varied 
and  somewhat  pleasing  song,  that  I  have  often  heard  in  the 
depth  of  winter  in  their  northern  homes.  They  are  peculiar  in 
their  structure,  and  in  actions  much  like  the  Parrot  family,  using 
their  bills  in  climbing  about  among  the  branches,  swinging  at 
the  extremity  of  limbs,  usually  hanging  head  downward  while 
extracting  seeds  from  the  cones,  and  while  eating  often  hold 
their  food  in  the  claws  of  one  foot.  Wilson  says: 

"On  first  glancing  at  the  bill  of  this  extraordinary  bird,  one 
is  apt  to  pronounce  it  deformed  and  monstrous;  but  on  atten- 
tively observing  the  use  to  which  it  is  applied  by  the  owner, 
and  the  dexterity  with  which  he  detaches  the  seeds  of  the  pine 
tree  from  the  cone,  and  from  the  husks  that  enclose  them,  we 
are  obliged  to  confess  on  this,  as  on  many  other  occasions, 
where  we  have  judged  too  hastily  of  the  operations  of  nature: 
that  no  other  conformation  could  have  been  so  excellently 
adapted  to  the  purpose." 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  419 

The  birds,  as  a  rule,  nest  early;  often  before  the  snow  is  off 
the  ground.  Mr.  Eugene  P.  Bicknell,  in  "  Bulletin  of  the  Nut- 
tall  Ornithological  Club,"  gives  the  following  minute  descrip- 
tion of  a  nest  with  three  eggs,  taken  April  30th,  1875,  at  River- 
dale,  New  York  city: 

"The  nest  was  placed  in  a  tapering  cedar  of  rather  scanty 
foliage,  about  eighteen  feet  from  the  ground,  and  was  without 
any  single  main  support,  being  built  in  a  mass  of  small,  tangled 
twigs,  from  which  it  was  with  difficulty  detached.  The  situa- 
tion could  scarcely  have  been  more  conspicuous,  being  close  to 
the  intersection  of  several  roads  (all  of  them  more  or  less  bor- 
dered with  ornamental  evergreens),  in  plain  sight  of  as  many 
residences,  and  constantly  exposed  to  the  view  of  passers  by. 
The  materials  of  its  composition  were  of  rather  a  miscellaneous 
character,  becoming  finer  and  more  select  from  without  inwards. 
An  exterior  of  spruce  twigs,  loosely  arranged,  surrounded  a 
mass  of  matted  shreds  of  cedar  bark,  which  formed  the  princi- 
pal body  of  the  structure,  a  few  strips  of  the  same  appearing 
around  the  upper  border,  the  whole  succeeded  on  the  inside  by 
a  sort  of  felting  of  finer  material,  which  received  the  scanty 
lining  of  black  horse  hair,  fine  rootlets,  grass  stems,  pieces  of 
string  and  two  or  three  feathers.  This  shallow  felting  of  the  in- 
ner nest  can  apparently  be  removed  intact  from  the  body  of  the 
structure,  which,  besides  the  above-mentioned  materials,  con- 
tained small  pieces  of  moss,  leaves,  grass,  string,  cottony  sub- 
stances and  the  green  foliage  of  cedar.  The  nest  measured 
internally  two  and  one-half  inches  in  diameter  by  over  one  and 
a  quarter  in  depth;  being  in  diameter  externally  about  four  in- 
ches, and  rather  shallow  in  appearance. 

"The  fresh  eggs  are  in  ground  color  of  a  decided  greenish 
tint,  almost  immaculate  on  the  smaller  end,  but  on  the  opposite 
side  with  irregular  spots  and  dottings  of  lavender  brown  of 
slightly  varying  shades,  interspersed  with  a  few  heavy  surface 
spots  of  dark  purple  brown.  There  is  no  approach  in  the  ar- 
rangement of  these  to  a  circle,  but  between  the  apex  of  the 
larger  end  and  the  greatest  diameter  of  the  egg  is  a  fine,  hair- 
like  surface  line;  in  two  examples  it  forms  a  complete  though 


420  HISTORY  OF  THE 

irregular  circle,  and  encloses  the  principal  spots.  In  the  other 
egg,  which  is  the  largest,  this  line  is  not  quite  complete  and  the 
primary  blotches  are  wanting,  but  the  secondary  markings  are 
correspondingly  larger  and  more  numerous.  In  another  egg 
there  are  two  perfect  figures  of  3  formed  on  the  sides  by  the 
secondary  marks,  one  of  them  large  and  singularly  symmetrical. 
The  eggs  measure  respectively:  .74x.56,  .75x.58,  .78x.59." 

Loxia  curvirostra  Strickland!  RIDGW. 

MEXICAN  CROSSBILL. 
PLATE  XXVI. 

"Winter  sojourner;  not  uncommon  in  the  parks,  etc.,  where 
the  transplanted  evergreen  trees  are  growing.  Prof.  L.  L. 
Dyche,  curator  of  birds  and  mammals  at  the  State  University, 
was  the  first  to  report  the  discovery  of  the  birds  in  the  State 
—  at  Lawrence,  November  13th,  1885.  They  have  since  been 
met  with  in  the  same  vicinity,  at  Emporia,  Baldwin  and  Man- 
hattan, wintering  on  the  Agricultural  College  grounds  at  the  lat- 
ter place.  Prof.  E.  A.  Popenoe  reports  seeing  a  male  at  "Wallace 
in  the  month  of  July. 

B.  318a.     E.  172a,     C.  200.     G. ,     205.     U.  521a. 

HABITAT.  Southwestern  United  States,  from  eastern  Kan- 
sas, Colorado,  New  Mexico  and  Arizona,  south  through  the 
highlands  of  Mexico. 

SP.  CHAB.  "Colors  of  L.  curvirostra  minor,  but  red  brighter,  more  scarlet. 
Bill  very  large,  the  lower  mandible  nearly  or  quite  equal  to  the  upper  in  strength 
and  length." 

Stretch  of 
Length.         iving.          Wing.         Tail.        Tarsus.         Bill. 

Male 6.75          11.75         8.75        2.55          .70          .78 

Female...      6.50         10.25        8.50        2.40         .65          .76 

Iris  dark  brown;  bill  dusky;  legs  and  feet  dark  brown;  claws 
blackish. 

The  birds  are  similar  in  their  habits  and  actions  to  the  Ameri- 
can. I  have  never  seen  their  nests  or  eggs,  nor  a  description 
of  the  same,  but  feel  safe  in,  presuming  that  they  are  not  notice- 
ably different. 

The  last  of  June,  1885,  while  in  the  Glorieta  Mountains,  of 
New  Mexico,  I  met  with  several  small  flocks,  composed  of  young 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  421 

and  old.     The  young  birds  were  fully  grown  but  were  clamorous 
for  food. 

Loxia  leucoptera  GMEL. 

WHITE- WINGED  CROSSBILL. 
PLATE  XXVL 

Irregular  winter  visitant;  very  rare. 

B.  319.     R.  173.     C.  198.     G.  87,     206.     U.  522. 

HABITAT.  Northern  North  America;  breeding  from  northern 
New  England  and  the  Rocky  Mountain  regions  of  Colorado 
northward;  south  in  winter  to  about  latitude  39°. 

SP.  CHAB.  Wing  with  two  white  bands  (on  tips  of  middle  and  greater  cov- 
erts), the  two  confluent  at  upper  portion.  Adult  male:  General  color  purplish 
red  or  dull  rosy,  occasionally  tinged  with  yellow  or  orange;  scapulars,  wings  and 
tail  deep  black,  the  former  varied  with  white,  as  described  above;  back  clouded 
with  blackish.  Adult  female:  Olive  greenish  or  grayish  above;  paler  (often 
more  yellowish)  beneath;  wings  and  tail  as  in  male,  but  duller  black.  Young: 
Pale  olivaceous,  more  dingy  whitish,  tinged  with  yellowish,  beneath,  everywhere 
streaked  with  dusky;  wings  and  tail  much  as  in  adults.  (Ridgway.) 

Stretch  of 
Length.          iving.  Wing,  Tail.         Tarsus.         Bill. 

Male 6.25          10.50         3.50         2.45          .60  .61 

Female...      6.10          10.15         3.35        2.40          .60  .61 

Iris  brown;  bill  dusky;  legs  and  feet  dark  brown;  claws  black. 

The  natural  home  of  this  handsome  species  is  within  the  deep 
evergreen  woods,  but  outside  of  the  breeding  season  they  are 
erratic  wanderers,  roving  about  in  small  flocks,  in  an  irregular 
and  apparently  aimless  manner.  In  their  general  habits,  are 
similar  to  the  American  Crossbill,  but  rather  more  northerly  in 
their  distribution.  Their  food  consists  largely  of  seeds  extracted 
from  cones,  the  spruce  the  favorite;  they  also  feed  freely  upon 
various  kinds  of  seeds,  berries,  buds,  etc. 

They  are  naturally  unsuspicious,  take  kindly  to  confinement, 
and  make  interesting  cage  birds;  and  climb  about  over  the  cage 
with  the  aid  of  their  bills,  much  like  Parrots.  Their  flights 
are  undulating  and  rather  swift.  While  feeding  and  moving 
about,  are  quite  noisy,  keeping  up  an  almost  constant,  plaintive 
"Wheep,"  or  cheeping  note. 

Their  song  is  low,  soft  and  sweet,  much  like  that  of  the  Amer- 
ican Goldfinch.  In  the  early  part  of  July,  I  found  the  birds 


422  HISTORY  OF  THE 

quite  common  on  the  Magdalen  Islands,  especially  on  Bryon 
Isle.  Young  birds  were  fully  grown,  and  capable  of  taking 
care  of  themselves.  I  think  they  must  have  been  hatched  in 
the  early  spring,  not  later  than  the  first  of  May.  Young  birds 
have  often  been  met  with;  very  little,  however,  is  known  in  re- 
gard to  their  nesting  habits.  They  are  said  by  some  writers  to 
lay  five  eggs,  but  the  only  reliable  description  I  can  find  is  the 
following  by  Doctor  Brewer,  in  ''North  American  Land  Birds:" 

"A  nest  of  this  species  (S.  I.  13,452),  taken  at  Fredricton, 
New  Brunswick,  by  Dr.  A.  Adams,  in  1868,  is  deeply  saucer- 
shaped,  and  composed  of  a  rather  thin  wall  of  fibrous  pale  green 
lichens,  encased  on  the  outside  with  spruce  twigs,  and  thinly 
lined  with  coarse  hairs  and  fine  shreds  of  inner,  bark.  Its  ex- 
ternal diameter  is  a  little  less  than  four  inches,  the  rim  being 
almost  perfectly  circular;  the  cavity  is  an  inch  and  a  half  deep 
by  two  and  a  half  broad. 

The  one  egg  is  pale  blue,  the  large  end  rather  thickly  spat- 
tered with  fine  dots  of  black  and  ashy  lilac;  is  regularly  or 
rather  slightly  elongated  oval,  the  smaller  end  rather  obtuse. 
It  measures  .80  of  an  inch  in  length  by  .56  in  breadth. 

GENUS  ACANTHIS  BECHSTEIN. 

"Bill  very  short,  conical,  acutely  pointed,  the  outline  sometimes  concave; 
the  commissure  straight;  the  base  of  the  upper  mandible  and  the  nostrils  con- 
cealed by  stiff,  appressed,  bristly  feathers;  middle  of  the  mandible  having  sev- 
eral ridges  parallel  with  the  culmeii.  Inner  lateral  toe  rather  the  longer,  its 
claw  reaching  the  middle  of  the  middle  claw;  the  hind  toe  rather  longer,  its  claw 
longer  than  the  digital  portion.  Wings  very  long,  reaching  the  middle  of  the 
tail;  second  quill  a  little  longer  than  the  first  and  third.  Tail  deeply  forked." 

Acanthis  linaria  (LINN.). 

REDPOLL. 
PLATE  XXVII. 

A  rare  winter  visitant. 

In  the  early  part  of  the  winter,  I  think  of  1861,  I  saw  at 
Neosho  Falls,  in  my  brother's  yard,  a  flock  of  at  least  twenty, 
feeding  on  a  pile  of  manure  from  the  horse  stable.  It  was  an 
extremely  cold  day  and  the  ground  covered  with  snow.  I  ran 
for  the  gun,  but  before  I  returned  they  were  gone.  In  January, 


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BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  423 

1881,  at  Manhattan,  Dr.  C.  P.  Blachly  shot  one  of  the  birds  out 
of  a  small  flock. 

B.  320.     R.  179.     C.  207.     G.  88,     207.     TJ.  528. 

HABITAT.  Northern  portion  of  the  northern  hemisphere  (not 
observed  in  Greenland);  in  North  America,  south  in  winter 
through  the  northern  to  middle  United  States,  and  Colorado; 
casually  to  Washington,  Kentucky,  middle  Missouri,  and  on  the 
Pacific  side  to  southeastern  Oregon. 

Spring  and  Winter  Plumage. 

SP.  CHAR.  "Adult:  Ground  color  of  the  occiput,  nape,  scapulars  and  inter- 
scapulars  brownish  white,  each  feather  with  medial  streak  of  dusky  brown; 
rump  and  upper  tail  coverts  white,  with  the  streaks  in  sharp  contrast;  wings 
clear  brownish  dusky  with  two  conspicuous  white  bands,  formed  by  tips  of  mid- 
dle and  secondary  coverts;  tertials  -broadly  and  secondaries  narrowly  edged 
with  white;  tail  feathers  narrowly  edged  with  white,  this  broader  on  inner  webs. 
A  narrow  frontal  baud  (tinged  with  brownish),  an  obscure  superciliary  stripe, 
and  the  lower  parts  in  general,  white;  sides  streaked  with  dusky,  and  lower 
tail  coverts  each  with  a  medial  streak  of  the  same.  On  the  forehead  and  vertex 
a  somewhat  quadrate  patch  of  intense  carmine.  Nasal  plumuli,  lores,  and  a 
small  (somewhat  quadrate)  gular  spot,  dark  silky  brown.  Male:  Throat,  jugu- 
lum  and  breast  rosaceous  carmine  (extending  upward  over  the  maxilla,  and 
backward  over  the  sides  almost  to  the  flanks);  rump  tinged  with  the  same. 
Female:  No  red  except  on  the  crown,  where  its  tint  is  less  intense;  dusky  gular 
spot  larger,  extending  farther  on  the  throat." 

Summer  or  Breeding  Plumage. 

"The  pattern  the  same  as  above,  but  the  dark  tint  intensified  and  spread  so 
as  to  almost  entirely  obliterate  any  lighter  markings,  except  the  streaks  on  the 
rump;  the  wing  bands  as  well  as  the  dorsal  streaks  obsolete;  streaks  on  the 
sides  broader;  frontal  band  dusky,  like  the  occiput;  red  tints  slightly  intensified; 
bill  wholly  dusky.  Male:  Throat,  jugulum,  breast  and  tinge  on  sides  and  rump 
rosy  carmine.  Female:  No  red  except  on  crown.  Young,  first  plumage: 
Streaks  covering  whole  head,  neck  and  breast;  no  red." 

Stretch  of 
Length.          ruing.          Wing.          Tail.          Tarsus.        Bill. 

Male 5.40  8.75         2.85         2.35  .55  .35 

Female...      5.00  8.55         2.75-      2.30  .55  .33 

Iris  dark  brown;  bill  straw  yellow,  with  line  of  blackish  along 
ridge  and  down  the  center  of  under  to  forks;  legs,  feet  and 
claws  dark  brown  to  blackish. 

The  home  of  these  hardy,  social  little  birds  is  within  the  cold, 
icy  regions  of  the  north,  and  it  is  only  in  the  winter  months 
that  we  are  favored  with  their  visits,  which  are  very  irregular, 


424  HISTORY  OF  THE 

coming  and  going  in  flocks;  winter  sojourners  in  the  northern 
States,  but  only  visitants  southward.  Their  gentle,  fearless 
ways,  rosy  plumage  and  cheerful,  twittering  notes  make  them  a 
general  favorite.  They  are  very  unsuspicious,  easily  tamed, 
and  make  pretty  cage  birds.  In  my  more  northern  home  I 
was  on  the  lookout  for  their  arrival,  and  never  failed  to  welcome 
them  with  a  bountiful  supply  of  food;  and  I  have  often  had 
them  pick  up  crumbs  and  seeds  at  my  feet,  and  when  startled 
by  a  sudden  motion,  would  rise  as  of  one  accord,  with  clear, 
twittering,  chattering  notes,  in  a  light,  buoyant,  circling  course 
for  a  few  moments,  and  then  drop  back  at  or  near  the  starting 
point,  and  without  hesitation  hop  about  in  a  heedless  manner, 
as  if  forgetful  of  the  scare. 

They  feed  upon  the  seeds  of  the  various  plants,  small  tender 
buds,  etc.  A  happy  family  that  never  quarrel,  and  it  is  a  pretty 
sight  to  watch  them  while  feeding,  especially  as  they  sway  about 
in  various  positions  from  weeds  and  small,  flexible  twigs  of  trees, 
that  bend  with  their  weight,  showing  off  their  rosy  plumage  to 
great  advantage.  The  following  description  of  their  nesting 
habits  is  taken  from  Mr.  E.  W.  Nelson's  "Keport  upon  Natural 
History  Collections  in  Alaska:" 

"This  and  the  closely-allied  species  commence  to  nest  in  the 
vicinity  of  Saint  Michael's  even  as  early  as  May  22<J,  and  in 
1878,  before  the  ground  was  free  from  snow,  and  while  the  sea 
and  small  streams  were  still  covered  with  ice,  we  found  a  nest 
of  this  bird  cunningly  placed  in  a  cavity  in  a  stout  branch  pro- 
jecting from  a  log  of  drift  wood,  which  a  high  tide,  many  years 
before,  had  stranded  on  the  bare  tundra  several  miles  from  the 
sea.  In  the  bottom  of  the  shallow  cavity,  to  which  the  bird 
gained  access  by  a  small  knot  hole,  was  placed  a  compact  struct- 
ure of  fine  straw  and  grass,  lined  with  Ptarmigan  feathers,  and 
containing  three  eggs.  The  log  was  twenty  to  twenty -five  feet 
in  length,  and  while  a  native  sat  at  the  farther  end  the  female 
entered  the  nest,  the  male  keeping  close  by  and  continually 
uttering  his  cheerful  notes,  as  if  to  assure  his  partner  of  his 
presence. 

4 'A  pair  of  these  birds  built  their  nest  early  the  same  season 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  425 

within  the  shelter  afforded  by  my  inverted  kyak,  as  it  lay  upon 
the  staging  close  by  the  house,  and  nests  were  found  all  about 
in  bushes  or  tufts  of  grass,  indifferently,  according  to  the  locality. 
The  material  used  by  them  is  as  varied  as  the  sites  chosen,  and 
appears  to  consist  of  such  material  as  comes  first  to  hand. 
One,  for  instance,  is  composed  entirely  of  an  irregular  mass  of 
fine,  dry  twigs,  with  a  very  few  Ptarmigan  feathers  for  lining; 
another  is  a  fine,  compact,  cup-shaped  structure  of  dry,  coarse 
grass,  warmly  lined  with  a  finer  material  of  the  same,  united 
with  feathers  and  the  cotton  obtained  from  willows  and  other 
plants." 

Eggs  three  to  six  (usually  four  or  five),  .68x.48;  pale  bluish 
green,  spotted  with  orange  brown  chiefly  about  the  larger  end, 
with  occasionally  a  few  streaks  of  a  darker  color — brown  to 
black;  in  form,  oval. 

GENUS  SPINUS  KOCH. 

"Bill  rather  acutely  conic,  the  tip  not  very  sharp;  the  culmen  slightly  con- 
vex at  the  tip;  the  commissure  gently  curved.  Nostrils  coucealed.  Obsolete 
ridges  on  the  upper  mandible.  Tarsi  shorter  than  the  middle  toe;  outer  toe 
rather  the  longer,  reaching  to  the  base  of  the  middle  one.  Claw  of  the  hind  toe 
shorter  than  the  digital  portion.  Wings  and  tail  as  in  Acanthis.  The  colors 
are  generally  yellow,  with  black  on  the  crown,  throat,  back,  wings  and  tail  varied 
sometimes  with  white.  The  females  want  the  bright  markings  of  the  male. 
This  genus  differs  from  Acanthis  in  a  less  acute  and  more  curved  bill,  a  much 
less  development  of  the  bristly  feathers  at  the  base  of  the  bill,  the  claw  of  the 
hind  toe  shorter  than  its  digital  portion,  the  claws  shorter  and  less  curved  and 
attenuated,  and  the  outer  lateral  toes  not  extending  beyond  the  base  of  the  mid- 
dle claw." 

Spinus  tristis  (LINN.). 

AMERICAN  GOLDFINCH. 
PLATE  XXVII. 

Resident;  abundant  in  winter;  quite  common  in  summer. 
Begin  laying  late  in  June  to  middle  of  July.  They  nest  late, 
in  order  that  the  seeds  upon  which  they  chiefly  raise  their  young 
may  form  and  begin  to  mature  by  the  time  the  little  ones  are 
hatched. 

B.313.     E.  181.     C.  213.     G.  89,     208.     U.  529. 

HABITAT.    Temperate  North  America  generally. 

SP.  CHAB.  "Male:  Bright  gamboge  yellow;  crown,  wings,  and  tail  black. 
Lesser  wing  coverts,  band  across  the  end  of  greater  ones,  ends  of  secondaries 


426  HISTORY  OF   THE 

and  tertiaries,  inner  margins  of  tail  feathers,  upper  and  under  tail  coverts,  and 
tibia,  white.  Female:  Yellowish  gray  above;  greenish  yellow  below.  No  black 
on  forehead.  Wing  and  tail  much  as  in  the  male.  Young:  Reddish  olive  above; 
fulvous  yellow  below;  two  broad  bands  across  Coverts,  and  broad  edges  to  last 
half  of  secondaries,  pale  rufous. 

"In  winter  the  yellow  is  replaced  by  yellowish  brown;  the  black  of  the  crown 
wanting;  that  of  wings  and  tail  brown.  The  throat  is  generally  yellowish;  the 
under  parts  ashy  brown,  passing  behind  into  white." 

.     Stretch  of 
Length.          -wing.          Wing.  Tail.         Tarsus.         Bill. 

Male 5.10  8.85          2.85         2.00          .50  .40 

Female...      4.95  8.70          2.80         1.90          .50  .38 

Iris  dark  brown;  bill,  terminal  half  of  ridge  dusky,  rest  straw 
color;  legs  and  feet  light  brown;  claws  a  shade  darker. 

These  hardy,  gregarious,  social  birds  are  largely  residents 
within  their  northern  homes,  moving  southward  as  the  deep 
snow  covers  their  main  supply  of  food,  rather  than  from  choice 
or  habit,  nesting  from  southern  California,  southern  Kansas  and 
Kentucky,  northward;  south,  I  think  only  a  winter  sojourner, 
except,  perhaps,  in  mountainous  districts. 

Their  gentle  ways,  bright  colors,  sweet  song,  and  undulating, 
chirruping  flight  readily  attract  attention,  and  assure  them,  as 
a  rule,  a  welcome,  though  they  are  not  always  in  good  standing 
with  the  gardener,  who  objects  to  their  taking  at  the  harvest  a 
small  share  of  the  ripened  seeds.  For  this,  they  more  than 
repay  by  the  destruction  of  the  seeds  of  the  many  weeds  and 
injurious  plants,  upon  which  they  largely  feed  throughout  the 
winter  months.  The  thistle  is  a  favorite,  and  they  are  also  very 
fond  of  the  seeds  from  the  cones  of  the  hemlock,  etc.,  and  of 
the  button  balls  of  the  sycamore  trees.  They  are  easily  tamed, 
and  their  low,  warbling  song,  that  at  times  swells  up  quite 
loudly,  much  like  the  Canary,  makes  them  a  favorite  cage  bird. 

Their  nests  are  placed  in  the  branches  of  trees  and  bushes, 
generally  on  apple  or  small  elm  trees,  from  six  to  twelve  feet 
from  the  ground.  They  are  constructed  of  and  firmly  attached 
to  the  limbs  on  which  they  rest,  with  fine  hemp-like  strippings 
from  plants  and  bits  of  cottony  substances,  and  lined  with  hairs, 
and  now  and  then  a  feather.  Eggs  four  to  six,  .65x.50;  pale 
bluish  white;  when  fresh  and  unblown,  with  a  rosy  hue;  in 
form,  oval. 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  427 

Spinus  pinus  (WILS.). 

PINE  SISKIN. 
PLATE  XXVII. 

Winter  sojourner;  not  uncommon.  Remain  until  late  in  the 
spring. 

B.  317.     R.  185.     C.  212.     G.  90,     209.    .U.  533. 

HABITAT.  Temperate  North  America,  south  in  winter  to  the 
Gulf  States  and  alpine  regions  of  Yera  Cruz. 

SP.  CHAR.  "Tail  deeply  forked;  above  brownish  olive;  beneath  whitish, 
every  feather  streaked  distinctly  with  dusky;  concealed  bases  of  tail  feathers  and 
quills,  together  with  their  inner  edges,  sulphur  yellow;  outer  edges  of  quills  and 
tail  feathers  yellowish  green;  two  brownish  white  bauds  on  the  wings.  Sexes 
alike.  Young:  Similar,  but  the  white  below  tinged  with  yellow,  the  upper  parts 
with  reddish  brown,  and  there  are  two  pale  ochraceous  bands  on  the  wings." 

Stretch  of 
Length.          wing;  Wing;  Tail.       Tarsus.       Bill. 

Male 4.90  8.75  2.80  1.90          .55         .40 

Female...      4.75  8.50  2.75  1.80          .55         .40 

Iris  dark  brown;  bill  dusky,  with  basal  half  of  under  bluish, 
sometimes  nearly  black,  with  all  of  basal  half  bluish;  legs,  feet 
and  claws  dark  brown. 

These  birds  are  very  similar  in  habits  and  actions  to  the 
American  Goldfinch,  but  rather  more  of  a  bird  of  the  evergreen 
forests,  a  little  swifter  in  flight,  and  their  notes  and  song  less 
loud,  with  a  sharper,  clearer  ring. 

I  have  met  with  the  birds  in  various  localities,  usually  in 
flocks  of  from  twenty  to  thirty.  In  the  early  part  of  July,  1880, 
I  had  a  good  opportunity  to  observe  their  habits  at  the  Mag- 
dalen Islands,  in  the  Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence.  They  were  evi- 
dently nesting,  as  the  males  were  actively  singing  from  the 
bush  and  in  their  circling  flights,  but  my  limited  time,  and  de- 
sire to  secure  certain  specimens,  prevented  my  making  a  search 
for  their  nests.  On  my  return  trip,  I  heard  them  singing  at 
Percy  Rock  and  at  Gaspe. 

They  breed  from  the  northern  United  States  (much  farther 
south  in  the  Rocky  Mountains)  northward  throughout  the  Brit- 
ish possessions. 

Nest  in  trees;  usually  a  rather  flat  though  compact  structure 
of  fine  twigs,  rootlets,  hair  fibers,  etc.,  lined  with  fine  rootlets 


428  HISTORY  OF  THE 

and  hair.  Eggs  usually  three  or  four,  about  .  62x.  50;  pale 
greenish  blue,  speckled  (chiefly  around  the  larger  end)  with  red- 
dish brown;  a  few  small  black  markings  and  lilac  gray  stains; 
in  form,  oval  to  rounded  oval. 

GENUS  PLECTROPHENAX  STEJNEGEB. 

Bill  conical;  the  lower  mandible  higher  than  the  upper;  the  sides  of  both 
mandibles  guarded  by  a  closely-applied  brush  of  stiffened,  bristly  feathers  di- 
rected forwards,  and  on  the  upper  jaw  concealing  the  nostrils;  the  outlines  of 
the  bill  nearly  straight  or  slightly  curved;  the  lower  jaw  considerably  broader 
at  the  base  than  the  upper,  and  wider  than  the  gonys  is  long.  Tarsi  consider- 
ably longer  than  the  middle  toe;  the  lateral  toes  nearly  equal  (the  inner  claw 
largest),  and  reaching  to  the  base  of  the  middle  claw.  The  hinder  claw  very 
long,  moderately  curved  arid  acute,  considerably  longer  than  its  toe;  the  toe  and 
claw  together  reaching  to  the  middle  of  the  middle  claw  or  beyond  its  tip. 
Wings  very  long  and  much  pointed,  reaching  nearly  to  the  end  of  the  tail;  the 
first  quill  longest;  the  others  rapidly  graduated;  the  tertiaries  a  little  longer  than 
the  secondaries.  Tail  moderate,  about  two-thirds  as  long  as  the  wings;  nearly 
even  or  slightly  emargiuated.  (Ridgway.) 


Plectrophenax  nivalis 

SNOWFLAKE. 
PLATE  XXVIL 

Winter  visitant;  rare. 

B.  325.     R.  186.     C.  219.     G.  91,     210.     U.  534. 

HABITAT.  Northern  parts  of  the  northern  hemisphere;  breed- 
ing in  the  Arctic  regions;  in  North  America,  south  in  winter 
into  the  northern  United  States;  casually  to  Georgia,  southern 
Illinois  and  Kansas. 

SP.  CHAR.  "Male:  Colors,  in  spring  plumage,  entirely  black  and  white. 
Middle  of  back  between  scapulars,  terminal  half  of  primaries  and  tertiaries  and 
two  innermost  tail  feathers  black;  elsewhere  pure  white.  Legs  black  at  all 
seasons.  In  winter  dress,  white  beneath;  the  head  and  rump  yellowish  brown, 
as  also  some  blotches  on  the  sides  of  the  breast;  middle  of  back  brown,  streaked 
with  black;  white  on  wings  and  tail  much  more  restricted.  First  quill  longest. 
Female:  In  spring,  continuous  white  beneath  only;  above,  entirely  streaked,  the 
feathers  having  blackish  centers  and  whitish  edges;  the  black  streaks  predomi- 
nate on  the  back  and  crown.  Young:  Light  gray  above,  with  obsolete  dusky 
streaks  on  the  back;  throat  and  jugulum  paler  gray,  the  latter  with  obsolete 
streaks;  rest  of  lower  parts  dull  white.  Wing  coverts,  secondaries  and  tail 
feathers  broadly  edged  with  light  ochraceous  brown." 

Stretch  of 
Length.          wing.  Wing.  Tail.         Tarsus.       Bill. 

Male  .....       6.80          12.60          4.30  2.90          .90          .41 

Female..         6.50          12.00          4.00  2.70         .90          .40 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  429 

Iris  dark  brown;  bill  straw  color,  end  (and  extending  up  ridge 
of  upper)  black;  legs,  feet  and  claws  black. 

These  birds  are  very  common  in  the  Arctic  regions,  as  far 
north  as  explorations  have  been  made.  Hardy  birds,  that  move 
southward  as  the  snow  covers  their  feeding  grounds,  evidently 
not  from  choice;  for  where  the  ground  is  bare  and  seeds  plenty, 
they  are  lively  and  apparently  happy  with  a  temperature  of 
30°  below  zero.  In  their  southern  wanderings  they  assemble 
together  in  flocks  that  often  contain  hundreds.  A  very  pretty 
sight,  as  their  black  and  white  markings  flash  in  the  air,  as  they 
sweep  and  whirl  in  a  rather  compact,  wavy  form,  near  the 
ground,  high  in  air,  alighting  and  rising  almost  in  unison,  utter- 
ing as  they  go  soft,  chirruping  notes. 

The  birds  breed  in  suitable  localities  in  abundance  throughout 
their  northern  homes.  Mr.  H.  "W.  Elliott  found  them  breeding 
on  the  Seal  Islands,  in  the  Behring  Sea,  and  says: 

"The  bird  builds  an  elegant  and  elaborate  nest  of  soft,  dry 
moss  and  grass,  and  lines  it  warmly  with  a  thick  bed  of  feath- 
ers. It  is  placed  on  the  ground,  beneath  some  heavy  lava  shelf 
or  at  the  foot  of  an  enormous  boulder.  Five  eggs  are  usually 
laid,  about  the  last  of  June.  They  are  an  inch  long  and  two- 
thirds  broad,  of  a  grayish  or  greenish  white,  spotted  sometimes 
all  over,  sometimes  at  or  around  the  larger  end  only,  with  vari- 
ous shades  of  rich  dark  brown,  purple  brown,  and  paler  neutral 
tints.  Sometimes  the  whole  surface  is  quite  closely  clouded 
with  diffuse  reddish  brown  markings.  Upon  the  female  the  en- 
tire labor  of  the  three  weeks'  incubation  required  for  the  hatch- 
ing of  her  brood  devolves.  Daring  this  period  the  male  is 
assiduous  in  bringing  food;  and  at  frequent  intervals  sings  his 
simple  but  sweet  song,  rising  as  he  begins  it  high  in  the  air,  as 
the  Skylark  does,  and,  at  the  end  of  the  strain,  drops  suddenly 
to  the  ground  again.  .  .  .  The  food  of  this  species  consists 
of  the  various  seeds  and  insects  peculiar  to  the  rough,  higher 
ground  it  frequents,  being  especially  fond  of  the  small  coleop- 
terous beetles  found  on  the  island." 

And  Mr.  John  Murdock,  in  his  "Report  of  the  Expedition 
to  Point  Barrow,  Alaska,"  says: 


430  HISTORY  OF  THE 

"Stragglers  continue  to  arrive  through  April  and  May,  but 
they  were  not  really  plenty  either  season  till  about  May  20th. 
They  began  to  sing  about  the  middle  of  May,  and  by  the  23d, 
or  24th,  were  well  established  and  in  full  song. 

"Three  or  four  pairs  made  their  home  near  the  station,  and 
several  more  in  the  village,  while  the  rest  were  scattered  along 
the  edge  of  the  tundra,  but  few  going  any  distance  inland. 
They  especially  affected  the  broken,  muddy  banks  and  gullies 
below  the  village  and  along  the  shore  of  the  lagoons,  and  the 
cook's  refuse  heap  was  from  the  first  a  great  attraction. 

"The  males  spend  a  great  deal  of  time  singing,  perched  on 
the  highest  point  they  can  find.  The  ridge  poles  of  our  build- 
ings and  the  wind  vane  were  favorite  resorts  for  these  jolly  little 
singers.  They  continued  singing  until  about  the  first  week  in 
July. 

"Early  in  June  they  begin  to  build,  in  holes  and  crevices  in 
the  banks,  where  the  nest  is  always  completely  concealed,  rais- 
ing, ocasionally  at  any  rate,  two  broods  in  a  season.  The  full 
complement  of  eggs  appears  to  be  six.  though  I  found  one  nest 
containing  seven  eggs,  in  1883." 

A  set  of  four  eggs,  collected  June  15th,  1878,  at  Godthaab, 
Greenland,  from  a  nest  on  the  ground,  made  of  fine  grass  and 
stems,  measure:  .81x.64r,  .82x.65,  .85x.66,  .87x.62;  in  form, 
oval. 

GENUS  CALCARIUS  BECHSTEIX. 

Bill  small,  the  gonys  very  short,  with  its  angle  opposite  the  middle  of  the 
culmen;  maxilla  equal  to  or  exceeding  the  mandible  in  depth,  the  depth  of  the 
bill  not  exceeding  the  length  of  the  gonys.  Middle  toe  with  claw  shorter  than 
tarsus,  the  middle  claw  falling  short  of  that  of  the  hallux.  Tail  longer  than 
the  distance  from  the  carpal  joint  to  the  tips  of  the  tertials  (except  in  C.  ornatus.) 
(Ridgway.) 


Calcarius  lapponicus 

LAPLAND  LONGSPUR. 
PLATE  XXVIL 

Winter  sojourner;   abundant.     Begin  to  arrive  early  in  No- 
vember; return  in  March. 

B.  326.     K.  187.     C.  220.     G.  92.     211.     U.  536. 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  431 

HABITAT.  Circumpolar  regions;  in  North  America,  southward 
in  winter  to  Kentucky,  southern  Illinois,  Kansas,  etc. ;  casual 
to  Washington,  South  Carolina  and  northern  Texas. 

SP.  CHAR.  "Male:  Head  (all  round)  and  neck  black,  extending  on  the  jugu- 
luui  in  a  cresceutic  patch;  a  broad  line  from  above  and  behind  the  eye,  sides  of 
neck,  a  patch  in  the  black  of  hind  head,  and  whole  under  parts,  white;  the  sides 
of  body  streaked  broadly  with  black.  A  broad  half  collar  of  chestnut  on  back 
of  neck,  separated  from  the  hood  narrowly,  and  from  the  auriculars  and  throat 
broadly,  by  the  white  stripe  from  the  eye.  Above,  brownish  black,  the  feathers 
sharply  edged  with  brownish  yellow.  Outer  tail  feathers  white,  except  the  basal 
portion  of  inner  web  and  a  shaft  streak  at  end;  next  feather  with  a  white  streak 
in  end;  rest  black.  Legs  black;  bill  yellow,  tipped  with  black.  In  winter  plumage, 
the  black  and  other  markings  overlaid  by  rusty  and  fulvous;  beneath,  by  whitish. 
Female:  With  the  black  feathers  of  head  edged  with  yellowish  rusty;  the  throat 
white,  bordered  on  the  sides  and  behind  by  blackish;  feathers  edged  with  gray- 
ish white;  the  rufous  of  nape  obscure  and  streaked  with  blackish.  Autumnal 
specimens  of  both  sexes  differ,  in  having  the  pattern  of  coloration  obscured  by 
ochraceous  borders  to  the  feathers,  and  a  general  rusty  cast  to  the  plumage." 

Stretch  of 
Length.          wing.  Wing.  Tail.         Tarsus.         Bill. 

Male 6.40          11.25         3.70         2.75          .80  .44 

Female...      6.10          10.75         3.50         2.60          .80  .44 

Iris  brown;  bill,  terminal  half  of  ridge  and  ends  black,  rest 
reddish  brown;  legs,  feet  and  claws  black. 

This  species,  like  the  preceding  one,  inhabits  the  desolate 
regions  of  the  north  in  summer,  and  wanders  south  in  winter, 
in  enormous  flocks,  over  the  prairies  and  treeless  plains,  sub- 
sisting upon  the  seeds  of  the  various  plants  and  grasses;  and, 
in  their  search  for  the  same,  skim  over  the  ground  in  a  wavy, 
zigzag  form,  and  on  alighting  run  swiftly  and  heedlessly  about, 
squatting  close  to  the  ground  at  the  near  approach  of  an  in- 
truder and  remaining  motionless,  hoping  to  be  passed  unob- 
served, but,  when  startled,  rise  in  a  quick,  uncertain  manner; 
and  it  is  at  such  times  that  the  Prairie  Falcon  and  other  swift 
members  of  the  family  get  in  their  work,  by  dashing  in  and 
often  striking  down  many  of  the  birds  before  the  flock  is  well 
under  headway.  The  following  interesting  description  of  their 
nesting  habits,  etc.,  is  extracted  from  Mr.  E.  W.  Nelson's  "Re- 
port upon  Natural  History  Collections  in  Alaska:" 

"During  my  residence  at  Saint  Michael's  over  thirty  nests 
were  obtained,  and  the  number  might  readily  have  been  doubled. 


432  HISTORY  OF   THE 

Their  nests  were  so  abundant  everywhere  on  the  grassy  flats 
that  one  could  scarcely  walk  over  the  tundra  for  half  an  hour 
during  the  proper  season  without  finding  from  one  to  half  a 
dozen  of  them.  By  the  middle  of  May  the  males  are  numerous 
and  in  full  song  along  the  coast  of  Norton  Sound,  having  ar- 
rived about  this  time  or  a  little  earlier  in  flocks,  and  spread 
rapidly  over  their  breeding  grounds.  Its  range  during  the 
nesting  seaaon  is  from  Fort  Kenai  and  Kadiak,  on  the  southeast 
coast  of  Alaska,  north  through  the  entire  Territory  to  the  Arctic 
coast.  In  July  and  August  Kumlien  found  the  eggs  and  young 
of  this  bird  on  Disco  Island,  Greenland,  and  notes  that  they 
keep  back  from  the  coast,  having  a  greater  preference  for  the 
interior  than  the  Snow  Bunting  (Snowflake).  I  have  noted  this 
peculiarity  wherever  I  have  had  an  opportunity  of  observing 
their  habits  along  the  shores  of  Behring  Sea  and  the  adjoining 
Arctic  coasts.  When  they  arrive,  early  in  May,  the  ground  is 
still  largely  covered  with  snow,  with  the  exception  of  grassy 
spots  along  the  southern  exposures  and  the  more  favorably  sit- 
uated portions  of  the  tundra,  and  here  may  be  found  these  birds 
in  all  the  beauty  of  their  elegant  summer  dress.  The  males,  as 
if  conscious  of  their  handsome  plumage,  choose  the  tops  of  the 
only  breaks  in  the  monotonous  level,  which  are  small,  rounded 
knolls  and  tussocks.  The  male  utters  its  song  as  it  flies  upward 
from  one  of  these  knolls,  and  when  it  reaches  the  height  of  ten 
or  fifteen  yards  it  extends  the  points  of  its  wings  upwards,  form- 
ing a  large  V-shaped  figure,  and  floats  gently  to  the  ground,  ut- 
tering as  it  sinks  slowly  its  liquid  tones,  which  fall  in  tinkling 
succession  upon  the  ear,  and  are  perhaps  the  sweetest  notes  that 
one  hears  during  the  entire  spring  time  in  these  regions.  It  is 
an  exquisite  jingling  melody,  having  much  less  power  than  that 
of  the  Bobolink,  but  with  the  same  general  character,  and, 
though  shorter,  it  has  even  more  melody  than  the  song  of  that 
well-known  bird.  There  is  such  joyous  exultation  in  the  song 
that  the  songster  assumes  a  new  place  in  one' s  regard.  By  the 
last  of  May  or  the  first  of  June  the  birds  are  mated,  and  each 
pair  has  its  snug  nest  carefully  placed  in  the  midst  of  a  shelter- 
ing tussock  or  on  a  dry  knoll,  where  are  deposited  from  four  to 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  433 

seven  eggs,  which  is  a  quota.  The  young  are  out  on  the  wing 
sometimes  as  early  as  the  first  of  July,  but  more  generally  by 
the  10th  of  this  month,  from  which  time  they  unite  in  small 
bands,  frequenting  the  vicinity  of  the  trading  posts  and  native 
villages,  where  they  remain  in  great  abundance  until  the  last  of 
August  or  first  of  September,  when  they  commence  their  strag- 
gling departure  for  the  south.  While  in  the  neighborhood  of 
houses  they  are  extremely  heedless  of  the  presence  of  people, 
and  are  nearly  as  familiar  as  are  the  English  Sparrows  in  our 
cities.  By  the  last  of  September  or  first  of  October  the  last  one 
has  passed  away  towards  the  south,  and  none  are  seen  until 
returning  spring  brings  them  north  again.  Some  doubtless  re- 
main to  winter  along  the  southeast  coast  of  the  Territory,  but 
none  are  found  in  the  north,  nor  do  they  occur  at  this  season  on 
the  islands  of  Behring  Sea. 

"The  nest  is  generally  placed  on  the  drier  portions  of  the 
flats;  a  hummock  or  tuft  of  grass  is  chosen,  or  perhaps  a  pro- 
jecting bunch  of  dwarf  willow  stems.  .  .  .  The  walls  are 
thick,  and  strongly  composed  of  an  abundance  of  material,  or 
they  may  be  a  mere  cup-shaped  shell,  barely  sufficient  to  hold 
the  eggs.  The  majority  of  nests  are  composed  of  rather  coarse 
grass,  sometimes  with  moss  interwoven,  forming  a  thick  layer, 
which  was  frequently  as  thoroughly  water  soaked  as  a  wet 
sponge,  when  the  nest  was  collected.  The  amount  of  material 
used  depends  greatly  upon  the  locality;  in  damp  places  a  much 
greater  amount  is  made  use  of,  while  in  dry  places  the  nests  are 
much  lighter.  Though  the  outer  part  of  the  nest  was  frequently 
formed  of  old  and  often  grimy  or  partly  decayed  vegetable  mat- 
ter, the  interior  was  invariably  composed  of  fine,  soft,  dry,  yel- 
low blades  of  last  year's  grasses.  These,  in  many  instances, 
are  unmixed  with  other  material,  and  in  others  are  combined 
with  feathers  of  the  Ptarmigan,  or  other  wild  fowl.  In  a  few 
cases,  the  lining  of  the  nest  is  a  warm  cup  of  feathers,  resting 
upon  fine  grass,  and  one  has  a  thick  lining  of  feathers  and  dog' s 
hair. 

"The  ground  color  of  the  eggs  (when  it  can  be  seen),  through- 
out the  entire  series,  is  a  light  clay  with  an  apple  greenish  tinge. 


434:  HISTORY  OF  THE 

The  eggs  of  one  set  (386),  numbering  four,  obtained  at  Saint 
Michael's,  on  June  5,  1881,  measure,  respectively:  .90x.65,  .98 
x.  64,  .  95x.  65,  .  92x.  68.  These  eggs  have  a  pale  greenish  clay- 
colored  ground,  and  are  covered  irregularly  with  a  coarse  blotch- 
ing of  reddish  brown  most  plentiful  at  the  large  end.  The 
markings  occupy  over  half  the  surface.  Another  set  (210),  ob- 
tained also  at  Saint  Michael's,  in  June,  is  marked  somewhat  in 
the  same  manner,  and  the  eggs  measure,  respectively:  . 80x. 57, 
.83x.61,  .79x.59,  .80x.60,  .81x.61.  In  this  set  there  are  dark, 
zigzag  markings  on  every  egg,  in  addition  to  the  other  marks 
or  spots.  The  third  set  (No.  114),  obtained  on  June  5,  1880, 
at  the  same  locality,  has  the  ground  color  concealed  by  the  close 
light  brown  markings,  which  are  so  light  that  the  ground  color 
shows  through,  and  produces  a  decided  olive  brown  over  the 
entire  egg.  .  .  .  From  the  sets  marked  by  spots,  or  by 
spots  and  irregular  blotches,  sparsely  enough  distributed  to  allow 
the  ground  color  to  be  distinctly  seen,  there  is  a  regular  grada- 
tion, the  markings  becoming  heavier,  darker  colored,  and  more 
abundant,  until  the  ground  color  may  be  entirely  concealed 
under  the  rich,  warm  chocolate  brown,  which  reveals  only  a 
very  faint  mottling  of  olive  brownish,  where  the  ground  color 
is  less  thickly  overlaid.  Many  of  the  sets  are  more  or  less  plen- 
tifully marked  with  irregular,  zigzag  markings  of  dark  umber 
brown,  very  much  as  in  the  eggs  of  the  Orioles,  but  less  decided 
than  in  the  latter.  The  pattern  and  style  of  coloration  vary 
greatly,  but  are  pretty  well  defined  by  the  variations  described 
in  the  preceding  notes.  It  may  be  remarked  that  eggs  of  the 
same  set  rarely  show  very  much  individual  variation." 

Calcarius  pictus  (SWAINS.). 

SMITH'S   LONGSPUB. 
PLATE  XXVII. 

Winter  sojourner;  common.     Arrive  in  November;  return  in 
March. 

B.  327.     R.  188.     C.  221.     G.  93,     212.     U.  537. 

HABITAT.   Interior  of  North  America,  from  the  Arctic  coast 
south  to  Illinois  and  Texas. 

SP.  CHAR.    "Male,  in  spring:   Top  arid  sides  of  head  black.     A  line  from 
bill  over  the  eye,  lores,  lower  and  posterior  border  of  the  black  cheeks,  ears  (en- 


BIRDS  OF  KA  .Vs.  1  S  435 

circled  by  black),  and  a  small  patch  in  the  nape,  white.  Entire  under  parts,  and 
extending  round  neck  to  nape  (where  it  bounds  abruptly  the  black  of  head),  buff 
or  light  cinnamon  yellow;  the  under  tail  coverts  paler;  the  inside  of  wings 
white.  Feathers  of  upper  surface  black,  edges  with  yellowish  gray;  shoulders 
of  lesser  coverts  and  the  greater  black;  middle  white,  forming  a  conspicuous 
patch.  Quills  edged  externally  with  white,  this  involving  the  whole  outer  web 
of  outermost  primary.  Whole  of  outer  and  most  of  second  tail  feather  white. 
Female:  The  markings  of  male  faintly  indicated,  but  the  black  and  buff  want- 
ing. Head  above  brown,  streaked  centrally  with  paler.  A  narrow  dark  line 
on  each  side  of  the  throat,  and  brownish  streaks  across  the  jugulum  and  along 
sides  of  body.  Traces  visible  of  the  white  marks  of  the  head." 

Stretch  of 
Length.          wing;          Wing.  Tail.         Tarsus.          Bill. 

Male 6.50          11.30         3.65         2.60          .82  .43 

Female...      6.20         10.90        3.50        2.50         .80          .42 

Iris  dark  brown;  bill — upper  and  tip  of  lower  dusky,  rest  pale 
reddish  yellow;  legs  yellowish  brown  to  flesh  color;  feet  darker; 
claws  blackish. 

These  birds  inhabit  the  prairies  and  open,  barren  lands,  breed- 
ing through  the  northern  central  portion  of  British  America  to 
the  Arctic  coast,  migrating  southward  in  winter,  and  often  as- 
sociating with  other  Longspurs  and  the  Horned  Larks.  Their 
favorite  resorts  are  along  old  trails  and  abandoned  wagon  roads 
upon  the  prairies,  where  the  grass  is  short.  In  their  search  for 
food  they  fly  near  the  ground,  in  an  easy,  wavy,  circling  manner, 
constantly  chirruping  as  they  go,  dropping  down  here  and  there 
and  running  swiftly  about.  Busy  bodies,  that  have  to  labor  hard 
and  long,  in  order  to  pick  up  enough  of  the  tiny  seeds  upon 
which  they  feed  to  satisfy  their  wants. 

The  following  is  from  "North  American  Land  Birds:" 

"These  birds  were  observed  in  large  numbers  at  Fort  Ander- 
son, and  on  the  Lower  Anderson  Kiver,  by  Mr.  MacFarlane, 
and  a  large  number  of  their  nests  obtained.  These  were  all  on 
the  ground,  and  usually  in  open  spaces,  but  also  in  the  vicinity 
of  trees.  The  usual  number  of  eggs  found  in  a  nest  appears  to 
have  been  four.  The  nests,  for  the  most  part,  were  constructed 
of  fine,  dry  grasses,  carefully  arranged,  and  lined  with  down, 
feathers,  or  finer  materials  similar  to  those  of  the  outer  portions. 
In  a  few  there  were  no  feathers,  in  others,  feathers  in  different 
proportions,  and  in  a  few  the  down  and  feathers  composed  the 


436  HISTORY  OF  THE 

chief  portion  of  the  nest,  with  only  a  few  leaves  as  a  base  to  the 
nest.  They  were  sometimes  sunk  in  excavations  made  by  the 
birds,  or  placed  in  tussocks  of  grass,  and,  in  one  instance,  placed 
in  the  midst  of  a  bed  of  Labrador  tea. 

"When  their  nests  are  approached,  the  female  quietly  slips 
off,  while  the  male  bird  may  be  seen  hopping  or  flying  from 
tree  to  tree  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  nest,  and  will  at  times 
do  all  he  can  to  induce  intruders  to  withdraw  from  the  neigh- 
borhood. 

"The  eggs,  five  in  number,  have  alight  clay-colored  ground, 
are  marked  with  obscure  blotches  of  lavender,  and  darker  lines, 
dots  and  blotches  of  dark  purplish  brown.  They  measure,  .80 
x65." 

Calcarius  ornatus  (TOWNS.). 

CHESTNUT-COLORED   LONGSPUB. 
PLATE  XXVII. 

Quite  a  common  resident  in  the  middle  and  northern  part  of 
the  State;  abundant  throughout  the  State  in  winter.  Begin 
laying  the  last  of  May. 

B.  328,     829.     K.  189.  '  C.  222.     G.  94,     213.     TJ.  538. 

HABITAT.  A  bird  of  the  plains;  from  the  Saskatchewan  re- 
gion, south  in  winter  to  the  table  lands  of  Mexico,  and  occasion- 
ally straggling  far  eastward. 

SP.  CHAB.  Adult  male,  in  summer:  Top  of  head,  stripe  behind  eye,  spot 
on  lower  part  of  ear  coverts,  chest,  breast  and  belly,  black,  the  lower  parts 
sometimes  touched  with  rufous  or  chestnut;  hind  neck  deep  rufous;  broad  su- 
perciliary stripe,  chin  and  throat  white;  cheeks  pale  buff,  this  sometimes  over- 
Spreading  lores,  ear  coverts,  chin  and  upper  throat;  in  full  plumage,  the  lesser 
wing  coverts  deep  black,  with  posterior  row  pure  white.  Adult  male,  in  winter: 
Black  of  head  and  lower  parts  more  or  less  obscured  or  even  concealed  by  light 
brownish  or  dull  buffy  tips  to  the  feathers;  otherwise  essentially  as  in  summer. 
Adult  female:  Above,  light  grayish  buffy  brown,  streaked  with  dusky;  beneath, 
pale  grayish  buffy  brown,  or  dull  grayish  buff,  the  breast  and  belly  sometimes 
streaked  with  darker;  under  tail  coverts  dull  buffy  whitish.  (Plumage  softer 
and  colors  more  blended  in  winter.)  Young:  Above  dusky,  the  feathers  edged 
and  margined  with  dull  whitish  and  pale  brownish  buff;  wing  coverts  tipped 
with  dull  whitish;  an  indistinct  streaked  whitish  superciliary  stripe;  ear  coverts 
streaked  dusky  and  pale  brownish;  malar  region,  chin  and  throat  white,  flecked 
more  or  less  with  grayish  dusky;  rest  of  lower  parts  dull  grayish  buff,  streaked,, 
especially  on  breast,  with  dusky.  (Ridgway.) 


BIRDS  OF -KANSAS.  437 

Stretch  of 
Length.          wing.  Wing.         Tail.          Tarsus.         Bill. 

Male 5.80          10.40         3.35         2.30          .80  .40 

Female...      5.40         10.10        3.20        2.20         .80          .40 

Iris  brown;  bill  —  ends,  and  occasionally  ridge,  brown  to 
dusky,  rest  dull  yellow,  sometimes  bluish;  legs  brown;  feet  and 
claws  dark  brown. 

Prof.  J.  A.  Allen,  in  his  list  of  birds  observed  in  the  vicinity 
of  Fort  Hays,  Kansas,  from  May  26th,  to  July  3d,  1871,  says: 

"Common  out  on  the  plains  almost  everywhere,  it  being  one 
of  the  most  interesting  and  characteristic  species  of  the  plains. 
It  has  a  short,  shrill,  but  very  sweet  song,  which  is  often  uttered 
while  on  the  wing.  It  is  very  wary  for  so  small  a  bird,  and  has 
the  habit  of  circling  round  the  observer  when  disturbed  for  sev- 
eral minutes  together,  approaching  tantalizingly  near,  with  feints 
of  nearer  approach,  but  generally  keeping  well  out  of  range. 
The  nest  is  a  very  neat,  though  slight  structure,  placed  of  course 
upon  the  ground,  and  is  composed  of  dry  fine  grass  and  root- 
lets. The  eggs  are  generally  five,  blotched  and  streaked  with 
rusty,  on  a  white  ground.  Full  sets  of  freshly  laid  eggs  were 
first  found  about  June  3d. 

"The  plumage  varies  greatly  in  color  in  different  individuals 
of  even  the  same  sex,  the  variation  being  generally  in  respect 
to  the  purity  and  intensity  of  the  colors.  The  most  highly- 
colored  males  have  the  breast  and  middle  of  the  abdomen  more 
or  less  strongly  tinged  with  very  bright  ferruginous;  others  have 
these  parts  pure  black;  while  in  others  still  the  black  is  obscured 
by  the  feathers  having  brownish  white  margins.  The  lesser 
coverts  vary  from  gray  to  black.  The  red  tinge  on  the  abdo- 
men seems  merely  indicative  of  a  high  state  of  plumage)  those 
thus  marked  also  having  the  lesser  coverts  black;  but  they  are 
also  black  in  some  specimens  that  are  tinged  with  red.  The 
highest  colored  female  (the  sex  determined  by  dissection)  was 
nearly  as  brightly  colored  as  the  paler  colored  males,  having 
the  same  chestnut  collar,  and  the  black  on  the  breast  nearly  as 
distinct  as  some  of  the  males.  It  was  also  nearly  as  large,  and 
until  dissected  was  supposed  to  be  an  immature  male.  Thirty 
specimens  of  the  bird  were  obtained,  and  three  full  sets  eggs. ' ' 


438  HISTORY  OF   THE 

A  set  of  four  eggs,  collected  June  13th,  1871,  near  James- 
town, Dakota,  from  a  nest  on  the  ground,  made  wholly  of  dried 
grasses,  measure:  .70x.  53,  .70x. 53,  .71x. 56,  .72x.  56;  grayish 
white,  obscurely  mottled  with  pale  purple,  and  overlaid  with 
spots  and  splashes  of  dark  reddish  brown;  in  form,  ovate. 

GENUS  RHYNCHOPHANES  BAIRD. 

Bill  stout,  conical,  the  gonys  larger  than  the  hind  toe,  with  its  angle  consid- 
erably posterior  to  the  middle  of  the  bill;  maxilla  equal  to  the  mandible  in  depth; 
mandibular  tomium  forming  a  decided  angle  at  the  base.  Middle  toe  with  claw 
shorter  than  tarsus,  the  claw  reaching  beyond  that  of  the  hallux.  Tail  decidedly 
shorter  than  the  distance  from  the  carpal  joint  of  the  wing  to  the  tips  of  the 
tertials.  (Ridgway.) 

Ehynchophanes  mccownii  (LAWK.)- 

McCOWN'S  LONGSPUR. 
PLATE  XXVII. 

A  winter  sojourner;  common  in  the  western  to  middle  of  the 
State;  occasionally  straggling  into  the  eastern  portion.  Begin 
to  leave  in  March  (a  few  occasionally  linger  until  the  first  of 
May);  return  in  October. 

B.  330.     R.  190.     C.  223.     G.  95,     214.     U.  539. 

HABITAT.  The  Great  Plains;  north  to  the  Saskatchewan  re- 
gions; south  in  winter  through  Kansas,  eastern  Colorado,  western 
Texas,  New  Mexico  and  Arizona  into  Mexico;  breed  from  Wy- 
oming and  Dakota  northward.  They  have  been  reported  as 
breeding  from  northern  Kansas  northward,  and  probably  do  so, 
but  upon  inquiry  I  fail  to  find  any  positive  proof  of  the  same. 

SP.  CHAR.  Tail  feathers  (except  middle  pair)  white,  broadly  tipped  with 
black  (outer  feathers  almost  entirely  white).  Adult  male,  in  summer:  Middle 
and  posterior  lesser  wing  coverts  rufous;  crown,  rictal  stripe  and  cresceutic 
patch  on  chest  black;  sides  of  head  grayish;  back,  etc.,  gray  or  brownish, 
streaked  with  dusky;  lower  parts  (except  chest)  white,  tinged  laterally  with 
grayish.  Adult  male,  in  winter:  Crown  and  other  upper  parts  dull  brownish 
buff,  streaked  with  dusky;  black  rictal  streak  obsolete,  and  black  patch  on  chest 
hidden  by  light  dull  buffy  tips  to  feathers.  Adult  female:  Similar  to  winter 
male,  but  without  concealed  black  on  chest  or  rufous  on  wing  coverts;  the  colors 
brownish  above  and  dull  buffy  beneath  in  winter,  grayer  above  and  whiter  be- 
neath in  summer.  Young:  Upper  parts  dusky,  the  feathers  broadly  bordered 
with  pale  grayish  buff;  beneath  white,  distinctly  washed  with  buff  across  chest, 
where  sometimes  indistinctly  streaked.  (Ridyxay.) 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  439 

Stretch  of 
Length.          wing.  Wing.  Tail.         Tarsus.          Bill. 

Male 6.00         11.15          3.60          2.40          .80          .44 

Female  . . .     5.80        10.50         3.30         2.20         .78         .42 

Iris  brown;  bill  —  terminal  half  of  ridge  and  tips  dusky,  rest 
dull  flesh  colored;  legs  and  feet  dark  brown;  cl*ws  black. 

This  species  inhabits  much  the  same  region  as  the  Chestnut- 
collared,  and  they  are  very  similar  in  their  habits  and  actions, 
frequenting  in  flocks  the  high,  dry  prairies,  old  trails  and  places 
where  the  grass  is  short,  where  they  ramble  about  and  search 
for  food.  When  approached,  usually  squat  close  to  the  ground, 
in  the  hope  that  they  will  be  passed  unobserved,  but  when 
flushed  rise  in  a  quick,  uncertain  manner,  but  soon  bunch  to- 
gether, and  fly  in  a  wavy,  circling  course  for  a  short  distance, 
and  then  drop  back  and  heedlessly  resume  their  search  for  food. 
During  their  flights,  which  are  undulating,  they  utter  a  chip  note 
at  each  stroke  of  the  wing. 

Their  song,  heard  in  the  early  spring  and  in  the  breeding 
season,  is  composed  of  soft,  twittering,  pleasing  notes. 

Their  nests  are  placed  on  the  ground,  in  rather  open,  exposed 
situations,  and  are  loosely  constructed  of  dry  grasses  and  lined 
with  the  finer  leaves  of  the  same  and  (usually)  hairs  and  feath- 
ers. Eggs  three  to  six,  .  80x.  60;  dull  greenish  to  olive  white, 
speckled  and  spotted  with  varying  shades  of  reddish  brown  to 
black;  in  form,  oval. 

GENUS  POOC-ffiTES  BAIUD. 

"Bill  rather  large;  upper  outline  slightly  decurved  toward  the  end,  lower 
straight;  commissure  slightly  concave.  Tarsus  about  equal  to  the  middle  toe; 
outer  toe  a  little  longer  than  the  inner,  its  claw  reaching  to  the  concealed  base 
of  the  middle  claw;  hind  toe  reaching  to  the  middle  of  the  middle  claw.  Wings 
usually  long,  reaching  to  the  middle  of  the  tail,  as  far  as  the  coverts,  and  pointed; 
the  primaries  considerably  longer  than  the  secondaries,  which  are  not  much 
surpassed  by  the  tertiaries;  second  and  third  quills  longest;  first  little  shorter, 
about  equal  to  the  fourth,  shorter  than  tail;  the  outer  feathers  scarcely  shorter; 
the  feathers  rather  stiff;  each  one  acuminate  and  sharply  pointed;  the  feathers 
broad  nearly  to  the  end,  when  they  are  obliquely  truncate.  Streaked  with 
brown  above  everywhere;  beneath,  on  the  breast  and  sides.  The  lateral  tail 
feather  is  white.  Shoulders  chestnut  brown.  The  essential  character  of  the 
genus  consists  in  the  long  and  pointed  wings,  longer  than  the  tail  and  without 
long  tertials,  and  the  rather  stiff  forked  tail,  with  its  acute  feathers." 


440  HISTORY  OF  THE 

Poocsetes  gramineus  (GMEL.). 

VESPER  SPARROW. 
PLATE  XXVII. 

A  summer  resident;  not  common;  during  migration,  very 
common  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  State.  Arrive  about  the  first 
of  April;  begin  laying  early  in  May. 

B.  337.     R.  197.     C.  232.     G.  97,     215.     U.  540. 

HABITAT.  Eastern  North  America  to  the  plains;  from  Nova 
Scotia  and  the  Saskatchewan  southward;  breed  from  Virginia, 
Kentucky  and  Kansas  northward. 

SP.  CHAR.  "Tail  feathers  rather  acute.  Above,  light  yellowish  brown; 
feathers  everywhere  streaked  abruptly  with  dark  brown,  even  on  the  sides  of 
the  neck,  which  are  paler.  Beneath  yellowish  (sometimes  reddish)  white;  on 
the  jugulum  and  sides  of  neck  and  body  streaked  with  brown.  A  faint  light 
superciliary  and  maxillary  stripe;  the  latter  margined  above  and  below  with 
dark  brown;  the  upper  stripe  continued  around  the  ear  coverts,  which  are  darker 
than  the  brown  color  elsewhere.  Wings  with  the  shoulder  light  chestnut  brown, 
and  with  two  dull  whitish  bauds  along  the  ends  of  the  coverts;  the  outer  edge 
of  the  secondaries  also  is  white.  Exposed  portion  of  outer  tail  feather,  aud 
edge  and  tip  of  the  second,  white." 

Stretch  of 
Length.          -wing.          Wing.          Tail.        Tarsus.         Bill. 

Male 6.20          10.25         3.15         2.60          .82  .42 

Female...      6.10          10.10         3.05         2.50          .82  .40 

Iris  brown;  bill  dusky,  pale  yellowish  beneath;  legs  and  feet 
flesh  color;  claws  brown. 

This  terrestial  species  inhabits  the  dry  prairies,  pastures  and 
roadsides,  and,  regardless  of  the  presence  of  man,  is  alike  at 
home  in  the  settled  and  unsettled  portions  of  its  range.  They 
are  in  every  sense  beneficial,  feeding  chiefly  upon  fallen  seeds 
and  insect  life. 

Their  flights  are  usually  short,  low  and  undulating.  Their 
song  is  pleasing  —  much  like  that  of  the  Canary,  but  weaker. 
John  Burroughs,  the  entertaining  writer,  and  lover  of  the  birds, 
in  "Wake  Robin,"  thus  describes  its  song: 

"Have  you  heard  the  song  of  the  Field  Sparrow?  If  you 
have  lived  in  a  pastoral  country  with  broad,  upland  pastures, 
you  could  hardly  have  missed  him.  Wilson,  I  believe,  calls  him 
the  Grass-finch,  and  was  evidently  unacquainted  with  his  pow- 
ers of  song.  The  two  white  lateral  quills  of  his  tail,  and  his 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  441 

habit  of  running  and  skulking  a  few  yards  in  advance  of  you 
as  you  walk  through  the  fields,  are  sufficient  to  identify  him. 
Not  in  meadows  or  orchards,  but  in  high,  breezy  pasture 
grounds  will  you  look  for  him.  His  song  is  most  noticable  af- 
ter sundown,  when  other  birds  are  silent;  for  which  reason  he 
has  been  aptly  called  the  Yesper  Sparrow.  The  farmer,  follow- 
ing his  team  from  the  field  at  dusk,  catches  his  sweetest  strain. 
His  song  is  not  so  brisk  and  varied  as  that  of  the  Song  Spar- 
row, being  softer  and  wilder,  sweeter  and  more  plaintive.  Add 
the  best  parts  of  the  lay  of  the  latter  to  the  sweet  vibrating 
chant  of  the  Wood  Sparrow,  and  you  have  the  evening  hymn 
of  the  Yesper  Bird  —  the  poet  of  the  plain,  unadorned  pastures. 
Go  to  those  broad,  smooth,  uplying  fields  where  the  cattle  and 
sheep  are  grazing,  and  sit  down  in  the  twilight  on  one  of  those 
warm,  clean  stones,  and  listen  to  this  song.  On  every  side,  near 
and  remote,  from  out  the  short  grass  which  the  herds  are  crop- 
ping, the  strain  rises.  Two  or  three  long,  silver  notes  of  peace 
and  rest,  ending  in  some  subdued  trills  and  quavers,  constitute 
each  separate  song.  Often  you  will  catch  only  one  or  two  of 
the  bars,  the  breeze  having  blown  the  .minor  part  away.  Such 
unambitious,  quite  unconscious  melody !  It  is  one  of  the  most 
characteristic  sounds  in  nature.  The  grass,  the  stones,  the  stub- 
ble, the  furrow,  the  quiet  herds,  and  the  warm  twilight  among 
the  hills,  are  all  subtilely  expressed  in  this  song;  this  is  what 
they  are  at  least  capable  of." 

Their  nests  are  placed  on  the  ground,  in  open  and  exposed 
situations,  usually  in  a  cavity  or  place  worked  out  deep  enough 
to  bring  the  top  of  the  nest  on  a  level  with  the  surface;  they 
are  loosely  made  of  grasses,  and  lined  with  horse  hairs.  Eggs 
four  or  five,  .75x.58;  pale  greenish  white,  specked,  spotted  and 
blotched  with  various  shades  of  reddish  and  purple  brown;  on 
some  the  markings  are  small,  chiefly  aggregated  around  the 
larger  end;  in  form,  oval. 

GENUS  AMMODRAMUS  SWAINSON. 

"Bill  very  long,  slender  and  attenuated,  considerably  curved  toward  the  tip 
above.  The  gouys  straight.  A  decided  lobe  in  middle  of  cutting  edge  of  upper 
bill.  The  legs  and  toes  are  very  long  and  reach  considerably  beyond  the  tip  of 


442  HISTORY  OF  THE 

the  short  tail.  The  tarsus  is  about  equal  to  the  elongated  middle  toe;  the  lat- 
eral toe  equal,  their  claws  falling  considerably  short  of  the  base  of  the  middle 
one;  the  hind  claw  equal  to  the  lateral  one.  Wings  short,  reaching  only  to  the 
base  of  the  tail;  much  rounded;  the  secondaries  and  tertials  equal,  and  not 
much  shorter  than  the  primaries.  The  tail  is  rather  shorter  than  the  wings, 
and  graduated  laterally;  each  feather  stiffened,  lanceolate  and  acute.  Color: 
Streaked  above  and  across  the  breast;  very  faintly  on  the  sides.  The  essential 
characters  consist  in  the  slender  and  elongated  bill;  the  long  legs  reaching  con- 
siderably beyoud  the  tail,  with  the  lateral  claws  falling  considerably  short  of  the 
middle  one;  and  the  very  short,  rounded  wings,  rather  longer  than  the  cuueate 
tail,  with  its  stiffened  and  lanceolate  feathers." 

SUBGEXDS  PASSERCULUS  BONAPARTE. 

Outer  pair  of  tail  feathers  longer  than  middle  pair;  difference  between  length 
of  tail  and  wing  much  greater  than  length  of  bill  from  nostril  (the  wing  much 
the  longer),  and  depth  of  bill  at  base  much  less  than  its  length  from  nostril. 
Tail  three  times  as  long  as  tarsus,  slightly  emarginate  or  double  rounded,  the 
depth  of  the  emargination  much  less  than  the  distance  from  eye  to  nostril,  the 
feathers  broader  and  less  pointed  at  tip.  (Ridgway. ) 

Ammodramus  sandwichensis  savanna  (WILS.). 

SAVANNA  SPARROW. 
PLATE  XXVII. 

An  occasional  winter  sojourner  in  the  southeastern  part  of 
the  State;  abundant  during  migration.  Leave  in  April;  begin 
to  return  the  last  of  September. 

Prof.  W.  W.  Cooke,  in  his  report  on  "Bird  Migration  in  the 
Mississippi  Valley, ' '  says:  '  'The  Savanna  Sparrow  usually  breeds 
from  latitude  40°  northward,  but  Mr.  Ridgway  states  that  it 
breeds  throughout  Illinois,  and  Mr.  Nehrling  has  found  it  breed- 
ing at  Pierce  City,  Mo.  Dr.  Watson  thinks  that  in  former 
years  he  found  it  nesting  at  Ellis,  Kansas."  The  birds  may 
occasionally  breed  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  State,  but  their 
natural  breeding  grounds  are  northward  and  eastward.  It  was 
probably  the  western  form,  alaudinus,  that  Dr.  Watson  thinks 
he  found  nesting  at  Ellis. 

B.  332.     R.  193«.     C.  227.     G.  96,     216.     U.  542a. 

HABITAT.  Eastern  North  America;  west  to  the  plains;  south 
in  winter  to  the  Gulf  States  (Cuba?);  breeding  from  the  north- 
ern United  States  to  Labrador  and  Hudson's  Bay  Territory. 

SP.  CHAR.  "Feathers  of  the  upper  parts  generally  with  a  central  streak  of 
blackish  brown;  the  streaks  of  the  back  with  a  slight  rufous  suffusion  laterally; 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  443 

the  feathers  edged  with  gray,  which  is  lightest  on  the  scapulars,  and  forms  there 
two  gray  stripes.  Crown  with  a  broad  median  stripe  of  yellowish  gray;  super- 
ciliary streak  from  the  bill  to  the  back  of  the  head,  eyelids  and  edge  of  the 
elbow  yellow,  paler  behind.  A  yellowish  white  mandibular  stripe  curving  be- 
hind the  ear  coverts,  and  margined  above  and  below  by  brown.  The  lower 
margin  is  a  series  of  thickly  crowded  spots  on  the  sides  of  the  throat,  which  are 
also  found  on  the  sides  of  the  neck,  across  the  upper  part  of  the  breast,  and  on 
the  sides  of  the  body;  a  dusky  line  back  of  the  eye,  making  three  on  the  side  of 
head  (including  the  two  mandibular).  A  few  faint  spots  on  the  throat  and 
chin.  Eest  of  under  parts  white;  outer  tail  feathers  and  primaries  edged  with 
white.  Young:  Ground  color  of  the  upper  parts  (except  wing  and  tail )  light 
ochraceous,  more  brownish  on  top  of  head,  upper  part  of  back,  and  on  upper 
tail  coverts;  the  streaks  blacker  and  more  conspicuous  than  in  the  adult.  Be- 
neath with  an  ochraceous  tinge  anteriorly,  the  streaks  broader  and  deeper  black 
than  in  the  adult,  though  less  sharply  denned.  The  infra-maxillary  streak  ex- 
panded into  a  broad,  blackish,  elongated  blotch.  Specimens  vary  considerably 
in  size,  color  and  shape  of  bill.  Spring  birds  have  the  markings  sharper  and 
clearer,  the  dark  streaks  with  little  or  no  suffusion  of  rufous." 

Stretch  of 
Length.          wing.  Wing.  Tail.         Tarsus.          Bill. 

Male 5.75  9.25          2.65         2.20          .80  .40 

Female...      5.50  9.00          2.55        2.10          .80  .38 

Iris  dark  brown;  bill  dusky,  the  under  pale  at  base;  legs  and 
feet  flesh  color;  claws  light  brown. 

The  birds  inhabit  the  prairies  and  open  grounds,  preferring 
the  low,  moist  lands  and  edges  of  marshy  grounds. 

They  are  strictly  terrestial,  run  about  with  great  ease,  and  in 
their  flights  keep  near  the  ground.  Their  food  consists  of 
small  insect  life,  and  the  fallen  seeds  from  weeds  and  grasses. 
Harmless,  heedless  birds,  easily  approached,  but  they  seldom 
frequent  the  dooryards  or  traveled  roads. 

Their  song  is  a  low  sort  of  trill  or  twitter,  with  but  little  vari- 
ation or  musical  tone. 

Their  nests  are  placed  in  depressions,  or  sunken  places  in  the 
ground,  the  brim  only  coming  to  the  level  of  the  surface;  a  loose 
structure  of  grasses,  occasionally  lined  with  horse  hairs.  Eggs 
usually  four  or  five,  .78x.56;  vary  somewhat  in  size,  as  well  as 
in  coloration.  A  set  of  four  eggs,  taken  June  31st,  1880,  at 
Newtonville,  Mass.,  from  a  nest  on  the  ground,  are,  in  dimen- 
sions: .74x.  55,  .  74x.  58,  .  80x.  58,  .  81x.  58;  grayish  to  greenish 
white,  speckled  and  blotched  with  varying  shades  of  reddish 
brown  and  lilac,  thickest  about  the  larger  end;  in  form,  oval. 


444:  HISTORY  OF  THE 

Ammodramus  sandwichensis  alaudinus   (BONAP.). 

WESTERN  SAVANNA  SPARROW. 
PLATE  XXVII. 

Migratory  (may  possibly  breed);  not  uncommon  in  western 
Kansas;  east  to  the  middle  portion  of  the  State. 

B.  335.     E.  193J.     C.  229.     G. ,     217.     U.  5426. 

HABITAT.  Western  North  America,  in  general,  except  where 
replaced  on  the  Pacific  coast  by  varieties  folding*  and  bryanti; 
found  breeding  from  Dakota  north  to  the  Arctic  coast,  and  east 
to  western  Manitoba. 

Mr.  William  Lloyd,  on  "Birds  of  Western  Texas,"  says: 
"Resident;  tolerably  common;  no  nest  identified  with  certainty; 
found  near  cultivated  fields,  and  in  marshy  or  boggy  lands." 
South  in  winter  to  Mexico. 

SP.  CHAR.  "Similar  to  A.  sandwichensis  savanna,  but  smaller;  the  bills 
slenderer  and  more  elongated.  Little  of  yellow  in  the  superciliary  stripe  (most 
distinct  anteriorly);  the  rest  of  the  head  without  a  tinge  of  the  same;  general 
color  much  paler  and  grayer  than  in  A.  sandwichensis  savanna.  Breast  with 
only  a  few  spots. 

"This  western  race  of  A.  sandwichensis  savanna  is  smaller,  considerably 
paler  in  general  colors,  the  superciliary  stripe  with  little  yellow  in  it,  and  the 
bill  more  slender  and  longer;  in  coloration,  some  Atlantic  coast  specimens  often 
exhibit  an  approximation,  especially  in  the  paler  tint  of  the  superciliary  stripe; 
but  the  bill  is  always  decidedly  more  attenuated  in  alaudinus." 

Stretch  of 
Length.  -wing.  Wing.         Tail.          Tarsus.         Bill. 

Male 5.25  8.90          2.60         1.95          .78  .37 

Female...      5.20  8.65         2.50         1.90          .78  .37 

Iris  dark  brown;  bill  —  upper  dusky,  under  pale  at  base;  legs 
and  feet  flesh  color;  claws  pale  brown. 

This  bleached  race  of  the  plains  does  not  essentially  differ 
in  any  of  its  habits  and  actions  from  the  Savanna  Sparrow, 
which  it  replaces  in  the  West. 

Its  nest  and  eggs  (.75x.55)  are  also  similar. 

SCBGEIOJS  COTURNICULUS  BONAPARTE. 

Outer  pair  of  tail  feathers  shorter  than  middle  pair;  difference  between 
length  of  tail  and  wing  not  greater  than  length  of  bill  from  nostril,  or  else  tail 
longer  than  wing  and  much  graduated  ("Coturniculus"  leconteii],  or  depth  of 
bill  at  base  equal  to  its  length  from  nostril  ("Coturniculus"  savannarum).  Crown 
divided  by  a  very  distinct  lighter  median  stripe  between  two  lateral  blackish 
ones.  (Ridgway.) 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  445 

Ammodramus  savannarum  passerinus  (WiLs.). 

GRASSHOPPER  SPARROW. 
PLATE  XXVIL 

Summer  resident;  abundant.  Arrive  usually  about  the  middle 
of  April  to  first  of  May  (occasionally  earlier);  begin  laying  the 
last  of  May;  leave  the  last  of  September  to  middle  of  October. 
I  have  noticed  a  few  of  the  birds  in  the  southern  part  of  the 
State  as  late  as  the  middle  of  November. 

B.  338.     R.  198.     C.  234.     G.  98,     218.     U.  546. 

HABITAT.  Eastern  United  States  and  southern  Canada;  west 
to  the  plains;  south  in  winter  to  the  Gulf  States,  Cuba,  Porto 
Rico  and  the  Gulf  coast  of  Mexico. 

SP.  CHAR.  "Feathers  of  the  upper  parts  brownish  rufous  or  chestnut  brown, 
margined  abruptly  and  narrowly  with  ash  color;  reddest  on  the  lower  part  of 
the  back  and  rump;  the  feathers  all  abruptly  black  in  the  central  portion;  this 
color  visible  on  the  interscapular  region,  where  the  rufous  is  more  restricted. 
Crown  blackish,  with  a  central  superciliary  stripe  of  yellowish  tinged  with 
brown,  brightest  in  front  of  the  eye.  Bend  of  the  wing  bright  yellow;  lesser 
coverts  tinged  with  greenish  yellow.  Quills  and  tail  feathers  edged  with  whit- 
ish; tertiaries  much  variegated.  Lower  parts  brownish  yellow  or  buff,  nearly 
white  on  the  middle  of  the  belly,  darkest  on  the  jugulum.  The  feathers  of  the 
upper  breast  and  sides  of  the  body  with  obsolete  darker  centers,  these  some- 
times wanting.  Sides  of  breast  against  bend  of  wing  with  a  few  black  streaks, 
usually  concealed.  The  young  of  this  species  have  the  jugulum  and  sides  of  the 
breast  streaked  with  black,  much  more  distinct  than  in  the  adults,  and  exhibit- 
ing a  slight  resemblance  to  A.  liemlowii.  The  upper  parts  are  less  varied." 

Stretch  of 
Length.          wing.          Wing.         Tail.        Tarsus.         Bill. 

Male 5.00  8.40         2.50         1.85          .75  .43 

Female...      4.90  8.10         2.40        1.80          .75  .42 

Iris  brown;  bill  pale  bluish,  ridge  dusky;  legs  and  feet  flesh 
color;  claws  light  brown. 

This  little  bird  inhabits  the  dry  fields,  upland  prairies  and 
plains,  seldom  frequenting  the  low,  moist  lands.  They  are 
strictly  terrestial,  running  about  in  their  search  for  seeds  and 
insects;  and,  upon  the  approach  of  an  intruder,  skulk  and  hide 
in  the  grass  like  mice,  rarely  taking  wing  except  when  startled; 
they  then  rise  quickly  and  dash  off  in  a  jerky  flight,  for  a  short 
distance,  and  then  abruptly  drop  back  or  dive  into  the  grass. 

Its  song  is  only  heard  during  the  breeding  season;  a  wheezy, 
grasshopper  trill,  from  which  it  derives  its  name.  What  it 


44:6  HISTORY  OF  THE 

lacks  in  musical  power  it  makes  up  in  zeal  (like  that  of  its 
neighbor,  Dickcissel).  The  singer,  perched  upon  a  weed  or 
coarse  stalk  of  grass,  swells  out  its  little  throat,  and  no  doubt 
charms  the  lady  bird  with  its  simple  lay.  They  generally  rear 
two  broods  in  a  season,  the  males  assisting  in  hatching  and 
rearing  the  young. 

Their  nests  are  placed  on  the  ground,  usually  in  a  depression, 
and  concealed  in  or  under  a  tuft  of  grass.  They  are  made  of 
old  grasses  and  sometimes  lined  with  hairs.  Eggs  four  to  six 
(usually  four),  .73x.  58.  They  vary  in  size.  A  set  of  four  eggs, 
collected  at  Saybrook,  Conn.,  only  measure:  . 65x. 53,  68x. 53, 
.  69x.  56,  .  70x.  57;  pure  white,  with  purplish  shell  markings  and 
thinly  spotted  with  various  shades  of  reddish  brown,  aggregated 
thickly  around  the  larger  end;  in  form,  rounded  oval. 

Ammodramus  henslowii  (AUD.). 

HENSLOW'S  SPARROW. 

Summer  resident;  rare.  Arrive  in  April;  begin  laying  about 
the  first  of  May;  leave  in  October. 

B.  339.     R.  199.     C.  236.     G.  99,     219.     U.  547. 

HABITAT.  Eastern  United  States;  north  to  Ontario  and  south- 
ern New  England;  west  to  the  plains;  winters  in  the  Gulf  States, 
and  probably  southward. 

SP.  CHAR.  Tail  graduated;  the  lateral  feathers  much  shorter  than  the  middle 
pair,  (difference  between  their  tips  much  greater  than  length  of  bill  from  nostril,) 
the  middle  pair  longest;  tail  not  longer  than  wing,  its  graduation  decidedly  less 
than  length  of  exposed  culmen;  bill  stout;  its  depth  at  base  nearly  or  quite  equal 
to  length  from  nostril;  a  blackish  rictal  and  (usually)  submalar  streak.  Adult: 
Head  and  neck  buffy  olive,  the  crown  heavily  streaked,  except  along  middle 
line,  with  black,  the  hind  neck  much  more  narrowly  streaked;  back  and  scapu- 
lars chestnut,  feathers  streaked  with  black  and  narrowly  edged  or  bordered  with 
whitish;  wings  mainly  chestnut;  a  blackish  streak  behind  eye,  another  from 
corner  of  mouth,  and  another  along  each  side  of  chin  and  upper  throat  ( last 
sometimes  indistinct);  chin  and  throat  pale  buff  or  buffy  whitish;  chest,  sides 
and  flanks  deeper  buffy  streaked  with  blackish;  belly  whitish.  Young:  Above, 
dull  brownish  buffy,  streaked  and  spotted  with  black;  beneath  light  buff,  the 
sides  (but  not  chest)  streaked  with  black;  a  distinct  black  streak  from  corner 
of  mouth,  but  none  on  side  of  chin  or  throat.  (Ridgway.) 

Stretch  of 
Length.          wing.  Wing.         Tail.         Tarsus.         Bill. 

Male 5.25  7.12         2.18        2.10          .70          .46 

Female..        5.00          6.95         2.12        1.95         .68          .45 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  447 

Iris  brown;  bill  dark  brown,  pale  beneath;  legs  and  feet  light 
brown;  claws  brown. 

This  species  inhabits  the  grassy  fields  and  prairies.  It  is 
closely  related  to  the  Grasshopper  Sparrow,  and  does  not  appear 
to  differ  from  it  in  habits  or  actions.  I  have  had  but  little  op- 
portunity to  observe  these  birds.  Mr.  Maynard,  in  his  ' '  Birds  of 
Eastern  North  America,"  says: 

"Henslow's  Bunting  (Sparrow)  is  far  from  being  common 
anywhere  in  our  section,  as  it  is  exceedingly  local  in  distribu- 
tion; and  it  is  fond  of  grassy  meadows,  breeding  in  them.  The 
song  is  peculiar,  consisting  of  two  syllables,  sounding  like  "See- 
wick,"  the  first  being  dwelt  upon,  and  the  second  given  quickly, 
and  both  uttered  in  a  shrill,  grasshopper-like  tone.  This  little 
Sparrow  is  retiring  in  habits,  and  if  startled  from  the  tall  grass 
to  which  it  retreats  when  alarmed,  will  rise  quickly,  fly  with  a 
very  eccentric  movement  a  short  distance,  and  again  seek  con- 
cealment." 

The  following  description  of  its  nest  and  eggs  is  by  Mr.  Da- 
vie,  in  his  "Nests  and  Eggs  of  North  American  Birds:" 

"Mr.  L.  Jones  informs  me  that  in  Iowa  the  favorite  resorts 
of  this  Sparrow  during  the  breeding  season  are  neglected  fields 
and  pasture  lands.  Its  nest  is  placed  on  the  ground,  sometimes 
in  a  slight  depression  beneath  a  tussock  of  grass;  the  composi- 
tion is  of  fine  and  coarse  grasses,  with  a  few  cow  hairs.  The 
eggs,  Mr.  Jones  says,  are  deposited  about  May  25th.  The  bird-  s 
habits,  nests  and  eggs  are  described  as  being  similar  to  those  of 
the  Yellow-winged  Sparrow  (A.  savannarum  passerinm),  but  the 
eggs  are  not  pure  white  in  ground  color,  having  a  greenish  or 
grayish  white  tint,  profusely  dotted  and  blotched  with  several 
shades  of  brown  and  lilac  shell  markings.  They  are  four  or 
five  in  number,  and  average  .75x.  57." 

Ammodramus  leconteii  (AUD.). 

LECONTB'S  SPARROW. 
PLATE  XXVII. 

Migratory;  common.  Arrive  in  April;  return  in  October; 
a  few  occasionally  winter  in  the  southern  part  of  the  State. 

B.  340.     R.  200.     C.  237;     G.  100,     220.     U.  548. 


448  HISTORY  OF  THE 

HABITAT.  The  Great  Plains,  north  to  Manitoba;  south  in 
winter  to  Texas,  and  along  the  Gulf  coast  to  Florida,  South 
Carolina  and  southern  Illinois;  breeding  from  Dakota  and  Min- 
nesota northward. 

Sp.  CHAB.  Tail  decidedly  longer  than  wing,  its  graduation  greater  than 
length  of  exposed  culnien;  bill  small  and  slender,  its  depth  at  base  less  than 
length  from  nostril;  no  dusky  rictal  or  submalar  streaks.  Adult:  Median  crown 
stripe  buff  anteriorly,  the  rest  pale  buffy  grayish  or  dull  buffy  whitish;  lateral 
stripes  streaked  blackish  and  brownish,  the  former  usually  predominating  (nearly 
uniform  black  in  summer);  hind  neck  streaked  chestnut  and  pale  buffy  or  buffy 
grayish;  sides  of  head,  including  broad  superciliary  stripe,  buffy  (deeper,  almost 
ochraceous,  in  winter,  paler,  sometimes  nearly  white  in  summer);  the  lores  and 
ear  coverts  light  grayish  or  brownish,  -the  latter  bordered  above  by  a  blackish 
streak,  becoming  larger  posteriorly;  anterior  and  lateral  lower  parts  buffy,  the 
sides  and  flanks  streaked  with  blackish;  belly  white;  upper  parts  brownish, 
spotted  or  striped  with  blackish  and  streaked  with  whitish  or  buffy.  Young: 
General  color  buff,  deeper  above,  paler  beneath,  the  belly  whitish;  upper  parts 
streaked  and  striped  with  blackish,  the  chest,  sides  and  flanks  more  narrowly 
streaked  with  the  same.  (Ridgway.) 

Stretch  of 
Length.          wing.          Wing.          Tail.         Tarsus.         Bill. 

Male 5.00          7.00         2.00         2.10         .68          .38 

Female...      4.85          6.50         1.95         2.00         .68         .38 

Iris  dark  brown;  bill  —  ridge  dusky,  rest  flesh  color;  legs 
and  feet  light  flesh  color;  claws  pale  brown. 

This  little  ground  bird  inhabits  the  prairies,  preferring  the 
low,  moist  lands  where  the  grass  is  rank.  It  is  quite  a  common 
bird  west  of  the  Mississippi,  but  so  shy  and  retiring  it  is  seldom 
noticed,  skulking  and  hiding  in  the  grass  so  closely  that  it  is 
next  to  impossible  to  force  it  to  take  wing.  A  hardy  little  bird. 
As  proof  of  this,  I  have  seen  several  in  the  depth  of  winter, 
at  Neosho  Falls,  Kansas;  and  December  17th,  1878,  one  was 
killed  by  a  Shrike  in  the  near  vicinity.  It  was  a  very  cold 
day,  and  the  ground  deeply  covered  with  snow. 

Mr.  Ernest  Thompson  (Seton),  on  Manitoba  birds,  says: 

"This  bird  frequents  the  damp  meadows  which  are  a  mixture 
of  red  willows  and  sedgy  grass.  It  is  commonly  found  in  the 
willows  at  all  seasons,  uttering  its  peculiar  ventriloquial  "Tweete, 
tweete,"  whence  I  knew  it  as  the  Willow-tweete,  long  before  I 
ever  heard  of  Leconte  or  any  name  for  this  bird.  But  in  spring 
the  male  may  be  seen  perched  on  some  low  twig  in  the  meadow, 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  4.49 

pouring  out  his  little  soul  in  a  tiny,  husky,  double  note,  like 
"Reese,  reese."  This  is  so  thin  and  weak  as  to  be  inaudible 
at  thirty  yards,  yet  in  uttering  it  he  seems  to  labor  hard,  his 
beak  being  wide  open  and  pointed  straight  up  to  the  zenith;  he 
delivers  it  with  such  unction  that  afterwards  he  seems  quite  ex- 
hausted and  sits  very  still  until  at  length  the  fit  comes  on  again, 
as  it  is  sure  to  do  in  about  ten  seconds." 

Yery  little  is  known  with  certainty  in  regard  to  its  nesting 
habits  and  eggs.  Ridgway,  in  his  "Manual,"  states  that  they 
nest  in  damp  or  marshy  meadows.  Eggs  about  .75x.50; 
speckled  or  spotted  sparsely  on  larger  end  with  brown  and  black 
(sometimes  thickly  speckled  or  sprinkled  with  brown). 

STTBGENUS  AMMODRAMUS  SWAINSON. 

Crown  without  distinct  median  stripe.  Nest  on  or  near  ground,  in  marshes, 
supported  between  upright  stalks  of  sedges  or  coarse  grasses  (sometimes  in  low 
bushes),  composed  of  dried  grasses  or  sedges,  the  entrance  occasionally  through 
one  side.  Eggs  three  to  five;  whitish,  speckled  or  spotted  with  brown.  (Ridg- 


Ammodramus caudacutus  nelsoni  ALLEN. 

NELSON'S  SPARROW. 
PLATE  XXVII. 

Summer  .resident;  rare.  Arrive  the  last  of  April  to  first  of 
May;  probably  commence  laying  about  the  last  of  May;  latest 
seen  October  14th;  no  doubt  occasionally  remain  into  No- 
vember. 

B.  -  .     R.  201a.     C.  241.     G.  101,     221.     U.  549a. 
HABITAT.     Eastern  United  States,  chiefly  in  the  Mississippi 
valley;  east  during  migration  to  the  fresh  water  marshes  of  the 
Atlantic  coast. 

SP.  CHAR.  Adult:  Pileum  bluish  gray  or  olive  gray  medially,  umber  brown 
laterally,  the  lateral  stripes  more  or  less  streaked  with  black.  A  broad  super- 
ciliary stripe,  deep  ochraceous,  connected  behind  the  auriculars  with  a  broad 
maxillary  stripe  of  the  same  color.  Auriculars  grayish,  with  a  dusky  line  along 
upper  edge,  connecting  with  a  distinct  black  streak  beneath  hinder  part  of  the 
ochraceous  superciliary  stripe.  Scapulars  and  interscapulars  bright  olive  brown, 
the  outer  webs  broadly  edged  with  grayish  white,  separated  from  the  brown  by 
a  blackish  line.  Tertials  dusky,  bordered  with  rusty  whitish  or  pale  rusty. 
Rump  uniform  olive  brown.  Rectrices  light  raw  umber  brown,  darker  along 
shafts.  Chin,  throat,  breast,  sides,  flanks  and  crissum  ochraceous,  the  jugulum,. 
breast,  sides  and  flanks  streaked  with  dusky.  (Ridyicay  .) 

—  29 


450  HISTORY  OF   THE 

Stretch  of 
Length.          -wing.  Wing.          Tail.       Tarsus.         Bill. 

Male 5.40         7.50          2.25         2.00        .82          .50 

Female 5.15         7.30         2.17         1.90        .82          .50 

Iris  dark  brown;  bill  —  ridge  dusky,  rest  pale,  with  a  faint 
bluish  hue;  legs  flesh  color:  feet  a  shade  darker;  claws  brown. 

The  birds  inhabit  the  fresh  water  marshy  grounds,  edges  of 
reedy  ponds  and  sloughs.  They  are  very  active,  running  about 
and  climbing  with  ease  the  stalks  of  grass  or  reeds,  where  they 
sway  about,  often  head  downward,  in  their  search  for  insect  life 
and  seeds.  When  flushed  they  fly  but  a  short  distance,  just 
clearing  the  growth,  into  which  they  suddenly  drop  back.  Their 
call  note,  a  sort  of  "Tweet,"  is  often  heard.  Their  song  is  a 
short,  weak,  unmusical  twittering  warble,  uttered  at  times  as  it 
rises  and  hovers  for  a  moment,  but  usually  from  a  perch  or  as 
it  hops  from  stalk  to  stalk  of  the  reeds,  rushes  and  coarse 
grasses.  In  the  early  fall  I  had  a  very  good  opportunity  to 
watch  these  birds  at  Inman  Lake,  McPhersoii  county,  Kansas. 
They  were  not  plenty,  but  I  think  two  or  three  pairs  must  have 
nested  there.  Once,  while  lying  in  the  grass  watching  for  water 
fowls,  I  saw  two  young  birds  nearly  grown.  My  attention  was 
called  to  them  by  their  tremulous,  clamorous  notes,  as  the  pa- 
rent bird  approached  with  food.  I  have  not  been  so  fortunate 
as  to  find  their  nests  and  eggs,  and  fail  to  find  a  description  of 
the  same  farther  than  set  forth  in  the  subgenus.  The  birds  are 
an  inland  race  of  A.  ccwdacut-us,  the  coast  form  that  inhabits 
the  salt  marshes,  and  their  nesting  habits  and  eggs  are  presum- 
ably alike. 

GENUS  CHONDESTES  SWAINSOTT. 

"Bill  swollen;  both  outlines  gently  curved;  the  lower  mandible  as  high 
as  the  upper;  the  commissure  angulated  at  the  base,  and  slightly  sinu- 
ated.  Lower  mandible  rather  narrower  at  the  base  than  the  length  of  the 
gonys;  broader  than  the  upper.  Tarsi  moderate,  about  equal  to  the  middle  toe; 
lateral  toe  equal  and  very  short,  reaching  but  little  beyond  the  middle  of  the 
penultimate  joint  of  the  middle  toe.  and  falling  considerably  short  of  the  base 
of  middle  claw.  Wings  long,  pointed,  reaching  nearly  to  the  middle  of  the  tail; 
the  tertials  not  longer  than  the  secondaries;  the  first  quill  shorter  than  the  sec- 
ond and  third,  which  are  equal.  The  tail  is  moderately  long,  considerably  grad- 
uated, the  feathers  rather  narrow  and  elliptically  rounded  at  the  end.  Streaked 
on  the  back.  Head  with  well  defined  large  stripes.  Beneath  white,  with  pec- 
toral spot.  Only  one  species  recognized." 


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BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  451 

Chondestes  grammacus  (SAY). 

LARK  SPARROW. 
PLATE  XXVIH. 

Summer  resident;  abundant.  Arrive  in  April;  begin  laying 
the  middle  to  last  of  May;  return  in  October. 

B.  344.     R.  204.     C.  281.     G.  102,     222.     U.  552. 

HABITAT.  Mississippi  valley;  north  to  Iowa,  Wisconsin  and 
Michigan  (western  Manitoba.  Setori);  west  to  the  plains;  east 
regularly  to  Indiana,  western  Kentucky,  etc. ;  casually  eastward 
to  near  the  Atlantic  coast;  south  in  winter  through  eastern 
Texas  to  the  Gulf  coast,  and  eastward  to  Florida;  accidental  to 
Key  West. 

SP.  CHAK.  "Hood  chestnut,  tinged  with  black  toward  the  forehead,  and 
with  a  median  stripe  and  superciliary  stripe  of  dirty  whitish.  Rest  of  upper 
parts  grayish  olive,  the  interscapular  region  alone  streaked  with  dark  brown. 
Beneath  white;  a  round  spot  on  the  upper  part  of  the  breast,  a  broad  maxillary 
stripe,  cutting  otf  a  white  stripe  above,  and  a  short  line  from  the  bill  to  the  eye, 
continued  faintly  behind  it,  black.  A  white  crescent  under  the  eye,  bordered 
below  by  black  and  behind  by  chestnut  on  the  ear  coverts.  Tail  feathers  dark 
brown,  the  outermost  edged  externally  and  with  more  than  terminal  third  white, 
with  transverse  outline;  the  white  decreasing  to  the  next  to  innermost,  tipped 
broadly  with  white.  The  colors  of  the  female  are  duller  than  in  the  male,  the 
chestnut  less  bright,  the  black  not  so  intense;  the  pattern,  however,  is  the  same. 
The  young  bird  has  the  breast  and  throat  with  a  good  many  spots  of  dark 
brown,  instead  of  the  single  large  one  on  the  breast.  The  other  markings  are 
more  obscure." 

Stretch  of 
Length.  -wing.          Wing.          Tail.        Tarsus.          Bill. 

Male 6.75          11.10         3.50         3.00          .78  .50 

Female...      6.40          10.50         3.25         2.60          .78  .45 

Iris  brown;  bill  —  upper  dusky,  under  bluish  white;  legs  flesh 
color;  feet  a  shade  darker;  claws  brown. 

This  is  one  of  the  most  abundant  birds  of  our  prairies,  fre- 
quenting alike  the  high,  dry  plains,  the  cultivated  fields  and  open 
groves;  a  beautiful,  confiding  bird,  that  seems  to  seek  rather 
than  shun  the  presence  of  man,  often  nesting  in  the  gardens  and 
door  yards.  Dr.  Wheaton,  in  his  ' '  Keport  of  the  Birds  of  Ohio, ' ' 
says: 

"Birds  in  trouble  sometimes  appeal  to  man  for  assistance. 
In  the  summer  of  1875,  I  was  attracted  by  the  singular  move- 
ments of  one  of  these  birds,  which  flew  before  me,  frequently 


452  HISTORY  OF  THE 

alighting,  as  if  endeavoring  to  draw  me  away  from  its  nest. 
Following  it  for  a  short  distance,  it  circled  several  times  around 
a  garter  snake,  which  I  killed,  when  the  bird  perched  upon  a 
fence  stake  and  filled  the  air  with  his  grateful  notes.  I  was 
still  more  than  ever  convinced  that  the  nest  or  young  of  the 
bird  was  near,  and  commenced  search.  During  my  unsuccessful 
search  the  bird  disappeared.  Returning  to  the  spot  where  the 
dead  snake  lay,  I  gave  it  a  toss  with  my  stick,  which  was  imme- 
diately followed  by  the  reappearance  of  the  bird,  which  exhibited 
more  anxiety  than  ever.  It  flew  at  the  snake,  which  it  seemed 
to  understand  was  now  harmless,  picked  at  and  attempted  to 
drag  it.  Going  to  the  spot,  I  found  the  nest,  and  the  snake 
partly  coiled  around  it.  Another  toss,  and  I  was  again  rewarded 
with  a  song." 

Their  harmless  ways  and  rich,  clear,  varied  song,  unsurpassed 
in  continuity  and  melody  by  any  of  the  family,  makes  their 
presence  welcome.  They  are  easily  tamed,  and  make  desirable 
cage  birds. 

Their  nests  are  usually  placed  in  a  depression  in  the  ground, 
but  occasionally  in  low  trees  or  bushes.  They  are  composed  of 
branching  stems  of  weeds  and  grasses,  and  lined  with  fine  grass, 
rootlets  and  horse  hairs.  Eggs  four  or  five,  .  80x.  65  (they  vary 
much  in  size);  grayish  white,  with  a  few  fine  spots  and  zigzag 
lines  of  blackish  brown,  usually  thickest  around  the  larger  end; 
in  form,  rather  rounded  oval. 

GENUS  ZONOTRICHIA  SWAINSON. 

"Body  rather  stout.  Bill  conical,  slightly  notched,  somewhat  compressed, 
excavated  inside;  the  lower  inaudible  rather  paler  than  the  upper;  gony* 
slightly  convex;  commissure  nearly  straight.  Feet  stout;  tarsus  rather  longer 
than  middle  toe;  the  lateral  toes  very  nearly  equal.  Hind  toe  longer  than  the 
lateral  ones;  their  claws  just  reaching  to  base  of  middle  one.  Inner  claw  con- 
tained twice  in  its  toe  proper;  claws  all  slender  and  considerably  curved.  Wings 
moderate,  not  reaching  to  the  middle  of  the  tail,  but  beyond  the  rump;  seconda- 
ries and  tertials  equal  and  considerably  less  than  longest  primaries;  second  and 
third  quills  longest;  first  about  equal  to  the  fifth,  much  longer  than  tertials. 
Tail  rather  long,  moderately  rounded;  the  feathers  not  very  broad.  Back 
streaked.  Rump  and  under  parts  immaculate,  except  in  young.  Head  black, 
or  with  white  streaks,  entirely  different  from  the  back." 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  453 

Zonotrichia  querula  (XUTT.). 

HARRIS'S  SPARROW. 
PLATE  XXVIII. 

Winter  sojourner;  abundant  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  State; 
rare  in  the  western.  Begin  to  leave  in  March;  a  few  fre- 
quently linger  into  May;  return  in  October. 

B.  348.     R.  205.     C.  280.     G.  103,     223.     U.  553. 

HABITAT.  From  eastern  Missouri,  Iowa,  Minnesota  and  Mani- 
toba, west  to  eastern  Montana  and  western  Nebraska;  south  in 
winter  through  the  Indian  Territory  to  Texas. 

SP.  CHAR.  Top  of  head  black,  without  trace  of  median  stripe,  or  of  yellow: 
sides  and  flanks  light  buffy  brown,  broadly  streaked  with  dusky;  adult  with 
whole  chin  and  throat,  lores  and  top  of  head  uniform  black.  Adult:  Sides  of 
head  dull  brownish  white,  or  light  grayish  brown;  rest  of  head  mainly  uniform 
black;  breast  (except  centrally)  and  belly  pure  white.  Immature:  Top  of  head 
black,  but  this  much  obscured  by  whitish  or  buffy  borders  to  feathers;  whole 
side  of  head,  including  sides  of  forehead  and  superciliary  region,  buffy;  chin 
aud  throat  white,  bordered  along  each  side  by  blackish  streak  (sometimes, 
blotched  with  black);  middle  of  chest  blotched  or  spotted  with  black  or  dark 
brown;  otherwise  like  adult.  (Ridgway.) 

Stretch  of 
Length.          wing.          Wing.  Tail.         Tarsus.          Bill. 

Male 7.50          10.80         3.40         3.60          .95  .50 

Female...      7.25         10.40        3.20        3.45         .95          .50 

Iris  brown;  bill  pale  yellowish  red  to  reddish  brown;  in  the 
breeding  season  nearly  coral  red;  legs  pale  reddish  flesh  color; 
feet  a  shade  darker;  claws  dark  brown. 

The  birds  inhabit  the  thickets  bordering  streams  and  the 
edges  of  low  woodlands.  They  are  usually  met  with  in  small 
flocks.  A  favorite  resort  is  in  and  about  the  brush  heaps, 
where  the  land  is  being  cleared.  They  seldom  mount  high  in 
the  trees,  but  keep  near  the  ground,  upon  which  they  hunt  and 
scratch  among  the  leaves  for  seeds  and  insect  life. 

They  commence  singing  early  in  the  spring,  and  upon  warm, 
sunshiny  days  their  song  can  be  heard  almost  continually,  as 
one  after  the  other  pours  forth  its  pleasing,  plaintive,  whistling 
notes,  in  musical  tone  much  like  the  White-throated  Sparrow, 
but  delivered  in  a  widely  different  song. 

Very  little,  if  anything,  is  known  with  certainty  in  regard  to 
their  nesting  habits.  They  probably  breed  from  northern  Min- 


454  HISTORY  OF  THE 

nesota  and  Montana  northward,  in  suitable  localities  throughout 
their  range,  which  I  feel  confident  will  be  found  to  extend  much 
farther  north  than  Manitoba,  its  present  northern  limit  as  given. 
Capt.  Chas.  Bendire  describes  in  "The  Auk,"  Yol.  6,  p.  150,  a 
nest  containing  four  eggs,  found  June  24,  1885,  in  a  willow 
thicket  near  Fort  Ouster,  Montana,  which  he  thinks  will  prove 
to  be  the  nest  and  eggs  of  this  bird;  and  Bidgway  says:  "Eggs 
(identification  somewhat  doubtful),  .87x.68;  buffy  whitish, 
thickly  speckled  with  burnt  umber,  slightly  mixed  with  purplish 
gray." 

Zonotrichia  leucophrys  (FORST.). 

WHITE-CROWNED    SPARROW. 
PLATE  XXVIII. 

A  rare  winter  sojourner  in  the  southern  part  of  the  State; 
during  migration  very  common.     The  bulk  move  northward  in 
*  April,  a  few  linger  into  May;  return  in  October. 

B.  345.     R.  206.     C.  276.     G.  104,     224.     U.  554. 

HABITAT.  North  America  at  large,  breeding  in  the  Sierra  Ne- 
vada and  Rocky  Mountain  regions,  and  eastward  north  of  the 
Great  Lakes  to  Labrador;  wintering  throughout  the  southern 
portion  of  the  United  States  and  southward  into  Mexico. 

SP.  CHAB.  Top  of  head  black  or  brown,  divided  by  a  distinct  median  stripe 
of  white,  buff,  yellow  or  gray;  sides  and  flanks  grayish  brown,  without  distinct 
streaks,  or  else  with  sides  of  forehead  yellow  and  back  rusty  brown;  adults  with 
chin  and  throat  whitish  or  light  grayish.  Back  gray,  grayish  brown  or  smoky 
brown,  streaked  with  brown  or  black;  chin  and  throat  not  abruptly  white;  sides 
of  forehead  not  yellow;  middle  crown  stripe  entirely  white,  ashy  or  buffy;  top 
of  head  without  yellow.  Adults  with  lateral  crown  stripes  deep  black,  median 
stripe  white  or  pale  ashy;  a  broad  white  superciliary  stripe,  below  which  is  a 
narrower  black  stripe  behind  eye  (sometimes  continued  in  front  of  it).  Imma- 
ture, with  lateral  crown  stripes  and  streak  behind  eye  chestnut  brown  or  burnt 
umber  brown;  middle  crown  stripe  dull  buffy;  superciliary  stripe  dull  light  buffy 
grayish.  Edges  of  wing  white;  white  or  buffy  median  crown  stripe,  broad  as, 
or  broader  than,  lateral  black  or  brown  stripes;  adults  with  back  ashy,  streaked 
with  burnt  umber  or  vandyke  brown,  and  chest  ashy.  Lores  black  or  dark 
brownish,  the  white,  grayish  or  dull  buff  superciliary  stripe  not  reaching  to  bill. 
(Ridgway.) 

'  Stretch  of 
Length.          wing.  IVing.         Tail.          Tarsus.          Bill. 

Male 7.00          10.30         3.30         3.20          .90  .42 

Female..         6.50  9.80         3.10         3.00          .88  .40 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  455 

Iris  brown;    bill  bright  reddish  brown,  tips  usually  dusky; 
legs  and  feet  pale  reddish  brown;  claws  dark  brown. 

This  handsome  species  inhabits  the  hedges  and  edges  of 
thickets.  They  are  usually  found  in  small  flocks,  and,  while 
they  cannot  be  properly  classed  with  the  terrestial  birds,  spend 
the  greater  portion  of  their  time  on  the  ground,  in  search  of 
small  seeds,  berries  and  insect  life.  When  not  so  employed, 
rest  and  hop  about  in  the  bushes  and  the  lower  branches  of  the 
trees,  seldom  perching  high.  In  the  winter  months  they  fre- 
quent the  low  grounds  where  there  is  a  dense  growth  of  bushes, 
rank  grass  and  weeds.  They  are  not,  as  a  rule,  timid  or  wild, 
neither  appearing  to  seek  or  shun  the  presence  of  man.  The 
following  interesting  description  of  their  song  and  nesting  habits, 
by  Mr.  T.  M.  Trippe,  is  taken  from  Dr.  Cones'  "Birds  of  the 
Northwest:" 

"This  Sparrow  appears  in  the  lower  valleys  ef  Clear  Creek 
county,  Colorado,  in  the  first  or  second  week  of  May,  and  soon 
becomes  very  abundant,  frequenting  the  shrubby  banks  of  the 
streams,  and  occasionally  venturing  some  distance  upon  the  hill- 
sides, but,  as  a  rule,  keeping  close  to  the  brooks  and  creeks. 
As  the  snow  disappears,  it  ascends  higher  and  higher,  reaching 
timber  line  by  the  middle  of  June,  and  going  up  to  the  extreme 
limit  of  the  willows  and  junipers,  being  nowhere  more  abund- 
ant than  in  those  dense  thickets  that  shut  the  upper  edge  of  the 
timber.  By  far  the  greater  number  pass  the  breeding  season 
there,  but  a  few  nest  lower  down,  as  far  as  8, 500  feet,  below 
which  it  does  not  occur  during  summer.  In  habits,  during  the 
breeding  season,  it  resembles  the  Song  Sparrow,  seeking  its  food 
in  the  grass  and  among  the  dry  leaves  in  the  thickets.  It  sings 
constantly  during  June  and  July,  and  occasionally  in  August, 
mounting  to  the  top  of  some  high  bush,  the  dead  limb  of  a  pine, 
or  any  convenient  perch,  well  elevated  above  the  surrounding 
shrubbery,  and  chanting  its  ditty,  at  short  intervals,  for  half  an 
hour  or  more  at  a  time  —  a  lively,  agreeable  song,  fine  and  clear, 
and  frequently  heard  from  a  score  or  more  birds  at  once,  with 
a  most  pleasing  effect.  While  his  mate  is  sitting,  the  male 
sings  almost  constantly  throughout  the  day,  and  sometimes  even 


456  HISTORY  OF   THE 

late  in  the  evening,  long  after  dark  —  I  have  heard  it  at  mid- 
night, and  even  as  late  as  one  or  two  o'clock.  It  is  very  tame; 
a  pair  had  their  nest  within  a  few  feet  of  our  camp  at  Chicago 
Lake,  and  all  the  bustle  and  noise  did  not  drive  the  female  from 
her  nest,  while  her  mate  would  pick  up  crumbs  which  we  threw 
to  him,  almost  at  our  feet.  It  commences  building  in  July, 
and  the  young  are  hatched  about  the  20th;  the  nest  is  placed 
on  the  ground  in  a  clump  of  bushes,  composed  of  coarse  grass 
and  weeds,  and  lined  with  fine  grass.  The  eggs  are  usually 
four,  of  a  pale  bluish  green,  very  thickly  speckled  and  dotted 
with  reddish  brown,  the  latter  colors  almost  wholly  obscuring 
the  former  at  the  larger  end." 
Eggs,  .  86x.  61;  in  form,  oval. 

Zonotrichia  leucophrys  intermedia  KIDGW. 

INTERMEDIATE  SPARROW. 
PLATE  XXVHI. 

Migratory;  quite  common  in  the  western  to  middle  part  of 
the  State;  rare  in  the  eastern  portion.  Arrive  in  April  to  first 
of  May;  return  in  October,  often  remaining  until  late,  in  No- 
vember. 

B.  346.     R.  207rt.     C.  277.     G.  ,     225.     U.  5540. 

HABITAT.  Western  North  America,  from  the  eastern  edge  of 
the  Great  Plains  (casually  farther)  to  the  Pacific,  and  from 
Mexico  to  Alaska;  breeding  in  Alaska,  and  eastward  through- 
out the  Mackenzie  River  basin.  (In  the  mountainous  regions, 
probably  much  farther  south.) 

SP.  CHAR.  "In  color  and  markings  exactly  like  Z.  leucopkrys,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  the  lores,  which  are  entirely  light  ashy  or  buffy  white,  continuous  with 
the  stripe  of  the  same  color  over  the  eyes." 

The  dimensions  given  below,  of  a  pair  in  "The  Goss  Orni- 
thological Collection,"  show  this  bird  to  be  somewhat  smaller, 
but  this  difference  may  not  hold  good  in  the  measurements  of 
a  large  number. 

Stretch  of 
Length.  wing.          Wing.         Tail.          Tarsus.          Bill. 

Male 6.80          10.00         ,3.10         3.10  .88  .40 

Female...       6.60  9.65         2.95         2.95  .87  .40 

Iris  brown;  bill  yellowish  to  reddish  brown,  tips  usually 
dusky;  legs  and  feet  dull  reddish  brown;  claws  dark  brown. 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  457 

This  western  form  does  not  noticeably  differ  in  any  of  its 
habits  or  actions  from  the  more  eastern  bird,  the  White-crowned. 
Eggs,  .86x.60. 

Zonotrichia  albicollis  (GMEL.). 

WHITE-THROATED  SPARROW. 
PLATE  XXVIII. 

Migratory;  common  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  State.  The 
bulk  arrive  and  depart  in  April;  return  in  October,  often  re- 
maining until  about  the  last  of  November,  and  may  occasionally 
winter. 

B.  349.     R.  209.     C.  275.     G.  105,     226.     U.  558. 

HABITAT.  Eastern  temperate  North  America,  breeding  from 
the  northern  United  States  northward;  west  to  the  edge  of  the 
Great  Plains,  casually  Utah;  wintering  from  about  latitude  37° 
southward. 

SP.  CHAR.  Back  rusty  brown,  or  chestnut,  streaked  with  blackish;  chin  and 
upper  throat  white,  abruptly  contrasted  with  ash  gray  of  lower  throat  and  chest; 
sides  of  forehead  yellow.  Adult:  Top  of  head  with  a  narrow  grayish  white 
median  and  two  broad  black  lateral  stripes;  superciliary  stripe  bright  yellow 
(black  to  above  eye),  the  rest  whitish.  Immature:  Superciliary  and  median 
crown  stripes  dull  buffy  or  light  brownish,  the  former  more  or  less  distinctly 
yellowish  anteriorly;  lateral  crown  stripes  dark  brownish;  ash  gray  of  ear  cov- 
erts and  chest  obscured  by  brownish.  Young:  Broad  lateral  crown  stripes  dull 
vandyke  brown;  narrow  median  stripe  dull  whitish  or  pale  brownish;  supercil- 
iary stripe  dirty  brownish  white,  scarcely,  if  at  all,  yellowish  anteriorly;  throat 
not  distinctly  whitish,  and  chest  dirty  brownish  white  streaked  with  dusky. 
(Ridgway.) 

Stretch  of 
Length.  -wing.          Wing.          Tail.         Tarsus.         Bill.. 

Male 6.60  9.65          3.10         3.10  .85          .45 

Female...      6.25  9.20          2.90         2.90  .85          .45 

Iris  brown;  bill  brown,  with  base  of  under  light  blue;  legs 
and  feet  reddish  brown;  claws  dark  brown. 

This  well  known  species  inhabits  the  woodlands,  hedges  and 
thickets,  usually  associating  together  in  small  flocks,  except  dur- 
ing the  mated  season.  They  feed  largely  upon  fallen  seeds, 
which  they  pick  up  from  the  ground,  often  scratching  among 
the  leaves.  Their  food  consists  also  of  small  berries  and  insect 
life.  They  are  rather  timid,  and  when  startled  dive  into  the 
thickest  growth  within  reach,  but  quickly  fly  back,  as  if  forget- 
ful of  the  scare.  They  seldom  perch  above  the  lower  branches 


458  BISTORT  OF  THE 

of  the  trees,  and  their  flights  are  low  and  short,  except  in  mi- 
gration. 

Their  song  is  composed  of  clear,  sweet,  plaintive  notes,  that 
sound  much  like,  "Pee,  pea,  pea,  peabody,  peabody,  peabody," 
and  for  this  reason  are  generally  known  as  the  "Peabody 
Bird."  During  the  early  breeding  season  they  sing  almost  con- 
tinually, and  as  their  song  is  unvarying  in  tone  and  make-up,  it 
soon  becomes  rather  tiresome. 

Their  nests  are  usually  placed  upon  the  ground,  under  fallen 
branches  or  at  the  roots  of  trees,  occasionally  on  low  bushes;  a 
rather  large,  compact  structure,  composed  chiefly  of  coarse 
grasses,  interwoven  with  stems  of  the  same,  weeds  and  rootlets, 
and  lined  with  horse  hairs,  fine  grasses,  and  sometimes  with  a 
few  feathers.  Eggs  four  or  five,  varying  in  size  from  .  80x.  61 
to  .  87x.  65.  They  also  vary  in  color,  from  being  profusely 
spotted  and  blotched  to  sparingly  and  finely  dotted  with  burnt 
sienna,  dark  brown  and  lilac;  in  form,  oval. 

GENUS  SPIZELLA  BONAPABTE. 

"Bill  conical,  the  outlines  slightly  curved;  the  lower  mandible  decidedly 
larger  than  the  upper;  the  commissure  gently  sinuated;  the  roof  of  the  mouth 
not  knobbed.  Feet  slender;  tarsus  rather  longer  than  middle  toe;  the  hind  toe 
a  little  longer  than  the  outer  lateral,  which  slightly  exceeds  the  inner;  the  outer 
claw  reaching  the  base  of  the  middle  one,  and  half  as  long  as  its  toe.  Claws 
moderately  curved.  Tertiaries  and  secondaries  nearly  equal;  wing  somewhat 
pointed,  reaching  not  quite  to  the  middle  of  the  tail.  First  quill  a  little  shorter 
than  the  second  and  equal  to  the  fifth;  third  longest.  Tail  rather  long,  moder- 
ately forked,  and  devaricated  at  the  tip;  the  feathers  rather  narrow.  Back 
streaked;  rump  and  beneath  immaculate.  Young  streaked  beneath." 

Spizella  monticola  (GMEL.). 

TREE  SPARROW. 
PLATE  XXVIII. 

A  winter  sojourner;  abundant  in  the  eastern  portion  of  the 
State.  Leave  the  last  of  March  to  first  of  April;  begin  to  re- 
turn in  October. 

B.  357.     R.  210.     C.  268.     G.  106,     227.     U.  559. 

HABITAT.  Eastern  North  America;  north  to  the  Arctic  regions; 
west  to  the  edge  of  the  Great  Plains;  south  in  winter  to  the 
Southern  States;  breeding  in  Labrador  and  the  region  about 
Hudson's  Bay. 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  459 

SP.  CHAR.  With  head  more  or  less  conspicuously  marked,  but  without  black 
on  chin  or  throat;  young,  streaked  beneath.  Wing  with  two  distinct  white 
bauds;  lower  mandible  yellow;  adult  with  dusky  spot  in  center  of  chest.  Adult: 
Top  of  head  and  streak  behind  eye  deep  rufous;  rest  of  head  and  neck  plain 
ashy,  the  hindneck  tinged  with  brown;  back  mixed  with  rufous  and  light  tawny 
or  dull  buft'y,  streaked  with  black;  lower  parts  pale  ashy  anteriorly  and  later- 
ally, the  sides  and  flanks  tinged  with  buffy  (strongly  so  in  winter).  Young: 
Top  of  head  dull  brownish,  streaked  with  dusky;  superciliary  stripe  and  sides 
of  head  and  neck  dull  whitish,  finely  streaked  with  darker;  chest  pale  dull 
buffy,  tinged  laterally  with  rusty,  and  distinctly  streaked  dusky.  Plumage 
darker  throughout,  the  ground  color  of  back  largely  rusty  or  rufous,  and  the 
black  streaks  broader;  rufous  of  crown  darker  and  never  with  more  than  a  slight 
indication  of  median  ashy  stripe;  outer  webs  of  greater  wing  coverts  and  tertials 
bright  rufous  or  nasty;  whitish  or  light  ashy  edgings  to  tail  feathers  narrower, 
wings  and  tail  shorter,  bill  rather  stouter.  (Ridgway.) 

Stretch  of 
Length.         wing.  Wing.          Tail.        Tarsus.         Bill. 

Male 6.30  9.20          3.00         2.90          .78  .35 

Female...      6.00  8.60          2.75         2.70          .78  .35 

Iris  brown;  bill — upper  and  tip  of  lower  blackish,  rest  yellow; 
legs  brown;  feet  a  shade  darker;  claws  blackish. 

This  hardy  Sparrow  frequents  the  hedges,  edges  of  woods  and 
rank,  weedy  growths.  Social,  gregarious  birds,  that  often  assem- 
ble together  in  large  flocks.  From  the  name  they  bear,  the 
reader  would  naturally  be  led  to  think  they  were  at  least  more 
arboreal  than  terrestial,  but  such  is  not  the  case;  the  name  is 
given  them  on  account  of  their  habit  of  flying  into  trees  the 
moment  they  are  disturbed  —  a  habit  of  many  of  the  family. 
They  search  upon  the  ground  almost  wholly  for  their  food, 
which  consists  chiefly  of  fallen  seeds.  When  the  ground  is 
mostly  covered  with  snow,  they  are  often  forced  by  hunger  to 
fly  quite  a  distance  into  the  prairies  or  open  lands  to  bare  spots 
of  ground,  and  in  so  doing,  many  are  caught  by  the  Pigeon. 
Sparrow  or  Sharp-shinned  Hawks,  before  they  can  reach  their 
cover,  for  these  Hawks  know  their  haunts  well,  and  are  ever 
upon  the  watch,  ready  to  pounce  upon,  or  give  chase  to,  the 
venturesome  birds.  While  feeding,  the  birds  keep  up  a  low, 
musical  twitter.  The  males  begin  to  sing  quite  early  in  the 
spring  —  a  rather  low,  but  exceedingly  rich  and  sweet-toned 
song. 

Their  nests  are  placed  upon  the  ground  and  in  low  bushes. 


460  HISTORY  OF   THE 

They  are  composed  of  stoppings  of  bark,  grasses  and  weeds, 
rather  loosely  woven  together,  and  lined  with  feathers,  and 
sometimes  with  fine  grasses  and  hairs.  Eggs  four  or  five,  .76x 
.58;  light  green,  sprinkled  minutely  and  regularly  with  spots  of 
reddish  brown;  in  form,  oval. 

Spizella  monticola  ochracea  BREWST. 

WESTERN  TREE  SPARROW. 
PLATE  XXVHI. 

Winter  sojourner  in  the  western  to  middle  portions  of  the 
State;  rare  or  casual  in  the  eastern  portion.  Leave  about  the 
first  of  April;  return  in  October. 

B.  .     R.  .     C.  .     G. ,     .     U.  559<z. 

HABITAT.  Western  North  America;  north  to  the  Arctic  re- 
gions; east  to  Dakota,  middle  Kansas  and  Texas;  south  in  win- 
ter to  New  Mexico  and  Arizona.  Breeds  in  Alaska  and  probably 
south,  in  the  mountainous  regions. 

SP.  CIIAK.  Similar  to  8.  monticola,  but  plumage  paler  throughout,  the  ground 
color  of  back  with  little,  if  any,  rusty  or  rufous,  and  the  black  streaks  narrower; 
rufous  of  crown  paler,  and  frequently  (especially  in  winter)  with  distinctly  indi- 
cated (sometimes  broad  and  continuous)  median  ashy  stripe;  outer  webs  of  greater 
wing  coverts  and  tertials  paler,  more  buffy  or  ochraceous;  whitish  edgings  to 
tail  feathers  broader;  wings  and  tail  longer;  bill  rather  more  slender.  (Ridgway.) 

The  few  specimens  that  I  have  examined  average  about  the 
same  in  dimensions,  etc.,  as  the  eastern  bird,  and,  from  my 
limited  observation  and  knowledge,  their  general  habits  and  ac- 
tions are  the  same.  Eggs,  according  to  Ridgway,  .78x.55. 

Spizella  socialis  (WILS.). 

CHIPPING  SPARROW. 
PLATE  XXVIII. 

Summer  resident;  common  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  State, 
decreasing  in  numbers  westward.  Arrive  the  last  of  March  to 
first  of  April;  the  bulk  leave  by  the  last  of  October. 

B.  359.     R.  211.     C.  269.     G.  107,     228.     U.  560. 

HABITAT.  Eastern  temperate  North  America;  west  to  the 
Rocky  Mountains;  south  in  winter  to  eastern  Mexico;  breeds 
chiefly  in  the  middle  and  northern  United  States. 

SP.  CHAR.  "Rump,  back  of  neck,  and  sides  of  neck  and  head,  ashy.  Inter- 
scapular  region  with  black  streaks,  margined  with  pale  rufous.  Crown  contiu- 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  461 

uous  and  uniform  chestnut.  Forehead  black,  separated  in  the  middle  by  white. 
A  white  streak  over  the  eye  to  nape,  and  a  black  one  from  the  base  of  the  bill 
through  and  behind  the  eye.  Lores  dusky.  Under  parts  unspotted  whitish, 
tinged  with  ashy  on  the  sides  and  across  the  upper  breast.  Tail  feathers  and 
primaries  edged  with  paler,  not  white.  Two  narrow  white  bands  across  the 
wing  coverts.  Young:  Immature  birds  and  frequently  the  adult  females  with 
the  cap  streaked  with  blackish  lines,  the  chestnut  nearly  or  sometimes  quite 
wanting.  Birds  of  the  year  streaked  beneath  and  on  the  rump." 

Stretch  of 
Length.  wing.          \Ving.          Tail.         Tarsus.         Bill. 

Male 5.60  8.70         2.75          2.50          .65  .37 

Female...      5.25  8.25         2.55         2.20          .63  .35 

Iris  brown;  the  color  of  the  bill  varies,  usually  dusky,  some- 
times the  under  is  pale  at  base;  legs  and  feet  flesh  color;  claws 
brown. 

These  well  known  little  Sparrows  frequent  the  cultivated 
fields,  public  ways,  gardens  and  dooryards,  and  even  make  their 
homes  in  cities,  seeming  to  prefer,  rather  than  shun,  the  pres- 
ence of  man,  often  raising  their  young  in  a  bush  by  the  door- 
side,  and  fearlessly  picking  up  the  crumbs  and  seeds  dropped 
from  the  hand.  When  the  breeding  season  is  over,  they  usually 
collect  together  in  small  flocks,  or  family  groups,  but  they  are 
not,  strictly  speaking,  gregarious  birds.  They  derive  their  com- 
mon name  from  their  sharp,  characteristic  "Chip."  Their  song 
is  simply  a  monotonous  repetition  of  a  single  note,  uttered  in 
rather  an  unmusical  trill.  It  is  often  repeated  during  the  mated 
season,  and  is  occasionally  heard  in  the  night. 

Their  nests  are  placed  in  low  trees  and  bushes,  and  are  loosely 
constructed  of  grasses  and  rootlets,  and  lined  thickly  with  hairs. 
Eggs  three  to  five,  .70x.  51;  bluish  green,  thinly  spotted  around 
the  larger  end  with  purple,  light  and  blackish  brown;  in  form, 
oval. 

Spizella  pallida  (SWAINS.). 

CLAY-COLORED  SPARROW. 
PLATE  XXVIIL 

Migratory;  quite  common  throughout  the  State.  Arrive  the 
last  of  April  to  first  of  May;  return  in  October,  a  few  occasion- 
ally remaining  until  about  the  middle  of  November. 

B.  360.     K.  212.     C.  272.     G.  108,     229.     U.  561. 


462  HISTORY  OF  THE 

HABITAT.  Interior  of  North  America;  east  from  the  base  of 
the  Rocky  Mountains  and  Arizona  to  eastern  Texas,  Missouri 
and  Iowa;  casual  in  Wisconsin;  (Mr.  Kelson  records  it  as  a  rare 
summer  resident  in  Illinois,  and  I  am  inclined  to  think  that  the 
bird  occasionally  breeds  in  Nebraska,  but  chiefly  from  Dakota 
and  Iowa  northward;)  south  in  winter  from  the  Saskatchewan 
Plains  and  Red  River  regions  into  Mexico  and  Lower  California. 

SP.  CHAR.  "Smaller  than  8.  aocialis.  Back  and  sides  of  hindneck  ashy. 
Prevailing  color  above  pale  brownish  yellow,  with  a  tinge  of  grayish.  The  feath- 
ers of  back  and  crown  streaked  conspicuously  with  blackish.  Crown  with  a 
median  pale  ashy  and  a  lateral  or  superciliary  ashy  white  stripe.  Beneath 
whitish,  tinged  with  brown  on  the  breast  and  sides,  and  an  indistinct  narrow 
brown  streak  on  the  edge  of  chin,  cutting  off  a  light  stripe  above  it.  Ear  cov- 
erts brownish  yellow,  margined  above  and  below  by  dark  brown,  making  three 
dark  stripes  on  the  face. 

"The  ashy  collar  is  quite  conspicuous  and  streaked  above  with  brown.  The 
rump  is  immaculate.  The  streaks  on  the  feathers  of  the  crown  almost  form 
continuous  lines,  about  six  in  number.  The  brown  line  above  the  ear  coverts 
is  a  postocular  one.  That  on  the  sides  of  the  chin  forms  the  lower  border  of  a 
white  maxillary  stripe  which  widens  and  curves  around  behind  the  ear  coverts, 
fading  into  ashy  of  the  neck.  The  wing  coverts  are  all  margined  with  paler, 
and  there  is  an  indication  of  two  light  bands  across  the  ends  of  the  coverts. 

"  The  young  of  this  species  is  thickly  streaked  beneath,  over  the  throat,  breast 
and  belly,  with  brown,  giving  it  an  entirely  different  appearance  from  the  adult. 
The  streaks  in  the  upper  parts,  too,  are  darker  and  more  conspicuous.  The 
margins  of  the  feathers  are  rather  more  rusty." 

Stretch  of 
Length.         wing.          Wing.          Tail.        Tarsus.       Bill. 

Male 5.30          7.70          2.50          2.50         .67          .35 

Female...     5.00         7.50         2.40         2.30        .67         .33 

Iris  brown;  bill  —  terminal  portion  of  ridge  and  tips  dusky, 
rest  pale  reddish  brown;  legs  and  feet  yellowish  flesh  color; 
claws  light  brown. 

This  pale  Sparrow  of  the  plains  is  very  similar  in  actions  to 
the  Chipping  Sparrow,  but  less  familiar  and  confiding  in  its 
habits. 

The  following  interesting  description  of  their  nesting  habits, 
etc.,  is  taken  from  "Birds  of  the  Northwest,"  by  Dr.  Coues: 

"The  Clay-colored  Sparrows  nest  abundantly  in  Dakota,  and 
especially  along  the  Red  river,  in  the  open,  low  underbrush  by 
the  river  side,  and  among  the  innumerable  scrub-willow  copses 
of  the  valley.  They  pair  here  the  latter  part  of  May,  when  the 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  463 

males  come  into  full  song;  the  nests  are  built,  and  the  comple- 
ment of  eggs  laid,  usually  by  the  middle  of  June.      During  this 
month,  while  the  females  are  incubating,  the  males  mount  the 
tops  of  the  bushes  and  sing  continually  —  indeed,  I  know  of  no 
more  assiduous  and  persistent  songster  than  this  little  bird  is, 
although  his  vocal  efforts  are  of  an  humble  sort.      His  ditty  is  a 
simple  staff  of  three  notes  and  a  slight  trill  —  nothing  like  the 
continuous  song  of  the  Chipbird.      In  places  where  the  birds 
are  plentiful,  several  males  may  be  in  sight  at  once,  each  on  his 
own  bush  clump,  while  his  mate  is  nesting  below.      As  soon  as 
incubation  is  over,  the  habit  is  entirely  changed,  and  the  males 
become  as  inconspicuous  as  their  consorts.     The  pairing  season, 
during  which  the  males  may  be  seen  continually  chasing  the 
females  about  in  the  bushes,  is  of  short  duration;   and,  prelim- 
inaries adjusted,  both  birds  set  to  work  in  earnest  at  their  nest, 
with  such  success  that  it  is  completed  and  the  eggs  laid  in  a 
week  or  two.     Most  of  my  nests  were  taken  during  the  first  two 
weeks  in  June.     In  one  case,  in  which  I  visited  a  nest  daily,  I 
found  that  an  egg  was  laid  each  day,  till  the  complement  of  four 
eggs  was  filled.     I  have  not  found  more  than  four  eggs  in  a 
nest,  and  sometimes  only  three.      They  are  of  a  light  green 
color,  rather  scantily  and  sharply  specked  with  sienna  and  other 
rich  shades  of  brown  —  sometimes  very  dark  brown.     Generally 
the  dotting  is  chiefly  confined  to  the  larger  end,  with  only  a 
speck  here  and  there  over  the  general   surface;  the  dots  are 
sometimes  in  an  area  at  the  butt,  sometimes  partially  confluent 
and  wreathed  around  it.      The  eggs  measure  about  .62x.  50. 
The  nest  is  always  placed  low;  I  never  found  one  so  high  as  a 
yard  from  the  ground,  and  generally  took  nests  within  a  few 
inches,  in  the  crotch  of  a  willow  or  other  shrub,  or  in  a  tuft  of 
weeds.      The  nest  is  in  artistically  built  of  fine  dried  grass  stems 
and  the  slender  weed  stalks,  with  perhaps  a  few  rootlets;  it  is 
sometimes   lined   quite  thickly  with  horse  hair,  sometimes  not, 
then  having  instead  some  very  fine  grass  tops.      It  varies  a  good 
deal  in  size  and  shape,  according  to  its  situation,  but  may  aver- 
age about  three  inches  across  by  two  deep,  with  a  cavity  two 
inches  wide  by  one  and  a  half  deep.     In  those  cases  where  I 


464  HISTORY  OF   THE 

approached  the  sitting  bird,  she  left  the  nest  when  I  was  a  few 
steps  away,  and  fluttered  directly  into  concealment,  without  at- 
tempting any  artifice  or  venturing  to  protest  against  the  spolia- 
tion of  her  home." 

Spizella  pusilla  (WILS.). 

FIELD  SPARROW. 
PLATE  XXVIII. 

Summer  resident;  common  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  State, 
Arrive  the  last  of  March  to  first  of  May;  begin  laying  about 
the  middle  of  May;  return  in  October;  a  few  linger  until  late 
in  November. 

B.  358.     R.  214.     C.  271.     G.  109,     230.     U.  563. 

HABITAT.  Eastern  United  States  and  southern  Canada;  west 
to  the  edge  of  the  Great  Plains;  south  to  the  Gulf  coast;  breed- 
ing nearly  throughout  its  range,  but  chiefly  from  the  southern 
Middle  States  northward. 

SP.  CHAR.  Wing  not  longer  than  tail  (usually  shorter).  Upper  parts  with 
more  or  less  of  rusty,  and  top  of  head  and  hindneck  without  dusky  streaks. 
Adult:  Top  of  head  with  two  rusty  or  sandy  brownish  lateral  stripes  and  a  dull 
grayish  median  stripe,  the  latter  often  indistinct,  sometimes  nearly  obsolete; 
back  streaked  with  black,  on  a  uniform  rusty,  rusty  and  buffy  grayish,  or  chiefly 
buffy  grayish  ground;  both  rows  of  wiug  coverts  tipped  with  whitish  or  light 
buffy;  a  rusty  streak  behind  eye,  enlarged  to  a  spot  posteriorly;  sides  of  head 
otherwise  grayish,  but  tinged  with  brownish  or  buffy  in  winter;  sides  of  breast 
with  a  rusty  spot;  lower  parts  whitish,  tinged  with  grayish  or  buffy  (or  both) 
anteriorly;  bill  reddish  cinnamon.  Young:  Essentially  like  the  adult,  but  colors 
duller  and  more  suffused;  markings  of  head  much  less  distinct,  and  lower  parts 
(especially  breast)  streaked  with  dusky.  Color  much  more  rusty  above,  with 
median  grayish  crown  stripe  usually  very  narrow  and  indistinct  (sometimes  ob- 
solete), and  wings  and  tail  shorter.  (Ridgway.) 

Stretch  of 
Length.         wing.  Wing.         Tail.         Tarsus.         Bill. 

•  Male 5.60  8.40          2.70         2.75          .70  .35 

Female...      5.40          8.00         2.50        2.55         .67          .35 

Iris  dark  brown;  bill  reddish;  legs  and  feet  flesh  color;  claw& 
brown. 

This  species  frequents  the  edges  of  woodlands,  borders  of 
fields  and  orchards,  sometimes  the  gardens,  but  as  a  rule  a  rather 
retiring  bird,  that  seldom  makes  its  home  in  the  near  vicinity  of 
dwellings.  Their  food  (which  is  similar  to  that  of  the  Sparrow 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  465 

family)  is  procured  chiefly  from  off  the  ground.  They  perch  in 
bushes  and  on  the  lower  branches  of  trees,  rarely  mounting  in- 
to the  tree  tops.  Their  flights  are  low,  short,  and  rather  undu- 
lating. Their  song  is  not  powerful,  but  varied,  plaintive  and 
sweet;  it  is  kept  up  until  late  in  the  autumn,  and  is  often  heard 
during  the  middle  of  the  day,  when  most  of  our  songsters  are 
silent. 

Their  nests  are  placed  on  the  ground,  also  in  bushes  and  low 
trees;  usually  on  the  ground  on  uplands,  and  in  trees  and  bushes 
on  low,  bottom  lands;  loosely  constructed  of  weeds  and  grasses, 
and  lined  with  hairs  and  small  thread-like  stems  of  plants.  Eggs 
three  to  five,  .  G9x.52;  grayish  to  greenish  white,  and,  as  a  rule, 
finely  and  evenly  spotted  with  reddish  brown;  in  form,  oval. 

GENTJS  JUNCO  WAGLER. 

"Bill  small,  conical;  culmen  curved  at  the  tip;  the  lower  jaw  quite  as  high 
as  the  upper.  Tarsus  longer  than  the  middle  toe;  outer  toe  longer  than  the  in- 
ner, barely  reaching  to  the  base  of  the  middle  claw;  hind  toe  reaching  as  far  as 
the  middle  of  the  latter;  extended  toes  reaching  about  to  the  middle  of  the  tail. 
Wings  rather  short;  reaching  over  the  basal  fourth  of  the  exposed  surface  of 
the  tail;  primaries,  however,  considerably  longer  than  the  secondaries  and  ter- 
tiais,  which  are  nearly  equal.  The  second  quill  longest,  the  third  to  fifth  suc- 
cessively but  little  shorter;  first  longer  than  sixth,  much  exceeding  secondaries. 
Tail  moderate,  a  little  shorter  than  wings;  slightly  emarginated  and  rounded. 
Feathers  rather  narrow;  oval  at  the  end.  No  streaks  on  the  head  or  body;  col- 
ors above  uniform  on  the  head,  back,  or  rump,  separately  or  on  all  together. 
Belly  white;  outer  tail  feathers  white.  Young  birds  streaked  above  and  below. 

"The  essential  characters  of  this  genus  are,  the  middle  toe  rather  shorter 
than  the  short  tarsus;  the  lateral  toes  slightly  unequal,  the  outer  reaching  the 
base  of  the  middle  claw;  the  tail  a  little  shorter  than  the  wings,  slightly  emar- 
ginate.  In  Junco  cinereus  dorsalis  the  claws  are  longer;  the  lower  mandible  a 
little  lower  than  the  upper." 

Junco  aikeni  RIDGW. 

WHITE- WINGED  JUNCO. 

A  rare  winter  visitant  in  the  western  to  middle  portion  of  the 
State. 

B.  .     R.  216.     C.  262.     G.  110,     231.     U.  566. 

HABITAT.  Rocky  Mountains  in  Colorado  and  "Wyoming,  strag- 
gling east  in  winter  to  middle  Kansas  and  the  Indian  Territory. 

Sp.  CHAR.  "Generally  similar  to  J.  hyemalis,  but  considerably  larger,  with 
more  robust  bill;  two  white  bands  on  the  wing,  and  three,  instead  of  two,  outer 

tail  feathers  entirely  white. 
—30 


466  HISTORY  OF   THE 

"No.  61302,  male;  El  Paso  Co.,  Colorado,  December  11,  1871,  C.  E.  Aiken: 
Head,  neck,  jugulum,  and  entire  upper  parts,  clear  ash;  the  back  with  a  bluish 
tinge;  the  lores,  quills  and  tail  feathers  darker;  middle  and  secondary  wing 
coverts  rather  broadly  tipped  with  white,  forming  two  conspicuous  bands.  Lower 
part  of  breast,  abdomen  and  crissum  pure  white;  the  anterior  outline  against 
the  ash  of  the  jugulum  convex;  sides  tinged  with  ash.  Three  lateral  tail  feath- 
ers entirely  white,  the  third,  however,  with  a  narrow  streak  of  dusky  on  the 
terminal  third  of  the  outer  web;  the  next  feather  mostly  plumbeous,  with  the 
basal  fourth  of  the  outer  web  and  the  terminal  half  of  the  inner  (along  the 
shaft)  white.  Wing,  3.40;  tail,  3.30;  culmen,  .50;  depth  of  bill  at  base,  .30; 
tarsus,  .80." 

I  have  never  met  with  this  species,  and  therefore  have  no 
personal  knowledge  in  regard  to  its  habits,  etc. 

Its  nest  and  eggs  have  not  been  found.  It  probably  does 
not  differ  in  its  breeding  habits  from  its  congeners.  Mr.  T.  M. 
Trippe,  in  notes  published  by  Dr.  Coues,  in  "Birds  of  the  North- 
west," says,  in  regard  to  the  different  species  and  races  of  this 
genus,  at  Idaho  Springs,  Colorado,  that  this  bird  is  — 

"Abundant;  does  not  breed.  This  race  is  evidently  the  most 
northern  of  the  five,  as  it  arrives  latest  (in  November)  and  de- 
parts earliest  (in  March),  ranging  higher,  also,  than  any  of  the 
others,  up  to  10,000  feet,  and  probably  still  farther.  In  its 
notes  and  habits  the  White-winged  Snowbird  (Junco)  differs 
somewhat  from  its  congeners:  its  song  is  louder  and  sweeter; 
it  is  less  gregarious  in  its  nature;  and  it  frequents  brushy  hill 
tops  and  mountain  sides,  high  up  above  the  valleys  and  rarely 
visited  by  the  other  species  during  winter.  It  is  the  only  Snow- 
bird at  all  common  during  winter,  choosing  as  its  favorite  haunts 
the  bushy  ravines  and  hollows,  as  well  as  the  valleys  of  the 
larger  streams,  and  wandering  thence  far  up  on  the  mountains, 
associating  in  small  parties  only,  more  than  six  or  eight  being 
rarely  seen  together.  During  the  coldest  weather  only  the  well- 
marked,  typical  birds  are  seen,  among  which  are  both  males  and 
females,  the  former  being  most  numerous;  but  toward  the  close 
of  winter  the  females  become  more  abundant,  and  among  a  large 
series  of  specimens  obvious  approaches  to  both  hyemalis  and 
oregonus  may  be  distinguished,  especially  toward  the  former. 
The  intergradation,  however,  is  by  no  means  as  perfect  as  that 
between  the  two  latter  races,  and  a  specimen  that  cannot  be  de- 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  407 

cidedly  referred  to  either  aikeni  or  oregonm-hyemalts  is  unusual. 
The  white  wing  bands  vary  very  much;  in  the  largest  males 
they  are  almost  always  broad  and  well  defined;  in  the  small 
males  and  females  they  are  narrower,  sometimes  almost  obsolete, 
occasionally  wanting  on  one  wing  and  present  on  the  other,  and 
sometimes  wholly  wanting  or  indicated  by  the  faintest  trace.  In 
the  latter  case,  the  other  characteristics  of  the  'bird  are  those  of 
hyemaliS)  while  the  peculiar  features  of  the  latter  bird  or  of 
oregonus  are  never  to  be  seen  where  the  white  bands  are  well 
defined.  Well-developed  males  frequently  have  white  lores  or 
white  spots  on  the  head  and  neck." 

Junco  hy emails  (LINN.). 

SLATE-COLORED  JUNCO. 
PLATE  XXVIII. 

Winter  sojourner;  abundant.  The  bulk  leave  in  March;  be- 
gin to  return  about  the  middle  of  October. 

B.  354.     R.  217.     C.  261.     G.  Ill,     232.     U.  567. 

HABITAT.  Northern  North  America;  south  in  winter  through- 
out the  eastern  United  States,  and  straggling  westward  to  the 
Pacific  coast.  Breeds  from  Nova  Scotia  and  Maine  to  Alaska. 

SP.  CHAB.  "Everywhere  of  a  grayish  dark  ashy  black,  deepest  anteriorly; 
middle  of  the  breast  behind  and  of  the  belly,  the  under  tail  coverts,  and  first 
and  second  external  tail  feathers,  white;  the  third  tail  feather  white,  margined 
with  black.  Female:  Paler  in  winter,  washed  with  brownish  to  pinkish  brown. 
Young:  Streaked  above  and  below. 

"The  wing  is  rounded;  the  second  quill  longest;  the  third,  fourth  and  fifth 
successively  a  little  shorter;  the  first  longer  than  the  sixth.  Tail  slightly 
rounded  and  a  little  emarginate.  In  full  spring  dress  there  is  no  trace  of  any 
second  color  on  the  back,  except  an  exceedingly  faint  and  scarcely  appreciable 
wash  of  dull  brownish  over  the  whole  upper  parts.  The  markings  of  the  third 
tail  feather  vary  somewhat  in  specimens.  Sometimes  the  whole  tip  is.  margined 
•with  brown;  sometimes  the  white  extends  to  the  end;  sometimes  both  webs  are 
margined  with  brown;  sometimes  the  outer  is  entirely  white;  sometimes  the 
brownish  wash  on  the  back  is  more  distinct." 

Stretch  of 
Length.  •wing.  Wing.  Tail.         Tarsus.         Bill. 

Male 6.20  9.70          3.15         2.75          .80  .43 

Female...      5.90          9.20         2.90         2.60          .80          .40 

Iris  blackish  brown;  bill  white,  with  a  pinkish,  sometimes 
bluish  tinge,  dark  at  tips;  legs  brown;  feet  dark  brown;  claws 
black. 


468  HISTORY  OF   THE 

These  hardy  little  birds  are  at  home  in  the  winter  storms. 
They  frequent  the  edges  of  the  woods  and  borders  of  fields  and 
open  lowlands.  A  rather  timid  bird,  that  only  seeks  the  abode 
of  man  when  the  ground  is  covered  with  snow.  Hunger  then 
overcomes  fear,  and  they  become  a  familiar  bird  about  the  yards 
and  stables,  hopping  nimbly  about  among  the  cattle  and  poultry, 
and  eagerly  picking  up  the  crumbs  and  seeds  scattered  in  the 
door  yards;  returning  to  their  haunts  as  the  snow  melts  away, 
if  not  as  wild,  as  timid  as  ever,  darting  into  cover  at  the  slight- 
est disturbance,  but  quickly  returning,  as  if  forgetful  of  the 
scare.  They  associate  together  in  small  flocks,  except  during 
the  mated  season,  but  are  of  rather  a  quarrelsome  nature,  and 
not  a  real  social,  happy  group.  When  at  rest,  they  perch  in  the 
bushes  and  trees  near  the  ground,  rarely  ever  flying  into  the 
tall  tree  tops.  Their  usual  chip  call  note  sounds  much  like  that 
of  the  Chipping  Sparrow.  In  the  early  spring,  as  the  warm 
weather  awakens  the  passions  of  love,  the  males  begin  to  think 
of  mating,  and  rattle  off  a  rather  low,  pleasing  song.  They  are 
not  constant  singers,  their  voice  being  seldom  heard  except  in 
the  morning  and  during  the  early  breeding  season. 

Their  nests  are  placed  in  a  depression  in  the  ground,  under 
logs  and  in  various  sheltered  situations.  I  found  a  nest  in  Nova 
Scotia,  under  an  upturned  root  of  a  tree.  They  are  also  said 
to  occasionally  nest  in  low  bushes.  Their  nests  are  made  of 
dry  grasses,  strippings  from  plants,  and  hairs,  sometimes  lined 
with  fine  grasses,  bits  of  moss,  etc.  Eggs  usually  four  or  five, 
.75x.58;  whitish  to  bluish  green,  speckled  and  blotched  chiefly 
about  the  larger  end  with  dark  reddish  brown  and  lilac;  in  form, 
oval. 

Junco  hyemalis  oregonus  (TOWNS.). 

OREGON  JUNCO. 
PLATE  XXVIIL 

Winter  sojourner;  rare  in  the  eastern,  quite  common  in  the 
middle  and  western  part  of  the  State.  Leave  in  March;  return 
late  in  October. 

B.  352.     K.  218.     C.  263.     G.  112,     233.     U.  567a. 
HABITAT.    Pacific  coast  of  North  America;  breeding  from  the 
higher  mountains   of    Southern   California  north   to  Sitka;   in 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  469 

winter  straggling  east  to  the  Mississippi  River,  and  even  to  the 
Atlantic  States. 

SP.  CHAR.  "Head  and  neck  all  round  sooty  black;  this  color  extending  to 
the  upper  part  of  the  breast,  but  not  along  the  sides  under  the  wings,  and  with 
convex  outline  behind.  luterscapular  region  of  the  back  and  exposed  surface 
of  the  wing  coverts  and  secondaries  dark  rufous  brown,  forming  a  square  patch. 
A  lighter,  more  pinkish  tint  of  same  on  the  sides  of  breast  and  belly.  Eest  of 
under  parts  clear  white.  Rump  brownish  ash.  Upper  tail  coverts  dusky. 
Outer  two  tail  feathers  white;  the  third  with  only  an  obscure  streak  of  white." 

Stretch  of 
Length.  wing.  Wing.          Tail.        Tarsus.         Bill. 

Male 6.20  9.50          3.00         2.85          .80  .45 

Female...      5.90  9.00          2.75        2.70          .80  .43 

Iris  dark  brown;  bill  pinkish  white,  tips  dusky;  legs  flesh  color 
to  dark  brown;  feet  and  claws  dark  brown  to  dusky. 

This  western  form  is  in  habits  and  actions  a  counterpart  of  the 
eastern  bird,  J.  hyemalis,  and  their  nests  and  eggs  as  a  whole 
not  noticeably  different. 

GENUS  PEUC-SJA  ATJDUBON. 

"Bill  moderate;  upper  outline  and  commissure  decidedly  curved.  Legs  and 
feet  with  the  claws  small;  the  tarsus  about  equal  to  the  middle  toe;  the  lateral 
toes  equal,  their  claws  falling  considerably  short  of  the  middle  one;  the  hind 
toe  reaching  to  about  the  middle  of  the  latter.  The  outstretched  feet  reach 
rather  beyond  the  middle  of  the  tail.  The  wing  is  very  short,  reaching  only  to 
the  base  of  the  tail;  the  longest  tertials  do  not  exceed  the  secondaries,  while 
both  are  much  short  of  the  primaries;  the  outer  three  or  four  quills  are  gradu- 
ated. The  tail  is  considerably  longer  than  the  wings;  it  is  much  graduated  lat- 
erally; the  feathers,  though  long,  are  peculiarly  narrow,  linear  and  elliptically 
rounded  at  the  ends.  Color  beneath  plain  whitish  or  brownish,  with  a  more  or 
less  distinct  dusky  line  each  side  of  the  shin.  Above,  with  broad  obsolete  brown 
streaks  or  blotches.  Crown  uniform,  or  the  feathers  edged  with  lighter." 

Peucaea  cassini  (WOODH.). 

CASSIN'S  SPARROW. 
PLATE  XXVIII. 

Summer  resident  in  the  middle  and  western  part  of  the  State; 
common.  Arrive  about  the  middle  of  May;  begin  laying  early 
in  June;  leave  in  September. 

B.  371.     R.  228.     C.  254.     G.  113,     234.     U.  578. 
HABITAT.     From   central   Kansas   southward   and   westward, 
through  Texas,  New  Mexico  and  Arizona,  into  northern  Mexico. 


4:70  HISTORY  OF  THE 

SP.  CHAR.  "Adult:  Ground  color  of  upper  parts  grayish  ash;  the  middle 
portion  of  each  feather  dull  brown  ( in  the  form  of  a  blotch),  and  with  a  black 
shaft  streak,  the  latter  becoming  modified  on  scapulars,  rump  and  upper  tail 
coverts  into  transverse  spots,  those  on  the  upper  tail  coverts  being  large  and 
conspicuous  and  in  the  form  of  crescentic  spots,  the  terminal  margin  of  the 
feathers  being  lighter  ashy,  in  sharp  contrast.  Middle  tail  feathers  clear  ashy, 
with  a  sharply-defined  shaft  streak  of  blackish,  throwing  off  obsolete,  narrow, 
transverse  bars  toward  the  edge;  rest  of  tail  clear  dusky  brown,  the  lateral 
feathers  (with  whole  outer  web  and  margin  of  inner)  dull  white;  all  (except  the 
intermediate)  with  a  large,  abruptly-defined,  terminal  space  of  dilute  brown  (de- 
creasing in  size  from  the  outer),  the  margin  whitish.  Upper  secondaries  broadly 
and  sharply  margined  along  both  edges  with  dull  ashy  white,  the  enclosed  por- 
tion being  clear  dusky  brown,  intensified  where  adjoining  the  whitish.  A  very 
obsolete  superciliary  stripe  of  ashy,  becoming  whitish  over  the  lores;  auriculars 
more  dingy,  but  without  distinct  stripe  along  upper  edge.  An  uninterrupted  but 
indistinct  'bridle'  along  sides  of  throat.  Lower  parts  dull  white,  without  any 
ochraceous,  but  with  a  very  faint  ashy  tinge  over  the  jugulum;  flanks  with  broad, 
somewhat  blended  streaks  of  mixed  brownish  and  dusky.  Bend  of  wing  edged 
with  light  yellow.  Young:  Very  similar,  but  with  a  few  drop-shaped  streaks 
of  dark  brown  on  the  jugulum  and  along  sides.  The  feathers  above  have  a  more 
appreciable  terminal  border  of  buff." 

Stretch  of 
Length.          wing.  Wing.  Tail.         Tarsus.         Bill. 

Male 6.25  8.30          2.60         2.80          .78  .50 

Female...      6.00  8.05          2.50         2.65          .76  .48 

Iris  brown;  bill  —  upper  dusky,  with  edges  and  under  man- 
dible bluish  white,  paler  at  base;  legs  and  feet  flesh  color;  claws 
pale  brown. 

This  plain,  bleached  bird  frequents  the  barren  spots  and  sandy 
lands,  dotted  here  and  there  with  low,  stunted  bushes,  bunch 
grass  or  cactus.  It  is  very  shy  and  retiring  in  its  habits,  and 
when  approached  darts  from  bush  to  bush,  or  runs,  skulks  and 
hides  like  mice,  and  it  is  no  easy  matter  to  flush  it  from  its  hid- 
ing place.  It  is  a  restless,  active  bird,  and  one  of  the  sweetest 
songsters  of  the  plains.  It  occasionally  sings  from  a  perch,  but 
usually  in  the  air,  rising  on  quivering  wings  some  twenty  feet  or 
more,  hovering  for  a  moment  in  mid  air,  then  slowly  dropping 
back  with  outstretched  legs  and  tail,  timing  it  so  as  to  alight  as 
the  last  note  is  uttered.  I  have  heard  them  sing  at  night,  and 
in  the  middle  of  the  day,  when  the  rays  of  the  sun  were  scorch- 
ing hot,  and  other  birds  had  fled  to  shelter. 

Their  nests  are  placed  on  the  ground  or  in  shrubby  bushes  not 


BIRDS  OB"  KAN* A*.  471 

over  a  foot  from  the  ground.  They  are  loosely  constructed  of 
dry  grasses,  and  lined  with  finer  leaves  of  the  same  and  hairs. 
Eggs,  usually  three  or  four;  pure  white;  in  form,  oval. 

GENUS  MELOSPIZA  BAIRD. 

"Body  stout.-  Bill  conical,  very  obsoletely  notched,  or  smooth;  somewhat 
compressed.  Lower  mandible  not  so  deep  as  the  upper.  Commissure  nearly 
straight.  Gonys  a  little  curved.  Feet  stout,  not  stretching  beyond  the  tail; 
tarsus  a  little  longer  than  the  middle  toe;  outer  toe  a  little  longer  than  the  inner; 
its  claw  not  quite  reaching  to  the  base  of  the  middle  one.  Hind  toe  appreciably 
longer  than  the  middle  one.  Wings  quite  short  and  rounded,  scarcely  reach- 
ing the  base  of  the  tail;  the  tertials  considerably  longer  than  the  secondaries; 
the  quills  considerably  graduated;  the  fourth  longest;  the  first  not  longer  than 
the  tertials,  and  almost  the  shortest  of  the  primaries.  Tail  moderately  long, 
rather  longer  from  coccyx  than  the  wings,  and  considerably  graduated;  the 
feathers  oval  at  the  tips,  and  not  stiffened.  Crown  and  back  similar  in  color, 
and  streaked;  beneath  thickly  streaked,  except  in  M.  ge&rgiana.  Tail  immacu- 
late. Usually  nest  on  the  ground;  nests  strongly  woven  of  grasses  and  fibrous 
stems;  eggs  marked  with  rusty  brown  and  purple,  on  a  ground  of  clay  color." 

Melospiza  fasciata  (GMEL.). 

SONG  SPARROW. 
PLATE  XXVIII. 

Winter  sojourner;  rare;  common  in  the  eastern  part  of  the 
State  during  migration,  rare  in  the  western  portion.  Leave  in 
March;  begin  to  return  in  October. 

In  my  "Catalogue  of  the  Birds  of  Kansas,"  they  are  entered 
as  "Resident  in  eastern  Kansas;  rare  in  summer."  I  am  now 
led  to  think  the  evidence  upon  which  I  based  the  same  is  not  re- 
liable, and  that  they  seldom  nest  in  their  western  range  much 
if  any  south  of  latitude  41°. 

B.  363.     R.  231.     C.  244.     G.  114,     235.     U.  581. 

HABITAT.  Eastern  United  States  and  British  provinces;  west 
to  the  base  of  the  Rocky  Mountains;  breeding  from  eastern 
Dakota,  northern  Illinois,  Virginia,  etc.,  northward. 

SP.  CIIAK.  "General  tint  of  upper  parts  rufous  and  distinctly  streaked  with 
rufous  brown,  dark  brown  and  ashy  gray.  The  crown  is  rufous,  with  a  super- 
ciliary and  median  stripe  of  dull  gray,  the  former  lighter;  nearly  white  anteri- 
orly, where  it  sometimes  has  a  faint  shade  of  yellow,  principally  in  autumn; 
each  feather  of  the  crown  with  a  narrow  streak  of  black,  forming  about  six 
narrow  lines.  Interscapulars  black  in  the  center,  then  rufous,  then  pale  grayish 
on  the  margin,  these  three  colors  on  each  feather  very  sharply  contrasted. 


472  HIS  TOUT  OF  THE 

Rump  grayer  than  upper  tail  coverts,  both  with  obsolete  dark  streaks.  There 
is  a  whitish  maxillary  stripe,  bordered  above  and  below  by  one  of  dark  rufous 
brown,  and  with  another  from  behind  the  eye.  The  under  parts  are  white;  the 
jugulum  and  sides  of  body  streaked  with  clear  dark  brown,  sometimes  with  a 
rufous  suffusion.  On  the  middle  of  the  breast  these  marks  are  rather  aggre- 
gated so  as  to  form  a  spot.  No  distinct  white  on  tail  or  wings. 

"Specimens  vary  somewhat  in  having  the  streaks  across  the  breast  more  or 
less  sparse,  the  spots  more  or  less  distinct.  In  autumn  the  colors  are  more 
blended,  the  light  maxillary  stripe  tinged  with  yellowish,  the  edges  of  the  dusky 
streaks  strongly  suffused  with  brownish  rufous. 

"The  young  bird  has  the  upper  parts  paler,  the  streaks  more  distinct;  the 
lines  on  the  head  scarcely  appreciable.  The  under  parts  are  yellowish;  the 
streaks  narrower  and  more  sharply-defined  dark  brown." 

Stretch  of 
Length.          wing.  Wing.          Tail.         Tarsus.         Bill. 

Male 6.70  8.80          2.70         3.00          .87  .52 

Female...      6.35  8.45          2.55        2.80          .85  .50 

Iris  brown;  bill  dusky,  pale  bluish  to  yellowish  at  base  be- 
neath; legs  and  feet  light  brown;  claws  a  shade  darker. 

These  hardy  birds,  during  the  winter  months,  frequent  in 
small  flocks  the  thickets  and  edges  of  low  woodlands,  where 
bordered  with  rank  growths  of  grasses  and  weeds;  in  the  sum- 
mer months,  when  mated,  the  more  open  grounds  and  marshes. 
They  procure  their  food  almost  wholly  on  the  ground;  it  consists 
of  seeds,  tender  buds  and  blossoms  of  plants,  insect  life  and 
berries.  Their  flights  are  low,  short,  and  rather  undulating. 
They  are  quite  constant  and  varied  songsters.  I  have  often 
heard  them,  on  warm,  sunshiny  days,  pour  forth  their  sweet 
winter  song  of  contentment;  but  it  does  not  compare  in  volume, 
energy  or  melody  with  their  love  or  breeding  song:  an  inde- 
scribable, characteristic  one,  that  justly  entitles  them  to  the  name 
they  bear. 

Their  nests  are  placed  near  the  water,  usually  on  the  ground, 
under  a  tuft  of  grass,  but  occasionally  in  a  bush;  a  compact 
nest,  composed  chiefly  of  grasses,  and  lined  with  the  slender, 
hair-like  stems.  Eggs  four  or  five,  .  78x.  59;  dull  greenish  white, 
spotted  and  blotched  with  reddish  brown,  and  a  few  purplish 
stains;  the  markings  are  pretty  evenly  distributed  over  the  en- 
tire egg,  in  some  cases  sparingly,  in  others  so  thick  and  confluent 
as  to  conceal  the  ground  color;  in  form,  oval. 


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BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  473 

Melospiza  lincolni  (AUD.). 

LINCOLN'S  SPARROW. 
PLATE  XXIX. 

Migratory;  common.  Arrive  in  April  to  first  of  May;  return 
in  October. 

B.  368.     K.  234.     C.  242.     G.  116,     236.     U.  583. 

HABITAT.  North  America  at  large;  breeding  from  the  north- 
ern border  of  the  United  States,  and  high  mountain  ranges 
south,  to  far  north  into  the  Arctic  regions;  in  winter,  south  to 
Panama. 

SP.  CHAK.  "General  aspect  above  that  of  M.  fasciata,  but  paler  and  less 
reddish.  Crown  dull  chestnut,  with  a  median  and  lateral  or  superciliary  ash- 
colored  stripe;  each  feather  above  streaked  centrally  with  black.  Back  with 
narrow  streaks  of  black.  Beneath  white,  with  a  maxillary  stripe  curving  round 
behind  the  ear  coverts;  a  well-defined  band  across  the  breast,  extending  down 
the  sides,  and  the  under  tail  coverts,  brownish  yellow.  The  maxillary  stripe 
margined  above  and  below  with  lines  of  black  spots,  and  a  dusky  line  behind  the 
eye.  The  throat,  upper  part  of  breast  and  sides  of  the  body  with  streaks  of 
black,  smallest  in  the  middle  of  the  former.  The  pectoral  bands  are  sometimes 
paler.'- 

Stretch  of 
Length.  wing.  Wing.  Tail,         Tarsus.        Bill. 

Male. 5.65  8.45  2.50  2.40          .78          .43 

Female...      5.30  7.10          2.35  2.20          .78          .43 

Iris  brown;  bill  —  upper  dusky,  under  bluish,  with  base  yel- 
lowish; legs  and  feet  light  yellowish  brown;  claws  pale  brown. 

This  widely-distributed  species  frequents  the  low,  bushy, 
weedy  lands  and  banks  of  streams.  A  rather  silent,  retiring 
bird,  that  darts  into  cover  at  the  first  alarm;  and,  as  it  hunts  for 
seeds,  insect  life,  etc.,  on  or  near  the  ground,  it  is  seldom  no- 
ticed, and  often  reported  rare  in  localities  where  it  is  quite  com- 
mon. Its  feeble,  Sparrow-like  chirp  is  rarely  ever  heard,  except 
when  startled.  I  had  the  pleasure  of  listening  to  its  song, 
uttered  from  the  top  of  small  aspen  trees  or  bushes,  near  the 
timber  line,  on  Mount  Baldy,  Colorado;  a  low  and  rather  pro- 
longed song,  but  lively,  musical  and  varied.  It  was  late  in  the 
month  of  June,  and  I  am  confident  that  the  birds  were  breeding 
there,  but  was  unable  to  find  a  nest  or  their  young.  Mr.  Oliver 
Davie,  in  "Nests  and  Eggs  of  North  American  Birds,"  says: 

"Mr.  Norris  has  two  sets  of  the  eggs  of  Lincoln's  Sparrow, 
taken  in  Boulder  county,  Colorado,  on  June  22d  and  July  18th, 


474  HISTORY  OF  THE 

respectively.  One  of  the  nests  was  placed  in  a  mossy  bank, 
among  small  swamp  bushes,  and  composed  entirely  of  grasses; 
the  other  was  built  at  the  base  of  an  aspen  tree.  The  eggs  of 
one  set,  three  in  number,  are  light  greenish  white,  heavily 
marked  (principally  at  the  larger  end)  with  chestnut  and  lav- 
ender gray;  sizes:  .Six. 58,  .Six. 59,  . 82x. 60.  The  nest  taken 
June  22d  is  of  four  eggs;  these  are  light  pea  green,  thickly 
marked  with  chestnut,  and  measure:  .79x.58,  .70x.57,  .81x.58, 
.79x.57." 

Melospiza  georgiana  (LATH.). 

SWAMP   SPARROW. 
PLATE  XXIX. 

A  winter  sojourner  in  the  southeastern  part  of  the  State;  rare; 
common  during  migration;  but  rare  in  western  Kansas.  Begin 
to  leave  in  March,  but  many  remain  until  late  in  April;  return 
in  October. 

B.  369.     R.  233.     C.  243.     G.  115,     237.     U.  584. 

HABITAT.  Eastern  North  America;  west  to  the  Great  Plains, 
accidentally  to  Utah;  north  to  Newfoundland,  Labrador  and 
the  Great  Slave  Lake  region.  Breeds  from  Massachusetts, 
northern  Illinois,  etc.,  northward;  and  winters  from  the  south- 
ern portion  of  the  Middle  States  southward. 

SP.  CHAR.  "Middle  of  the  crown  uniform  chestnut;  forehead  black;  super- 
ciliary streak,  sides  of  head,  and  back  and  sides  of  neck,  ash.  A  brown  stripe 
behind  the  eye.  Back  with  broad  streaks  of  black,  which  are  edged  with  rusty 
yellow.  Beneath  whitish,  tinged  with  ashy  anteriorly,  especially  across  the 
breast,  and  washed  with  yellowish  brown  on  the  sides.  A  few  obsolete  streaks 
across  the  breast,  which  become  distinct  on  its  sides.  Wings  and  tail  strongly 
tinged  with  nifous;  the  tertials  black,  the  rufous  edgings  changing  abruptly  to 
white  towards  the  end.  Female:  With  the  crown  scarcely  reddish,  streaked 
with  black,  and  divided  by  a  light  line.  Young:  Conspicuously  streaked  be- 
neath the  head;  above  nearly  uniform  blackish. 

"In  autumn,  the  male  of  this  species  has  the  feathers  of  the  crown  each  with 
a  black  streak,  and  the  center  of  the  crown  with  an  indistinct  light  stripe,  mate- 
rially changing  its  appearance. 

"  The  forehead  is  usually  more  or  less  streaked  with  black." 

Stretch  of 
Length.          wing.  Wing.  Tail.         Tarsus.          Bill. 

Male 5.80  7.75          2.40         2.60  .85  .45 

Female..         5.60  7.50          2.30         2.40          .82  .43 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  475 

Iris  brown;  bill  —  upper  dark  brown,  edges  of  same  and  lower 
mandible  pale  brown;  legs  and  feet  flesh  color;  claws  light 
brown. 

This  species  frequents  the  low,  marshy  grounds  and  borders 
of  streams,  seldom  visiting  the  high  or  cultivated  lands,  and  they 
are  therefore  only  well  known  to  the  bird  lovers  who  visit  their 
uninviting  haunts.  As  a  rule  they  are  less  timid  than  most  birds 
not  ,farniliar  with  man,  and,  when  cautiously  approached,  con- 
tinue their  search  for  food,  as  if  regardless  of  his  presence; 
hopping  about  among  the  reeds  and  grasses,  or  running  nimbly 
over  the  ground,  stopping  to  scratch  now  and  then,  and,  in  their 
eagerness  to  catch  minute  snails,  insects  and  floating  seeds, 
often  wade  until  their  bodies  touch  the  water.  During  the 
mated  season,  like  most  of  the  family,  they  are  devoted  lovers, 
and  both  assist  in  the  duties  of  rearing  the  young.  At  intervals 
the  birds  utter  a  rather  soft  chip,  and  at  times  a  harsh,  scolding 
note.  Dr.  Brewer,  in  "North  American  Land  Birds,"  thus 
happily  describes  its  song: 

"Except  in  regard  to  their  song,  Wilson's  account  of  their 
habits,  so  far  as  it  goes,  is  quite  accurate,  although  this  bird 
really  does  have  quite  a  respectable  song,  and  one  that  improves 
as  the  season  advances.  At  first  it  is  only  a  succession  or  repe- 
tition of  a  few  monotonous  trilling  notes,  which  might  easily  be 
mistaken  for  the  song  of  the  Field  Sparrow,  or  even  confounded 
with  the  feebler  chant  of  the  socialis,  although  not  so  varied  as 
the  former,  and  is  much  more  sprightly  and  pleasing  than  the 
other.  Still  later  its  music  improves,  and  more  effort  is  made. 
Like  the  Song  Sparrow,  it  mounts  some  low  twig,  expands  its 
tail  feathers,  and  gives  forth  a  very  sprightly  trill,  that  echoes 
through  the  swampy  thicket  with  an  effect  which,  once  noted 
and  identified  with  the  performer,  is  not  likely  to  ever  be  mis- 
taken. Nuttall  calls  this  song  loud,  sweet  and  plaintive.  It  is 
to  my  ear  more  sprightly  than  pathetic,  and  has  a  peculiar  ven- 
triloquistic  effect,  as  if  the  performer  were  at  a  much  greater 
distance  than  he  really  is." 

Their  nests  are  placed  on  low,  wet,  grassy  lands.  They  are 
composed  almost  wholly  of  dead  grasses  and  lined  with  the  finer 


476  HISTORY  OF  THE 

leaves  and  stemlets  of  the  same.  Eggs  four  or  five,  .75x.55; 
pale  bluish  to  greenish  white,  specked,  spotted  and  blotched 
with  lilac  and  various  shades  of  yellowish  to  reddish  brown, 
thickest  about  the  larger  end.  They  vary  greatly  in  size,  and 
in  depth  of  coloration,  some  sparingly  and  others  profusely 
marked.  Measurements  as  high  as  .  80x.  57  are  given.  A  set 
of  four  eggs,  collected  June  llth,  1878,  at  Pewaukee,  Wiscon- 
sin, from  a  nest  on  a  bog  in  Pewaukee  Lake,  are,  in  dimensions, 
only:  .70x.54,  .70x.55,  .70x.55,  .71x.54;  in  form,  oval  to 
ovate. 

GENUS  PASSERELLA  SWAI^SOH. 

"Body  stout.  Bill  conical,  not  notched,  the  outlines  straight;  the  two  jaws 
of  equal  depth;  roof  of  upper  mandible  deeply  excavated,  and  vaulted;  not 
knobbed.  Tarsus  scarcely  longer  than  the  middle  toe;  outer  toe  little  longer 
than  the  inner,  its  claw  reaching  to  the  middle  of  the  central  one.  Hind  toe 
about  equal  to  the  inner  lateral;  the  claws  all  long,  and  moderately  curved  only; 
the  posterior  rather  longer  than  the  middle,  and  equal  to  its  toe.  Wings  long, 
pointed,  reaching  to  the  middle  of  the  tail;  the  tertials  scarcely  longer  than  the 
secondaries;  second  and  third  quills  longest;  first  equal  to  the  fifth.  Tail  very 
nearly  even,  scarcely  longer  than  the  wing.  Inner  claw  contained  scarcely  one 
and  a  half  times  in  its  toe  proper.  Color:  Rufous  or  slaty;  obsoletely  streaked 
or  uniform  above;  thickly  spotted  with  triangular  blotches  beneath." 

Passerella  iliaca  (MEKB.). 

FOX  SPARROW. 
PLATE  XXIX. 

Winter  sojourner;  abundant  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  State, 
rare  in  the  western  portion.  Leave  in  March;  return  in  Octo- 
ber. 

B.  374.     R.  235.     C.  282.     G.  117,     238.     U.  585. 

HABITAT.  Eastern  North  America;  west  to  the  plains  and 
Alaska;  north  to  or  near  the  Arctic  regions;  winters  from  the 
southern  portion  of  the  Middle  States  southward  to  the  Gulf 
coast;  breeds  from  the  Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence  and  Labrador  to 
Alaska. 

SP.  CIIAE.  "General  aspect  of  upper  parts  foxy  red,  the  ground  color  and 
the  sides  of  neck  being  ashy;  the  interscapular  feathers  each  with  a  large  blotch 
of  fox  red;  this  color  glossing  to  the  top  of  head  and  nape  —  sometimes  faintly, 
sometimes  more  distinctly;  the  rump  unmarked;  the  upper  coverts  and  surface 
of  the  tail  continuous  fox  red.  Two  narrow  white  bauds  on  the  wing.  Beneath, 
with  under  tail  coverts  and  axillars,  clear  white,  the  sides  of  head  and  of  throat, 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  477 

the  jugulum,  breast  and  sides  of  body,  conspicuously  and  sharply  blotched  with 
fox  red;  more  triangular  across  breast,  more  linear  and  darker  on  sides.  Some- 
times the  entire  head  above  is  continuously  reddish.  First  quill  rather  less  than 
fifth.  Hind  toe  about  equal  to  its  claw. 

"In  summer,  the  ash  is  more  predominant  above;  iu  winter,  it  is  overlaid 
more  or  less  by  a  wash  of  rufous,  as  described  above." 

Stretch  of 
Length.          Tiling.  Wing.          Tail.          Tarsus.         Bill. 

Male 7.15          11.10         3.50         3.10  .98  .45 

Female...      6.80          10.75         3.35         3.90  .96  .43 

Iris  brown;  bill  —  upper  dusky,  with  edges  of  the  same  and 
lower  mandible  straw  color;  legs  and  feet  dark  flesh  color; 
claws  brown. 

This  large,  plump,  handsome  Sparrow  inhabits  the  tangled 
thickets  and  sheltered  ravines.  It  is  largely  terrestial  in  its 
habits,  and,  like  the  Towhees,  puts  in  most  of  its  time  scratch- 
ing among  the  dead  leaves  for  food.  A  rather  timid  bird,  that 
darts  into  the  thickest  growths  at  the  least  alarm,  uttering,  as  it 
starts,  a  sharp  chup  note.  It  also  has  a  soft,  Sparrow-like  chip, 
or  call  note,  and  occasionally  utters  a  few  low,  soft,  warbling 
notes;  but  its  charming  love  song  is  only  heard  during  the 
breeding  season.  It  is  rather  short,  but  unsurpassed  in  melody 
by  any  of  the  family. 

In  the  month  of  July,  1879,  I  found  them  breeding  on  Byron 
Isle,  one  of  the  Magdalen  group,  in  the  Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence. 
It  was  too  late  in  the  season  for  their  eggs,  as  their  young  birds 
were  nearly  full  grown.  From  actions,  I  think  the  parent  birds 
were  preparing  to  rear  another  brood,  as  the  males  were  singing 
almost  constantly,  from  early  morn  till  late  at  night;  but  their 
song,  so  rich  and  silvery  in  its  tone,  was  ever  welcomed,  and 
never  seemed  tiresome,  and  I  think  they  rank  next  to  our 
Thrushes  and  "Wrens  as  songsters. 

Their  nests  are  usually  placed  on  the  ground,  in  concealed 
places,  occasionally  in  bushes.  Mr.  Nelson,  in  his  "Report 
upon  Natural  Historical  Collections  in  Alaska,"  gives  the  fol- 
lowing minute  description  of  a  nest  and  its  eggs: 

"On  June  5th,  1880,  a  pair  was  shot,  in  a  thicket  near  St. 
Michael's,  and  the  nest  secured.  The  nest  obtained  is  a  very 
strong,  compact  structure,  four  and  a  half  inches  across  by  two  and 


478  HISTORY  OF  T1IK 

three-fourths  high,  having  a  central  cavity  one  and  three-fourths 
inches  deep  by  two  and  three-fourths  across.  The  outer  part 
of  the  nest  is  made  of  a  thin,  compact  layer  of  green  moss,  with 
a  few  dead  leaves.  Inside  is  a  thin  layer  of  dried  grass,  running 
circularly  up  the  inside  of  the  nest;  this  again  is  lined  with  a 
handsomely  cross-woven  layer  of  wiry  black  moss  fibers  and 
chestnut  club-moss  stems;  the  whole  being  a  very  well-made  and 
handsome  structure,  in  which  were  three  eggs  with  a  clayey 
greenish  ground  color;  two  of  them  are  thickly  and  uniformly 
dotted  with  dull  reddish  brown;  between  the  dots  the  ground 
color  shows  plainly  in  many  places;  the  third  egg  is  so  densely 
dotted  with  reddish  brown  and  chocolate  that  the  ground  color 
can  hardly  be  traced,  in  a  few  places.  This  egg  measures  .90x 
.70;  the  other  two,  .89x.68  and  .90x.68." 
Eggs  three  to  five;  in  form,  oval. 

Passerella  iliaca  schlstacea  (BAIRD). 

SLATE-COLORED  SPARROW. 

A  rare  winter  visitant  in  the  western  part  of  the  State;  to  be 
looked  for  in  sheltered  places,  along  the  streams  or  ravines 
fringed  with  a  dense  growth  of  bushes,  weeds,  etc. 

B.  376.     K.  235c.     C.  284.     G.  118,     239.     U.  585c. 

HABITAT.  Rocky  Mountain  regions  of  the  United  States;  west 
from  the  Great  Plains  to  the  eastern  slope  of  the  Sierra  Nevada. 

SP.  CHAR.  "Bill  slender,  the  length  being  .34  from  nostril,  the  depth  .25;  the 
upper  mandible  much  swollen  at  the  base;  the  under  yellow.  Above,  and  on 
the  sides,  uniform  slate  gray;  the  upper  surface  of  wings,  tail  feathers  and  upper 
coverts  dark  brownish  rufous;  ear  coverts  streaked  with  white.  Beneath,  pure 
white,  with  broad,  triangular,  arrow-shaped  and  well-defined  spots  of  slate  gray 
(like  the  back)  everywhere,  except  along  the  middle  of  the  belly;  not  numerous 
on  the  throat.  A  hoary  spot  on  the  base  of  the  bill  above  the  loral  region;  ax- 
illars  nearly  white." 

Stretch  of 
Length.          wing.  Wing.          Tail.         Tarsus.         Bill. 

Male 7.20          10.50         8.20         3.40          .92  .45 

Female...      7.00         10.20        3.10        3.30         .92          .43 

Iris  brown;  bill — upper  dusky,  with  sides  at  base  dull  straw 
color;  tip  of  under  mandible  bluish,  rest  straw  color;  legs  and 
feet  flesh  color;  claws  pale  brown. 

From  my  limited  observation,  I  think  this  bird  does  not  dif- 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  479 

fer  much,  if  any,  in  habits  and  actions  from  the  Fox  Sparrow. 
The  following  description  is  taken  from  "North  American  Land 
Birds:" 

"Mr.  Ridgway  found  the  Slate-colored  Sparrow  at  Carson 
City,  during  its  spring  migrations  northward,  in  the  early  part 
of  March.  At  this  time  it  was  seen  only  among  the  willows 
along  the  Carson  Kiver,  and  was  by  no  means  common.  It  had 
the  habit  of  scratching  among  the  dead  leaves,  on  the  ground 
in  the  thickets,  precisely  after  the  manner  of  the  eastern  P.  ili- 
aca.  In  the  following  September,  he  again  found  it  among  the 
thickets  in  the  upper  Humboldt  Valley.  In  Parley's  Park, 
among  the  Wasatch  Mountains,  he  found  it  a  very  plentiful  spe- 
cies in  June,  nesting  among  the  willows  and  shrubbery  along 
the  streams.  There  it  was  always  found  in  company  with 
the  M.  fallax,  which  in  song  it  greatly  resembles,  though  its 
other  notes  are  quite  distinct,  the  ordinary  one  being  a  sharp 
'Chuck.'*  The  nest  of  the  two  species,  he  adds,  were  also 
so  much  alike  in  manner  of  construction  and  situation,  and  the 
eggs  so  similar,  that  it  required  a  careful  observation  to  identify 
a  nest  when  one  was  found. 

"The  eggs  from  one  nest  of  the  Passerella  iliaca  schistacea 
measure  .90 x. 70  of  an  inch,  have  a  ground  of  light  mountain 
green,  and  are  profusely  spotted  with  blotches  of  a  rufous 
brown,  generally  diffused  over  the  entire  egg. 

"Another  nest  of  this  species,  obtained  in  Parley's  Park,  in 
the  Wasatch  Mountains,  by  Mr.  Ridgway,  June  23d,  1869,  was 
built  in  a  clump  of  willows,  about  two  feet  from  the  ground. 
The  nest  is  two  inches  in  height,  two  and  a  half  in  diameter, 
cavity  one  and  a  half  deep,  with  a  diameter  of  two.  It  is  com- 
posed externally  of  coarse,  decayed  water  grass,  and  is  lined  with 
fine  hair  and  finer  material  like  the  outside.  The  eggs  (four  in 
number)  are  .80x. 67  of  an  inch;  of  a  very  rounded  oval  shape; 
the  ground  color  of  a  pale  green,  blotched  and  marked  (chiefly 
at  the  larger  end)  with  brown  spots  of  a  wine-colored  hue." 

*  While  the  female  i8  covering  her  eggs,  the  male  may  frequently  be  heard  giving  vent  to 
his  nuptial  song,  in  the  early  morning  arid  just  before  sundown.  His  lay,  however,  is  rather 
weak  and  of  small  compass,  very  much  rese.mbling  that  of  Melospiza  fa sciata  montana.  He 
delivers  it  while  perched  on  some  small  twig,  overlooking  the  thicket  in  which  the  nest  is 
placed,  and  generally  close  to  it.  Their  usual  call  note  is  a  repeated  "  Tzip,  tzip."  (Bendire. ) 


480  HISTORY  OF  THE 

GENUS  PIPILO  VIEILT.OT. 

"Bill  rather  stout;  the  culmen  gently  curved;  the  gonys  nearly  straight; 
the  commissure  gently  concave,  with  a  decided  notch  near  the  end;  the  lower 
jaw  not  so  deep  as  the  upper;  not  as  wide  as  the  gonys  is  long,  but  wider  than 
the  base  of  the  upper  mandible.  Feet  large,  the  tarsus  as  long  or  a  little  longer 
than  the  middle  toe;  the  outer  lateral  toe  a  little  the  longer,  and  reaching  a  little 
beyond  the  base  of  the  middle  claw.  The  hind  claw  about  equal  to  its  toe;  the 
two  together  about  equal  to  the  outer  toe.  Claws  all  stout,  compressed,  and 
moderately  curved;  in  some  western  specimens  the  claws  much  larger.  Wings 
reaching  about  to  the  end  of  the  upper  tail  coverts;  short  and  rounded,  though 
the  primaries  are  considerably  longer  than  the  nearly  equal  secondaries  and 
tertials;  the  outer  four  quills  are  graduated,  the  first  considerably  shorter  than 
the  second,  and  about  as  long  as  the  secondaries.  Tail  considerably  longer  than 
the  wings,  moderately  graduated  externally;  the  feathers  rather  broad,  most 
rounded  off  on  the  inner  webs  at  the  end. 

"The  colors  vary;  the  upper  parts  are  generally  uniform  black  or  brown, 
sometimes  olive;  the  under,  white  or  brown;  no  central  streaks  on  the  feathers. 
The  hood  sometimes  differently  colored." 

Pipilo  erythrophthalmus  (LINN.). 

TOWHEE. 
PLATE  XXIX. 

A  resident  in  eastern  Kansas;  common  in  summer,  and 
throughout  the  year  in  the  southern  portion;  in  the  western 
part  of  the  State,  a  rare  migrant;  begin  laying  early  in  May. 

B.  391.     K.  237.     C.  301.     G.  119,     240.     U.  587. 

HABITAT.  Eastern  United  States;  west  to  eastern  Dakota  and 
Texas;  south  to  the  Gulf  coast.  May  occasionally  breed  through- 
out its  range,  but  chiefly  from  the  northern  portion  of  the 
Southern  States  northward. 

SP.  CHAB.  "Upper  parts  generally,  head  and  neck  all  round,  and  upper  part 
of  the  breast,  glossy  black,  abruptly  defined  against  the  pure  white  which  ex- 
tends to  the  anus,  but  is  bounded  on  the  sides  and  under  the  wings  by  light 
chestnut,  which  is  sometimes  streaked  externally  with  black.  Feathers  of  throat 
white  in  the  middle.  Under  coverts  similar  to  sides,  but  paler.  Edges  of  outer 
six  primaries  with  white  at  the  base  and  on  the  middle  of  the  outer  web;  inner 
two  tertiaries  also  edged  externally  with  white.  Tail  feathers  black;  outer  web 
of  the  first,  with  the  ends  of  the  first  to  the  third  white,  decreasing  from  the 
exterior  one.  Outermost  quill  usually  shorter  than  ninth,  or  even  than  seconda- 
ries; fourth  quill  longest,  fifth  scarcely  shorter.  Iris  red;  said  to  be  sometimes 
paler,  or  even  white  in  winter.  Female:  With  the  black  replaced  by  a  rather 
rufous  brown.  The  tail  feathers  are  only  moderately  graduated  on  the  sides; 
the  outer  about  .40  of  an  inch  shorter  than  the  middle.  The  outer  tail  feathers 
have  the  terminal  half  white,  the  outline  transverse;  the  white  of  the  second  is 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  481 

about  half  as  long  as  that  of  the  first;  of  the  third  half  that  of  the  second.  The 
chestnut  of  the  sides  reaches  forward  to  the  back  of  the  neck,  and  is  visible 
when  the  wings  are  closed.  A  young  bird  has  the  prevailing  color  reddish  olive 
above,  spotted  with  lighter;  beneath  brownish  white,  streaked  thickly  with 
brown." 

Stretch  of 
Length.          wing.  Wing.         Tail.         Tarsus.         Bill. 

Male 8.50          11.00         3.55         4.10         1.10          .55 

Female...      8.20          10.60         3.40         3.80         1.10          .53 

Iris  bright  red;  bill  black;  legs,  feet  and  claws  light  brown 
to  flesh  color. 

These  peculiarly  marked,  characteristic  birds  inhabit,  during 
the  winter  months,  the  low  bottom  timber  lands  along  the 
streams;  in  summer,  the  groves,  higher  lands,  and  tangled  thick- 
ets bordering  the  woodlands  and  streams.  They  are  not  as  a  rule 
as  shy  and  retiring  as  most  birds  that  make  their  homes  in  retired, 
secluded  places.  I  have  often  watched  them  in  their  haunts,  and 
by  sitting  down  or  standing  motionless  had  them  come  almost 
to  my  feet,  in  their  search  for  worms,  insect  life  and  seeds  that 
lie  chiefly  beneath  the  old,  dead  leaves,  which  they  remove  by 
scratching  with  their  feet,  often  making  the  leaves  fly  in  every 
direction.  Busy  bodies !  and  as  they  move  about  on  the 
ground,  or  hop  from  bush  to  bush,  often  raise  their  crests, 
spread  and  jerk  their  tails,  not  in  a  nervous  manner,  but  rather 
as  if  proud  of  their  good  looks  and  display.  They  occasionally 
utter  their  call  note,  "Tow-hee,  tow-reet,"  or  "Chewink,  "and 
when  startled,  in  a  sharp  and  distinct  manner. 

Their  song,  heard  from  the  top  of  a  bush  or  low  tree,  con- 
sists of  a  few  monotonous  notes,  uttered  in  a  clear,  plaintive 
tone,  but  not  musical  enough  to  rank  with  our  sweet  songsters. 
They  are  usually  met  with  in  pairs  or  family  groups,  and  I 
think  they  remain  mated  during  the  year. 

Their  nests  are  usually  placed  in  a  depression  on  the  ground, 
under  a  log  or  at  the  foot  of  a  tree,  in  a  brush  heap,  or  most 
any  concealed  spot  they  may  fancy,  and  occasionally  in  low 
bushes.  I  found  one  at  least  ten  feet  from  the  ground.  It 
was  hidden  in  the  sprouts  growing  from  a  gnarl  on  the  body  of 
a  hackberry  tree.  They  are  bulky  structures,  composed  of 
leaves,  twigs,  and  strippings  from  grapevines,  and  lined  with 

-31 


482  HISTORY  OF  THE 

small  stems  of  grasses  and  rootlets.  Eggs  four  or  five,  .94x.  71; 
grayish  white,  spotted  with  reddish  brown,  thickest  and  some- 
what running  together  around  the  larger  end;  in  form,  oval. 

Pipilo  maculatus  arcticus  (SWAINS.). 

ARCTIC  TOWHEE. 
PLATE  XXIX. 

Winter  sojourner;  rare  in  the  eastern,  common  in  the  mid- 
dle and  western  part  of  the  State.  The  bulk  leave  in  April.  I 
have  occasionally  met  with  the  birds  late  in  May,  and  they  may 
possibly  occasionally  breed  in  the  northern  portion  of  the  State, 
but  their  natural  nesting  places  are  much  farther  north.  Begin 
to  return  in  October. 

B.  393.     R.  238.     C.  304.     G.  120,     241.     U.  588. 

HABITAT.  Great  Plains,  north  to  the  Saskatchewan  and  Man- 
itoba regions;  south  to  Texas;  east  to  Kansas,  Nebraska,  etc. ; 
west  to  the  base  of  the  Rocky  Mountains;  south  in  winter  to 
Texas. 

SP.  CHAB.  "Upper  parts  generally,  with  head  and  neck  all  round  to  the 
upper  part  of  the  breast,  black;  the  rump  usually  tinged  with  ashy.  Middle  of 
breast  and  of  belly  white;  sides  chestnut;  under  tail  coverts  similar,  but  paler. 
Entire  outer  webs  of  scapulars,  and  dorsal  feathers  immediately  above  them,  and 
of  ends  of  primary  and  secondary  coverts,  to  the  shaft,  with  edges  of  outer  webs 
of  three  innermost  tertials,  and  of  the  second  to  the  fifth  primaries,  conspicu- 
ously white.  Whole  outer  web  of  the  first,  and  ends  of  the  first  to  the  fourth, 
tail  feathers,  white,  the  amount  diminishing  not  very  rapidly.  Outermost  quill 
longer  than  ninth,  sometimes  than  eighth,  nearly  always  exceeding  the  second- 
aries; third  quill  longest;  fourth  scarcely  shorter.  Female  paler  brown  instead 
of  black;  the  rufous,  seen  in  P.  erythrophthalmus,  tinged  with  ashy. 

"P.  arcticus  is  similar  in  form  to  P.  eryt7irop7ithalmus,  which,  however,  is 
readily  distinguished  by  the  entire  absence  of  white  on  the  scapulars  and  wing 
coverts.  The  amount  of  white  on  the  tail  decreases  much  less  rapidly." 

Stretch  of 
Length.          wing.  Wing,          Tail.          Tarsus.         Bill. 

Male 8.25          10.80         3.50         4.00         1.05          .52 

Female...      8.10          10.30         3.30         3.90         1.03          .52 

Iris  bright  red;  bill  —  upper  black,  lower  bluish  black;  legs 
reddish  brown;  feet  and  claws  dark  brown. 

I  find  occasionally  in  Kansas  signs  of  intergradation  with  P. 
erythrophtlialmus;  that  is,  specimens  with  a  few  white  wing 
spots,  and  others  grading  up  to  the  fully  speckled  state. 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  483 

These  birds  are  not  noticeably  different  in  their  general  habits, 
actions  or  song,  from  the  common  eastern  Towhee.  Their  call 
note  is,  however,  quite  different,  and  sounds  more  like  the  mew 
of  the  Catbird. 

Eggs  four  or  five,  .  94x.  69;  white,  tinged  slightly  with  green- 
ish, and  speckled  and  spotted  with  reddish  and  purplish  brown, 
thickest  about  the  larger  end,  some  specimens  thickly,  others 
sparingly  marked;  in  form,  oval. 

GENUS  CARDINALIS  BONAPARTE. 

"Bill  enormously  large;  culmeu  very  slightly  curved,  commissure  sinuated; 
lower  jaw  broader  than  the  length  of  the  gouys,  considerably  wider  than  the 
upper  jaw,  about  as  deep  as  the  latter.  Tarsi  longer  than  the  middle  toe;  outer 
toe  rather  the  longer,  reaching  a  little  beyond  the  base  of  the  middle  one;  hind 
toe  not  so  long.  Wings  moderate,  reaching  over  the  basal  third  of  the  exposed 
part  of  the  tail.  Four  outer  quills  graduated;  the  first  equal  to  the  secondaries. 
Tail  long,  decidedly  longer  than  the  wings,  considerably  graduated;  feathers 
broad,  truncated  a  little  obliquely  at  the  end,  the  corners  rounded.  Colors  red. 
Head  crested. 

"The  essential  characters  of  this  genus  are:  The  crested  head;  very  large  and 
thick  bill,  extending  far  back  on  the  forehead,  and  only  moderately  curved 
above;  tarsus  longer  than  the  middle  toe;  much  graduated  wings,  the  first  pri- 
mary equal  to  the  secondary  quills;  the  long  tail  exceeding  the  wing,  broad  and 
much  graduated  at  the  end." 

Cardinalis  cardinalis  (LINN.). 

CARDINAL. 
PLATE  XXIX. 

Resident;  common  in  eastern  Kansas;  rare  in  western  part 
of  the  State.  Begin  laying  about  the  middle  of  May. 

B.  390.     E.  242.     C.  299.     G.  121,     242.     U.  593. 

HABITAT.  Eastern  United  States;  north  regularly  to  about 
latitude  41°,  casually  northward;  west  to  the  edge  of  the  Great 
Plains;  south  to  the  Gulf  coast.  Breeds  throughout  its  range. 

SP.  CHAR.  "Adult  male:  Uniform  vermilion  red,  pure  beneath,  darker  and 
more  brownish  above.  Lores,  anterior  portion  of  malar  region,  chin  and  throat 
black,  this  color  meeting  across  forehead  at  base  of  culmen.  Bill  bright  ver- 
milion; iris  brown;  feet  horn  color.  Adult  female:  Bill,  eyes  and  feet  as  in 
the  male.  Red  of  head  and  body  replaced  by  olive  gray  above,  and  grayish  buff 
or  pale  fulvous  below,  the  crest,  sometimes  also  the  breast,  tinged  with  red. 
Black  of  throat,  etc.,  replaced  by  grayish.  Young:  Bill  dusky.  Plumage  much 
as  in  the  adult  female,  but  browner." 


484:  HISTORY  OF   THE 

Stretch  of 
Length.          wing.  Wing.  Tail.         Tarsus.          Bill. 

Male  .....      9.15          12.00         3.80         4.35          .95  .78 

Female...       8.75          11.50         3.50         4.25          .93  .73 

Iris  brown;  bill  red;  legs  and  feet  dark  reddish  brown;  claws 
brown. 

This  beautiful  species,  of  rich,  gaudy  colors,  proud  bearing 
and  clear,  melodious  song,  inhabits  the  groves  and  thickets, 
usually  in  pairs.  A  shy,  retiring  bird,  much  sought  after  for 
the  cage,  on  account  of  its  showy  plumage  and  loud,  energetic, 
varied  whistling  song,  which  is  almost  continuous  for  at  least 
two-thirds  of  the  year.  They  do  not,  however,  take  kindly  to  con- 
finement, but  flutter  and  struggle  hard  and  long  to  escape.  In 
their  habits  are  partially  terrestrial,  hopping  about  and  scratching 
upon  the  ground  for  their  food,  which  consists  of  berries,  seeds 
and  grains  (the  corn  cribs  are  often  visited  in  winter),  and  in- 
sects, in  their  season,  help  to  make  up  their  bill  of  fare.  They 
also  hunt  for  the  same  in  the  bushes,  weeds  and  vines,  seldom 
mounting  high  in  the  treetops.  Their  flights  are  low  and  firm, 
but  not  long  sustained. 

Their  nests  are  placed  in  low  trees,  bushes  and  briers,  loosely 
constructed  of  leaves,  grasses,  vine-like  stems  and  strippings 
from  grapevines,  and  lined  with  finer  grasses,  which  are  woven 
into  a  rather  compact  and  rounded  form.  Eggs  three  or  four, 
.99x.73;  grayish  white,  irregularly  spotted  with  purple,  lilac 
and  reddish  brown,  thickest  about  larger  end;  in  form,  oval. 

GENUS  HABIA  REICHENBACH. 

"Bill  very  large,  much  swollen;  lower  mandible  scarcely  deeper  than  the 
upper;  feet  almost  coccothraustine,  tarsi  and  toes  very  short,  the  claws  strong 
and  much  curved,  though  blunt.  First  four  primaries  longest,  and  nearly  equal, 
abruptly  longer  than  the  fifth.  Tail  broad,  perfectly  square.  Colors:  Black, 
white  and  red,  or  black,  cinnamon,  yellow  and  white,  on  the  male;  the  females 
brownish,  streaked,  with  the  axillars  and  lining  of  the  wing  yellow." 


Habia  ludoviciana 

ROSE-BREASTED  GROSBEAK. 
PLATE  XXIX. 

A  rare  summer  resident  in  eastern  Kansas;  quite  common  dur- 
ing migration;  in  the  western  part  of  the  State,  a  rare  migrant. 
(I  have  never  met  with  the  birds  west  of  Junction  City.)  Ar- 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  485 

rive  the  last  of  April  to  first  of  May;  begih  laying  the  last  of 
May;  leave  for  the  south  in  September. 

B.  380.     R.  244.     C.  289.     G.  122,     243.     U.  595. 

HABITAT.  Eastern  North  America;  north  to  Nova  Scotia  and 
the  Saskatchewan  region;  west  to  the  edge  of  the  Great  Plains; 
south  in  winter  to  northern  South  America;  breeding  from  about 
latitude  40°  northward. 

SP.  CHAB.  "Upper  parts  generally,  with  head  and  neck  all  round,  glossy 
black.  A  broad  crescent  across  the  upper  part  of  the  breast,  extending  nar- 
rowly down  the  belly;  axillars  and  under  wing  coverts  carmine.  Rest  of  under 
parts,  rump  and  upper  tail  coverts,  middle  wing  coverts,  spots  on  the  tertiaries 
and  greater  wing  coverts,  basal  half  of  primaries  and  secondaries,  and  a  large 
patch  on  the  ends  of  inner  webs  of  the  outer  three  tail  feathers,  pure  white. 

"Female  without  the  white  of  quills,  tail  and  rump,  and  without  any  black 
or  red.  Above,  yellowish  brown,  streaked  with  darker;  head  with  a  central 
stripe  above,  and  a  superciliary  on  each  side,  white.  Beneath  dirty  white, 
streaked  with  brown  on  the  breast  and  sides.  Upper  wing  coverts  and  axillars 
saffron  yellow. 

"In  the  male  the  black  feathers  of  the  back  and  sides  of  the  neck  have  a 
subterminal  white  bar.  There  are  a  few  black  spots  on  the  sides  of  the  breast 
just  below  the  red. 

"The  young  male  of  the  year  is  like  the  female,  except  in  having  the  axil- 
laries,  under  wing  coverts,  and  a  trace  of  a  patch  on  the  breast,  light  rose  red. 

"The  depth  of  the  carmine  tint  on  the  under  parts  varies  a  good  deal  in  dif- 
ferent specimens,  but  is  always  of  the  same  rosy  hue." 

Stretch  of 
Length.  wing.          Wing.         Tail.         Tarsus.          Bill. 

Male 8.10          12.70         4.10         3.35          .85  .70 

Female...      8.00          12.50         4.00         3.30          .85  .70 

Iris  brown;  bill  grayish  white,  with  ridge  dusky  and  tips 
brown;  legs  and  feet  grayish  blue;  claws  light  brown. 

These  handsome  birds  are  as  much  at  home  in  the  groves  and 
high,  open  woodlands  as  within  the  low,  timbered  lands  skirting 
the  streams.  They  occasionally  visit  the  orchards  and  gardens, 
in  search  of  the  potato  bugs  and  other  injurious  insects  and 
worms,  and  later  in  the  season  pick  a  few  berries,  etc.,  as  part 
payment  for  the  good  services  rendered;  but  they  are  wary 
birds  and  prefer  the  woodlands  for  their  haunts,  feeding  chiefly 
upon  the  wild  seeds,  berries,  tender  buds  and  insect  life  that 
abound  in  such  localities.  They  occasionally  search  for  food 
on  the  ground,  but  are  more  arboreal  than  terrestial,  and  are  to 
be  looked  for  largely  in  the  treetops. 


486  HISTORY  OF   THE 

Their  ordinary  call  or  alarm  note  is  a  sharp  "Chink."  The 
males  are  fine  songsters,  next  in  rank  to  the  Thrushes  and 
Wrens;  a  varied  song,  from  a  low  warble  to  a  loud,  emphatic 
strain  as  clear  and  musical  as  a  bell.  In  the  early  breeding  sea- 
son, when  bubbling  over  with  love  and  joy,  they  occasionally 
sing  at  night.  The  birds  are  easily  tamed  or  reared  from  the 
nest,  and  make  interesting  pets  and  cage  birds.  Their  flight  is- 
quite  rapid  and  strong,  and  when  going  any  distance,  often  high 
above  the  trees. 

Their  nests  are  placed  in  small  trees,  six  to  twelve  feet  from 
the  ground,  usually  towards  the  top  and  near  the  center  of  the 
tree.  A  coarse,  loosely  constructed  nest,  made  of  twigs,  stems 
of  weeds,  bits  of  old  leaves  and  rootlets,  and  lined  with  a  finer 
material  from  the  same.  Eggs  three,  occasionally  four.  Size 
(they  vary  greatly),  . 95 x . 69;  grayish  to  greenish  white,  spotted 
and  blotched  with  various  shades  of  reddish  brown,  and  in  some 
cases  with  obscure  shell-stains  of  lilac;  in  form,  oval. 

Habia  melanocephala  (SWAINS.). 

BLACK-HEADED  GROSBEAK. 
'  PLATE  XXIX. 

Summer  resident;  quite  common  in  the  western  to  middle 
part  of  the  State;  rare  or  accidental  in  the  eastern  portion.  Ar- 
rive the  first  of  May;  begin  laying  last  of  May;  leave  in  Sep- 
tember. 

B.  381.     R.  245.     C.  290.     G.  123,     244.     U.  596. 

HABITAT.  Western  United  States;  east  to  middle  Nebraska, 
Kansas  and  Texas;  south  into  Mexico;  known  to  breed  north 
of  Mexico,  in  suitable  localities  throughout  their  range. 

SP.  CHAR.  Under  wing  coverts  clear  gamboge  yellow  or  lemon  yellow. 
Adult  male:  Head  black,  the  throat,  and  sometimes  a  postocular  stripe  (occasion- 
ally a  stripe  on  middle  of  crown,  also),  light  cinnamon  ochraceous;  wings  and 
tail  black,  varied  with  white,  as  in  H.  ludomciana;  back,  mixed  black  and  light 
cinnamon  (sometimes  uniform  black);  rump,  collar  round  hindneck,  and  most 
of  lower  parts,  uniform  buffy  cinnamon;  belly  and  under  wing  coverts  lemon 
yellow;  under  tail  coverts  white.  Adult  female:  Above,  dusky  grayish  brown, 
streaked,  especially  on  back  and  middle  line  of  crown,  with  pale  fulvous  or  buffy; 
beneath  pale  fulvous  or  ochraceous,  streaked  on  sides  and  flanks  with  dusky, 
but  usually  without  streaks  on  breast;  belly  pale  yellowish,  and  under  wing  cov- 
erts clear  lemon  yellow.  Young:  Much  like  adult  female,  but  (especially  the 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  487 

male)  more  buffy,  the  markings  more  suffused  with  the  ground  color,  and  remiges 
and  tail  feathers  tinged  with  olive  greenish.  (Ridgicny.) 

Stretch  of 
Length.          wing.  Wing.  Tail.          Tarsus.         Bill. 

Male 8.20          12.75         4.10         3.75          .87  .70 

Female...      7.90          12.40         3.95         3.40          .87  .68 

Iris  brown;  bill  —  upper  dusky,  under  pale  bluish;  legs,  feet 
and  claws  dark  bluish  brown. 

This  bird  is  almost  a  counterpart  in  habits  and  actions  of  the 
Rose-breasted  Grosbeak,  which  they  replace  in  the  west.  Their 
song  is  also  very  similar.  It  is  uttered  in  a  little  more  rapid 
and  varied  manner,  but  is  fully  as  clear  and  melodious,  and 
always  seemed  sweeter  and  nearer  to  me;  perhaps  it  is  because 
I  have  usually  listened  to  it  in  the  shrubby  groves,  far  out  upon 
the  plains,  where  almost  any  sound,  animate  or  inanimate,  that 
breaks  the  surrounding  stillness  is  welcomed,  like  the  chirrup  of 
crickets  in  winter  at  our  firesides;  and  whenever  they  greet  me 
from  the  treetops  in  such  places,  I  feel  like  pitching  my  tent,  for 
I  know  they  will  sing  my  lullaby  at  eve,  and  refresh  me  with 
an  early  morning  song. 

Eggs  three  or  four.  They  vary  greatly  in  size.  A  set  of 
four  eggs,  taken  May  12,  1877,  at  Santa  Cruz,  California,  from 
a  nest  loosely  composed  of  a  few  twigs,  weeds,  rootlets  and 
grasses,  placed  in  a  willow  tree,  about  ten  feet  from  the  ground, 
are,  in  dimensions:  .91x.70,  .92x.70,  .95x.72,  .97x.68;  bluish 
to  greenish  white,  speckled  and  spotted  with  reddish  and  rusty 
brown,  thickest  around  larger  end;  some  heavily,  others  spar- 
ingly marked;  in  form,  oval. 

GENUS  GUIRACA  SWAINSOX. 

"Bill  very  large,  nearly  as  high  as  long;  the  culmen  slightly  curved,  with  a 
rather  sharp  ridge;  the  commissure  conspicuously  angulated  just  below  the 
nostril;  the  posterior  leg  of  the  angle  nearly  as  long  as  the  anterior,  both  nearly 
straight.  Lower  jaw  deeper  than  the  upper,  and  extending  much  behind  the 
forehead;  the  width  greater  than  the  length  of  the  gonys,  considerably  wider 
than  the  upper  jaw.  A  prominent  knob  in  the  roof  of  the  mouth.  Tarsi  shorter 
than  the  middle  toe;  the  outer  a  little  longer,  reaching  not  quite  to  the  base  of 
the  middle  claw;  hind  toe  rather  longer  than  to  this  base.  Wings  long,  reach- 
ing the  middle  of  the  tail;  the  secondaries  and  tertials  nearly  equal;  the  second 
quills  longest;  the  first  less  than  the  fourth.  Tail  very  nearly  even,  shorter  than 
the  wings." 


4:88  HISTORY  OF  THE 

Guiraca  cserulea  (LINN.)- 

BLUE  GROSBEAK. 
PLATE  XXIX. 

Summer  resident;  quite  common  in  the  western  and  middle 
parts  of  the  State;  rare  in  the  eastern  portion.  Arrive  the  first 
of  May;  begin  laying  about  the  first  of  June;  leave  in  Septem- 
ber. 

B.  382.     R.  246.     C.  291.     G.  124,     245.     U.  597. 

HABITAT.  Southern  half  of  eastern  United  States;  north  oc- 
casionally to  New  England  and  southern  Nebraska;  west  to 
eastern  Colorado  and  western  Texas;  south  in  winter  to  Cuba 
and  southeastern  Mexico;  breeding  throughout  their  United 
States  range. 

SP.  CHAR.  "Brilliant  blue;  darker  across  the  middle  of  the  back.  Space 
around  the  base  of  the  bill  and  lores,  with  tail  feathers,  black.  Two  bands  on 
the  wing  across  the  tips  of  the  middle  and  secondary  coverts,  with  outer  edges 
of  tertiaries,  reddish  brown  or  perhaps  chestnut.  Feathers  on  posterior  portion 
of  the  under  surface  tipped  narrowly  with  grayish  white.  Female  yellowish 
brown  above,  brownish  yellow  beneath;  darkest  across  the  breast.  Wing  cov- 
erts and  tertials  broadly  edged  with  brownish  yellow.  Sometimes  a  faint  trace 
of  blue  on  the  tail.  The  young  resemble  the  female.  Autumnal  and  winter 
males  have  the  feathers  generally,  especially  on  the  back  and  breast,  tipped 
with  light  brown,  obscuring  somewhat  the  blue,  though  producing  a  beautiful 
appearance." 

Stretch  of 
Length.          wing.  Wing.         Tail.         Tarsut.         Bill. 

Male 7.25          11.15         3.50         2.90          .78  .63 

Female...      6.75          10.50         3.35         2.70          .75  .62 

Iris  brown;  bill — upper  dusky,  under  light  blue;  legs,  feet 
and  claws  dark  brown. 

These  birds  prefer,  for  their  homes,  the  banks  of  streams, 
where  thinly  shirted  with  trees  and  bushes,  and  the  grassy  up- 
lands in  the  vicinity  of  thickets.  They  are  only  common  in  cer- 
tain localities  and  not  abundant  anywhere.  They  feed  chiefly 
upon  the  various  kinds  of  seeds,  crushing  with  their  thick  bills 
the  larger  grains.  Buds  and  berries  are  also  occasionally 
plucked,  but  in  this  respect  they  are  not  so  destructive  as  their 
cousins,  the  Rose-breasted.  Insect  life  is  also  much  sought 
after,  especially  while  rearing  their  young,  beetles  being  a  favor- 
ite food.  As  a  rule  the  birds  are  rather  silent,  uttering  now  and 
then  their  ordinary  call  note,  a  ringing  "Chip"  or  "Chink." 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  489 

In  the  early  breeding  season  the  males  sing  quite  sweetly,  but 
they  are  not  constant  or  late  singers,  and  therefore  not  highly 
rated  as  song  birds. 

Their  nests  are  placed  in  low  trees  and  bushes  and  are  com- 
posed of  coarse,  fibrous  strippings,  grasses,  old  leaves,  bits  of 
newspapers,  and  other  fragmentary  substances,  and  lined  with 
hairs  and  rootlets.  One  taken  at  Wallace,  Kansas,  June  16th. 
1885,  was  built  close  to  the  body  of  a  willow  tree,  on  small, 
twig-like  branches,  about  seven  feet  from  the  ground;  outside 
made  wholly  of  narrow  strippings  of  the  inner  bark  of  dead 
cottonwood  trees,  resting  on  a  foundation  of  a  few  old  leaves 
and  bits  of  newspapers,  and  lined  with  fine  bleached  rootlets. 
Eggs  three  or  four,  .85x. 66;  bluish  white;  in  form,  oval. 

GENUS  PASSERINA  VIEILLOT. 

"Bill  deep  at  base,  compressed;  the  upper  outline  considerably  curved;  the 
commissure  rather  concave,  with  an  obtuse,  shallow  lobe  in  the  middle.  Gonys 
slightly  curved.  Feet  moderate;  tarsus  about  equal  to  middle  toe;  the  outer 
lateral  toe  barely  longer  than  the  inner,  its  claw  falling  short  of  the  base  of  the 
middle;  hind  toe  about  equal  to  the  middle  without  claw.  Claws  all  much 
curved,  acute.  Wings  long  and  pointed,  reaching  nearly  to  the  middle  of  the 
tail;  the  second  and  third  quills  longest  Tail  appreciably  shorter  than  the 
wings;  rather  narrow,  very  nearly  even. 

"The  species  of  this  genus  are  all  very  small  in  size  and  of  showy  plumage, 
usually  blue,  red  or  greeu,  in  well  defined  areas.  The  females,  plain  olivaceous 
or  brownish;  paler  beneath." 

Passerina  cyanea  (LINN.). 

INDIGO  BUNTING. 
PLATE  XXIX. 

Summer  resident;  common  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  State; 
very  rare  in  the  western  portion.  Arrive  the  last  of  April  to 
first  of  May;  begin  laying  the  last  of  May;  the  bulk  leave  in 
September. 

B.  387.     E.  248.     C.  295.     G.  125,     246.     U.  598. 

HABITAT.  Eastern  United  States;  north  into  Canada;  west 
to  the  edge  of  the  Great  Plains;  south  in  winter  to  Cuba,  east- 
ern Mexico  and  southern  Central  America;  breeding  chiefly 
north  of  the  Gulf  States. 

SP.  CHAR.  "Male:  Blue,  tinged  with  ultramarine  on  the  head,  throat  and  mid- 
dle of  breast;  elsewhere  with  verdigris  green.  Lores  and  anterior  angle  of  chin 


490  HISTORY  OF  THE 

velvet  black.  Wing  feathers  brown,  edged  externally  with  dull  bluish  brown. 
Female:  Brown  above;  whitish,  obscurely  streaked  or  blotched  with  brownish 
yellow,  beneath;  tinged  with  blue  on  shoulders,  edges  of  large  feathers,  and  on 
rump.  Immature  males  similar,  variously  blotched  with  blue.  Very  young 
birds  streaked  beneath. 

"In  this  species,  which  may  be  considered  the  type  of  the  genus,  the  tail  is 
slightly  emargiuate;  the  second  quill  is  longest,  the  first  shorter  than  the 
fourth." 

Stretch  of 
Length.  wing.  Wing.         Tail.          Tarsus.         Bill. 

Male 5.40  8.90          2.80         2.40          .70  .41 

Female...       5.25  8.55          2.60         2.20          .67  .40 

Iris  brown;  bill  —  upper  dusky,  under  blue,  usually  with  a  nar- 
row line  of  black  beneath  from  tip  to  forks;  legs  and  feet  yel- 
lowish brown;  claws  dark  brown. 

These  birds  of  deep  blue,  as  their  name  indicates,  are  rather 
common  throughout  their  range.  They  frequent  the  open 
woodlands,  orchards,  cultivated  fields,  and  edges  of  prairies 
where  skirted  with  trees,  or  dotted  with  scattering  groves  or 
thickets.  Their  food,  like  all  of  the  Fringillidce  family,  consists 
largely  of  seeds,  which  they  gather  from  the  plants  and  weeds. 
Insect  life  is  also  much  sought  after,  especially  during  the  breed- 
ing season.  They  are  naturally  rather  shy  and  suspicious,  but, 
when  they  select  a  nesting  place  near  our  dwellings,  soon  be- 
come quite  unconcerned  and  fearless.  The  male,  during  the 
early  mating  season  and  while  the  hen  bird  is  sitting,  puts  in  a 
large  share  of  his  time  chanting,  from  the  upper  branches  of  a 
low  or  detached  tree,  his  simple,  pleasing  song,  but  as  soon  as 
the  young  are  hatched,  he  proudly  assists  his  mate  in  feeding 
and  caring  for  the  little  ones,  and  is  so  solicitous  and  watchful 
that  he  finds  but  little  time  to  express  his  joy  in  song,  and  in 
the  latter  part  of  the  season  is  a  rather  silent  bird. 

Their  nests  are  placed  in  low,  shrubby  bushes.  They  are  com- 
posed of  leaves,  fibers  and  grasses,  and  lined  with  the  fine  stems 
of  grasses  and  horse  hair.  Eggs  usually  four,  ,75x.55;  white, 
with  a  faint  bluish  hue  (eggs  showing  a  few  brown  spots  are 
rare  and  exceptional);  in  form,  oval. 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  491 

Passerina  amoena  (SAY). 

LAZULI  BUNTING. 
PLATE  XXIX. 

Summer  resident  in  the  western  part  of  the  State;  rare.  Ar- 
rive early  in  May;  begin  laying  about  the  first  of  June;  leave 
in  September. 

B.  386.     R.  249.     C.  296.     G.  126,     247.     U.  599. 

HABITAT.  Western  United  States;  east  to  the  Great  Plains; 
south  in  winter  into  Mexico;  breeding  in  suitable  localities 
throughout  their  United  States  range. 

SP.  CHAR.  '••Male:  Upper  parts  generally,  with  the  head  and  neck  all  round, 
greenish  blue;  the  interscapular  region  darker.  Upper  part  of  breast  pale 
brownish  chestnut,  extending  along  the  sides,  and  separated  from  the  blue  of  the 
throat  by  a  faint  white  crescent;  rest  of  under  parts  and  axiilars  white.  A 
white  patch  on  the  middle  wing  coverts,  and  an  obscurely  indicated  white  band 
across  the  ends  of  the  greater  coverts.  Loral  region  black.  Female:  Brown 
above,  tinged  with  blue  on  rump  and  tail;  whitish  beneath,  tinged  with  buff  on 
the  breast  and  throat;  faint  white  bands  on  wings." 

Stretch  of 
Length.         luing.  Wing.         Tail.         Tarsus.          Bill. 

Male 5.65          9.05          2.85         2.35          .70  .40 

Female...     5.45          8.60          2.65        2.20          .67  .40 

Iris  dark  brown;  bill  —  upper  and  tips  of  lower  blackish,  rest 
blue;  legs,  feet  and  claws  brownish  black. 

This  prettily  colored  species  is  similar  in  habits  and  actions  to 
the  Indigo  Bunting,  which  it  replaces  in  the  west.  Its  song  is 
said  by  some  writers  to  be  very  different,  yet  to  my  ear  it  is 
similar,  but  uttered  in  a  more  feeble  and  less  lively  strain. 

Their  nests  are  also  built  in  low  bushes,  and  of  the  same  mate- 
rial and  make-up.  Eggs  usually  four;  bluish  white;  in  form, 
oval.  A  set  of  four  eggs,  taken  May  26th,  1884,  in  a  canon,  near 
San  Diego,  California,  was  built  near  the  ends  of  thick  branches 
of  a  bush,  about  four  feet  from  the  ground.  It  was  composed 
wholly  of  branching  stems  from  flowering  weeds,  and  lined  with 
the  finer  stems  of  the  same.  The  eggs  were,  in  dimensions: 
.75x.59,  .76x.59,  .80x.50,  .80x.59;  in  form,  oval. 


492  HISTORY  OF  THE 

Passerina  ciris  (Lixx.). 

PAINTED  BUNTING. 
PLATE  XXIX. 

A  summer  resident  in  southern  Kansas;  quite  common  in  the 
Gypsum  Hills,  and  along  the  timbered  streams  in  Barber  and 
Comanche  counties.  Arrive  the  last  of  April  to  first  of  May; 
begin  laying  the  last  of  May;  leave  in  September. 

B.  384.     R.  251.     C.  292.     G. ,     248.     U.  601. 

HABITAT.  South  Atlantic  and  Gulf  States;  north  to  North 
Carolina  and  southern  Kansas;  south  in  winter  through  eastern 
Mexico  to  Panama  (in  the  winter  of  1883  I  found  them  very 
common  in  western  Guatemala);  breeding  from  the  Gulf  coast 
northward. 

SP.  CHAR.  "Male:  Head  and  neck  all  round  ultramarine  blue,  excepting  a 
narrow  stripe  from  the  chin  to  the  breast,  which,  with  the  under  parts  generally, 
the  eyelids  and  the  rump  (which  is  tinged  with  purplish),  are  vermilion  red. 
Edges  of  chin,  loral  region,  greater  wing  coverts,  inner  tertiary  and  interscapu- 
lar  region  green;  the  middle  of  the  latter  glossed  with  yellow.  Tail  feathers, 
lesser  wing  coverts  and  outer  webs  of  quills  purplish  blue.  Female:  Clear  dark 
green  above,  yellowish  beneath.  Youug  like  female. 

"Tail  very  slightly  emarginated  and  rounded;  second,  third  and  fourth  quills 
e^ual;  first  rather  shorter  than  fifth. 

"The  female  is  readily  distinguishable  from  that  of  P.  cyanea  by  the  green 
instead  of  dull  brown  of  the  back,  and  the  yellow  of  the  under  parts." 

Stretch  of 
Length.          •wing.  IVing.  Tail.          Tarsus.         Bill. 

Male 5.50  9.00          2.85         2.50          .70  .41 

Female...      5.30  8.55          2.65         2.0>          .70  .40 

Iris  brown;  eyelids  red;  bill  —  upper  and  tips  of  lower  dusky, 
rest  blue;  legs  and  feet  dark  lead  color;  claws  brown. 

These  birds,  of  rich  and  almost  unrivaled  plumage,  inhabit 
the  thickets  and  edges  of  woodlands,  preferring  the  hedges,  deep 
ravines,  and  streams  fringed  with  thick  undergrowth.  They  are 
very  shy  and  retiring,  but  not  restless  or  timid,  and  soon  become 
accustomed  to  confinement,  and  are  much  prized  as  cage  birds, 
more  on  account  of  their  beautiful  dress  than  their  song,  which 
is  a  low,  melodious  warble,  much  inferior  to  that  of  the  Cana- 
ries. Complaint  is  often  made  that  birds  moulting  in  confine- 
ment come  out  with  a  much  duller  plumage  than  in  the  wild 
state;  but  this  is  not  the  case  when  given  plenty  of  sunlight, 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  493 

room  and  food,  and,  when  thus  carefully  treated,  breed  as  freely 
as  within  their  natural  haunts.  Their  chief  food  consists  of  the 
various  kinds  of  seeds  and  insect  life.  Their  flights  are  not 
swift,  but  strong  and  well  sustained.  The  males,  like  most 
highly-colored  birds,  do  not  assist  in  hatching  the  eggs,  but  share 
in  the  duties  of  feeding  and  caring  for  their  young. 

Their  nests  are  placed  in  forks  of  low  trees  and  bushes;  they 
are  composed  of  grasses,  sometimes  leaves,  at  the  base,  and 
lined  with  the  finer  grasses  and  hairs.  Eggs  four  or  five,  .  78  x 
.57;  creamy  to  bluish  white,  thinly  speckled  and  spotted  with 
purple  and  reddish  brown,  thickest  about  the  larger  end;  in 
form,  oval. 

GENUS  SPIZA  BONAPARTE. 

"Bill  large  and  strong,  swollen,  and  without  any  ridges;  the  lower  mandible 
nearly  as  high  as  the  upper,  as  broad  at  the  base  as  the  length  of  the  gonys,  and 
considerably  broader  than  the  upper  mandible;  the  edges  much  inflexed,  and 
shutting  much  within  the  upper  mandible;  the  commissure  considerably  angu- 
lated  at  the  base,  then  decidedly  sinuated.  The  tarsus  barely  to  the  middle  toe; 
the  lateral  toes  nearly  equal,  not  reaching  to  the  base  of  the  middle  claw;  the 
hind  toe  about  equal  to  the  middle  one  without  claw.  The  wings  long  and  acute, 
reaching  nearly  to  the  middle  of  the  tail;  the  tertials  decidedly  longer  than  the 
secondaries,  but  much  shorter  than  the  primaries;  first  quill  longest,  the  others 
regularly  graduated.  Tail  considerably  shorter  than  the  wings,  though  moder- 
ately long;  nearly  even,  though  slightly  emarginate;  the  outer  feathers  scarcely 
shorter.  Middle  of  back  only  striped;  beneath  without  streaks. 

"This  genus  comes  nearer  to  Calamospiza,  but  has  shorter  tertials,  more  slen- 
der bill,  weaker  and  more  curved  claws,  etc." 

Spiza  americana  (GMEL.). 

DICKCISSEL. 
PLATE  XXX. 

Summer  resident;  abundant  in  the  eastern  to  middle  part  of 
the  State;  rare  in  the  western  portion.  Arrive  the  last  of  April 
to  first  of  May;  begin  laying  the  last  of  May;  leave  in  Septem- 
ber. 

B.  378.     K.  254.     C.  287.     G.  127,     249.     U.  604. 

HABITAT.  Eastern  United  States;  north  to  New  England  and 
southern  Dakota;  west  to  the  Rocky  Mountains;  south  in  win- 
ter (casually  southwest  to  Arizona  and  Lower  California)  to 
northern  South  America.  Breeds  chiefly  north  of  the  Southern 
States. 


494  HISTORY  OF  THE 

SP.  CHAR.  "Male:  Sides  of  the  head,  and  sides  and  back  of  the  neck,  ash: 
crown  tinged  with  yellowish  green,  and  faintly  streaked  with  dusky.  A  super- 
ciliary and  short  maxillary  line,  middle  of  the  breast,  axillars,  and  edge  of  the 
wing,  yellow.  Chin,  loral  region,  patch  on  side  of  throat,  belly  and  under  tail 
coverts  white.  A  black  patch  on  the  throat,  diminishing  to  the  breast  and  end- 
ing in  a  spot  on  the  upper  part  of  the  belly.  Wing  coverts  chestnut.  Inter- 
scapular  region  streaked  with  black;  rest  of  back  immaculate.  Female:  With 
the  markings  less  distinctly  indicated;  the  black  of  the  breast  replaced  by  a 
black  maxillary  line  and  a  streaked  collar  in  the  yellow  of  the  upper  part  of  the 
breast. 

"Among  adult  males,  scarcely  two  individuals  exactly  alike  can  be  found.  In 
some,  the  black  of  the  throat  is  continued  in  blotches  down  the  middle  of  the 
breast,  while  in  others  it  is  restricted  to  a  spot  immediately  under  the  head. 
These  variations  are  not  at  all  dependent  upon  any  difference  of  habitat,  for 
specimens  from  remote  regions  from  each  other  may  be  found  as  nearly  alike  as 
any  from  the  same  locality.  Some  specimens  from  Central  America  are  more 
deeply  colored  than  North  American  ones,  owing,  no  doubt,  to  the  freshness  of 
the  plumage." 

Stretch  of 
Length.  wing.  Wing.          Tail.         Tarsus.          Bill. 

Male 6.25          10.00         3.20         2.35          .90  .56 

Female...      6.00  9.55         3.00        2.20          .90  .54 

Iris  brown;  bill  —  dusky  on  ridge,  rest  bluish;  legs,  feet  and 
claws  brown. 

These  well-known  birds  are  rare  in  the  eastern  portion  of  their 
range,  rather  common  in  the  middle,  and  abundant  westward. 
They  prefer  for  their  homes  the  open  fields  and  prairies,  where 
they  are  to  be  met  with  in  pairs  and  family  groups.  The  males, 
during  the  early  breeding  season,  especially  while  the  females 
are  sitting,  make  themselves  very  conspicuous,  throughout  the 
day,  by  perching  upon  tall  weeds,  bushes  or  fence  posts,  and 
zealously  uttering  at  short  intervals  their  monotonous  attempt 
at  song,  making  up  in  quantity  what  it  wholly  lacks  in  melody. 
In  the  latter  part  of  the  season  they  do  not  attempt  to  sing,  and 
even  their  call  note  is  seldom  heard. 

Like  most  all  of  the  seed  eaters,  their  diet  consists  also  of 
berries  and  the  various  forms  of  insect  life.  Upon  the  wing 
the  birds  are  strong  and  easy,  and  in  their  migratory  flights  or 
when  going  a  distance  fly  quite  rapidly  and  high,  but,  about 
their  haunts,  low  and  in  rather  an  undulating  manner. 

Their  nests  are  built  upon  the  ground  and  in  low  bushes;  a 
rather  compact  structure,  usually  made  of  grass,  and  lined  with 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  495 

its  fine,  wiry,  stem-like  branches,  occasionally  with  stemlets  of 
weeds  and  horse  hairs.  Eggs  four  or  five,  . 82x.  63;  uniform 
light  blue;  in  form,  oval. 

GENUS  CALAMOSPIZA  BONAPARTE. 

"Bill  rather  large,  much  swollen  at  the  base;  the  culmen  broad,  gently  but 
decidedly  curved;  the  gonys  nearly  straight;  the  commissure  much  angulated 
near  the  base,  then  slightly  sinuated;  lower  mandible  nearly  as  deep  as  the 
upper,  the  margins  much  inflected,  and  shutting  under  the  upper  mandible. 
Nostrils  small,  strictly  basal.  Rictus  quite  stiffly  bristly.  Legs  large  and  stout. 
Tarsi  a  little  longer  than  the  middle  toe;  outer  toe  rather  longer  than  inner, 
and  reaching  to  the  concealed  base  of  the  middle  claw;  hind  toe  reaching  to  the 
base  of  the  middle  claw;  hind  claw  about  as  long  as  its  toe.  Claws  all  strong, 
compressed,  and  considerably  curved.  Wings  long  and  pointed;  the  first  four 
nearly  equal,  and  abruptly  longest;  the  tertials  much  elongated,  as  long  as  the 
primaries.  Tail  a  little  shorter  than  the  wings,  slightly  graduated;  the  feathers 
rather  narrow  and  obliquely  oval,  rounded  at  the  end." 

Calamospiza  melancorys  STEJX. 

LARK  BUNTING. 
PLATE  XXX. 

Summer  resident  in  the  middle  and  western  portions  of  the 
State;  irregular;  some  seasons  quite  common,  others  rare. 
Arrive  about  the  first  of  May;  begin  laying  about  the  first  of 
June;  leave  in  October. 

B.  377.     R.  256.     C.  286.     G.  128,     250.     U.  605. 

HABITAT.  From  western  Minnesota  and  middle  Texas,  west 
to  the  Rocky  Mountains;  south  in  winter  to  northern  Mexico, 
and  occasionally  southwesterly  through  western  Arizona  and 
southern  California  into  Lower  California;  breeding  from  mid- 
dle Kansas  north  to  a  little  beyond  the  United  States  bound- 
ary. 

SP.  CHAR.  Adult  male,  in  summer:  Uniform  bla<?k,  with  more  or  less  of  a 
slaty  cast,  the  middle  and  greater  wing  coverts  white,  forming  a  very  conspicuous 
patch  on  wing.  Adult  female:  Above  brownish  gray,  streaked  with  dusky,  the 
white  wing  patch  smaller;  lower  parts  white,  streaked  on  breast  and  sides  with 
dusky.  Adult  male,  in  winter:  Similar  to  adult  female,  but  feathers  of  lower 
parts  (especially  on  belly)  black  beneath  the  surface,  this  showing  when  feath- 
ers are  disarranged.  Young:  Similar  to  adult  female,  but  more  buffy;  the  feath- 
ers of  the  upper  parts  bordered  with  buify  white,  and  streaks  on  lower  parts 
narrower.  (Ridgway.) 

Stretch  of 
Length.  wing.  Wing.  Tail.        Tarsus.         Bill. 

Male 7.20          11.50         3.50         3.10          .95  .56 

Female...      6.90          11.00         3.30         2.90          .95          .53 


496  HISTORY  OF  THE 

Iris  brown;  bill  —  upper  and  tips  of  under  dark  horn  blue, 
rest  sky  blue;  legs  brown;  feet  and  claws  dark  brown. 

I  have  often  met  with  these  characteristic  birds  in  various 
localities.  December  14th,  1881,  I  had  the  pleasure  of  finding 
a  small  flock  in  the  Cohone  valley,  about  twenty  miles  northeast 
from  San  Diego,  California  —  the  extreme  western  and  almost 
southwestern  limits  of  their  winter  range.  They  have  somewhat 
the  habits  of  the  Larks,  and  the  seasonable  changes  in  color  of 
the  Bobolink,  the  same  ringing  chink  or  call  note,  and,  like 
them,  the  males  often  warble  from  a  bush  or  weed,  and,  in  full 
song,  rise  almost  perpendicularly  in  the  air  and  hover  on  tremu- 
lous wings  as  they  pour  forth  their  sweet,  lively,  modulated 
notes.  They  also  gather  together  in  flocks  and  rove  about  after 
the  breeding  season  in  much  the  same  manner,  but  more  like  the 
Longspurs. 

They  are  strictly  terrestial,  and  run  nimbly  about  over  the 
ground  in  search  of  seeds,  insects,  etc.  Prof.  J.  A.  Allen,  in 
Doctor  Cones'  "Birds  of  the  Northwest,"  says: 

"The  Lark  Bunting,  though  of  rather  local  distribution  and 
limited  range,  must  be  regarded  as  one  of  the  most  characteristic 
and  interesting  birds  of  the  plains.  Generally,  in  the  breeding 
season,  a  number  of  pairs  are  found  in  the  same  vicinity,  while, 
again,  not  an  individual  may  be  met  with  for  many  miles.  At 
other  seasons  it  is  eminently  gregarious,  roving  about  in  consid- 
erable flocks.  In  its  song  and  the  manner  of  its  delivery  it  much 
resembles  the  Yellow-breasted  Chat  (Icteria  mrens),  like  that  bird 
rising  to  a  considerable  distance  in  the  air,  and  poising  itself  by 
a  peculiar  flapping  of  the  wings  during  its  utterances,  then  ab- 
ruptly descending  to  the  ground,  to  soon  repeat  the  manoeuver. 
It  is  a  very  strong  flyer,  and  seems  to  delight  in  the  strongest 
gales,  singing  more  at  such  times  than  in  comparatively  quiet 
weather.  I  met  with  several  colonies  not  far  from  Fort  Hays, 
in  June  and  July,  and  later  at  Cheyenne,  Laramie,  and  in  South 
Park,  and  in  the  elevated,  open  table  lands  between  South  Park 
and  Colorado  City.  They  were  also  frequent  along  the  route 
from  Colorado  City  to  Denver,  sometimes  considerable  flocks 
being  met  with.  They  were  then  moulting,  and  the  parti-colored 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  497 

flocks  of  young  and  old  were  quite  unsuspicious  and  easily  ap- 
proached. During  the  breeding  season  we  found  them  exceed- 
ingly shy  and  difficult  to  procure,  and  were  unsuccessful  in  our 
efforts  to  discover  their  nests." 

Their  nests  are  placed  in  depressions,  sunk  in  the  ground  so 
that  the  top  only  comes  to  the  surface.  They  are  rudely  con- 
structed of  grasses  and  weeds,  and  lined  with  fine  branching 
stemlets,  and,  occasionally,  hairs.  Eggs  four  or  five,  . 86x. 66; 
light  blue;  in  form,  oval. 

GENUS  PIRANGA  VIEIT/LOT. 

Bill  subcouical  and  rather  cylindrical,  the  cuhneu  moderately  curved,  espe- 
cially toward  the  tip;  maxillary  tominm  distinctly  notched  near  the  tip,  and  often 
with  a  more  or  less  distinct  tooth  near  the  middle.  Wings  rather  long  (decidedly 
longer  than  the  tail);  primaries  nine,  the  four  outer  ones  longest.  Tail  moder- 
ate, distinctly  emarginate;  tarsus  rather  short  (about  equal  to  or  but  little  longer 
than  the  culinen),  the  middle  toe  shorter,  or  about  equal  to  the  length  of  the  bill 
from  the  nostril  to  the  tip.  Colors  chiefly  or  partly  bright  red  in  the  adult  male, 
olive-greenish  above  and  yellowish  below  in  the  female.  (Ridgway.) 

Piranga  erythromelas  VIEILL. 

SCARLET  TANAGER. 
PLATE  XXX. 

Summer  resident;  common  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  State; 
rare  in  the  middle.  I  have  never  met  with  them  in  the  western 
portion.  Arrive  the  last  of  April;  begin  laying  about  the  20th 
of  May;  leave  in  September. 

B.  220.     R.  161.     C.  154.     G.  81,     251.     U.  608. 

HABITAT.  Eastern  North  America;  north  to  southern  Can- 
ada and  Manitoba;  west  to  the  Great  Plains;  south  in  winter  to 
West  Indies,  eastern  Mexico,  Central  America  and  to  middle 
South  America.  Breeds  throughout  its  United  States  range. 
(May  14th,  1880,  I  saw  a  straggler  on  Brier  Island,  Nova 
Scotia.) 

SP.  CHAR.  "Bill  shorter  than  the  head.  Second  quill  longest;  first  and 
third  a  little  shorter.  Tail  moderately  forked.  Male:  Whole  head  and  body 
continuous  pure,  intense  scarlet,  the  feathers  white  beneath  the  surface,  and 
grayish  at  the  roots.  Wings  and  tail,  with  scapulars,  uniform  intense  black; 
the  middle  coverts  sometimes  partly  red,  forming  an  interrupted  band.  Lining 
of  wing  white.  A  blackish  tinge  along  sides  of  the  rump,  concealed  by  wings. 
-32 


498  HISTORY  OF  THE 

Female:  Olive  greeu  above,  yellowish  beneath.     Wing  and  tail  feathers  brown, 
edged  with  olivaceous. 

"At  least  three  years  seem  to  be  required  for  the  assumption  of  the  perfect 
plumage  of  the  male.  In  the  first  year  the  young  male  is  like  the  female,  but 
has  black  wings  and  tail;  in  the  fall  red  feathers  begin  to  make  their  appear- 
ance, and  the  following  spring  the  red  predominates  in  patches." 

Stretch  of 
Length.          wing.         Wing.          Tail.          Tarsus.          Bill. 

Male 7.35          11.80         8.90         3.00          .75  .62 

Female...      7.10          11.40         8.75         2.80          .75  .60 

Iris  brown;  bill  olive  green,  with  a  bronze  hue;  legs,  feet 
and  claws  dark  blue. 

These  birds,  dressed  in  brilliant  scarlet  relieved  by  jetty  black, 
are  unsurpassed  in  beauty  by  any  of  our  northern  birds.  They 
occasionally  frequent  the  orchards  and  gardens,  but  their  natural 
haunts  are  within  the  deep  forests.  The  males  arrive  upon  their 
breeding  grounds  about  a  week  in  advance  of  the  females,  and 
make  their  presence  known  by  singing  loudly  from  the  topmost 
branches  of  the  trees,  and  by  their  oft-repeated  call  notes, ' '  Chip, 
chur-r,"  and  harsh  challenge,  "Chup,  charr,"  on  the  approach 
of  a  rival.  On  the  arrival  of  the  females,  they  sing  in  a  softer 
manner  from  the  lower  branches.  Their  courtships  are  of  short 
duration,  and,  soon  after,  a  nesting  place  is  selected  and  prep- 
arations for  housekeeping  commenced.  As  soon  as  the  females 
begin  to  lay,  and  while  sitting,  the  males,  as  at  first,  mount  the 
higher  branches  and  pour  forth,  with  tremulous  wings,  their 
song  of  love,  in  a  less  harsh  but  fully  as  loud  a  strain.  After 
the  young  are  hatched,  their  song  is  seldom  heard.  They  do  not 
rank  high  in  the  musical  scale,  but  their  notes  are  lively  and 
pleasing.  In  flight  they  are  strong  and  steady,  and  they  glide 
with  ease  swiftly  through  the  treetops;  a  pretty  sight,  as  a  flash- 
ing glimpse  is  caught  now  and  then  of  his  fiery  colors,  that  shine 
as  brightly  as  the  glow  of  the  lightning  bug  at  eve.  In  the 
early  part  of  the  season  they  feed  chiefly  upon  insect  life;  in 
the  latter  part,  upon  berries. 

Their  nests  are  placed  on  horizontal  branches  of  trees,  from 
ten  to  thirty  feet  from  the  ground;  a  flat,  loose  structure,  com- 
posed of  stems  and  strippings  from  plants,  and  lined  with  fine, 
hair-like  fibers  and  rootlets.  Eggs  three  to  five  (usually  four), 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  4.99 

.90x.65;  pale  greenish  blue,  minutely  spotted  with  reddish 
brown,  and  occasional  markings  of  obscure  purple,  often  aggre- 
gating into  a  wreath  around  the  larger  end;  in  form,  oval. 


Piranga  rubra 

SUMMER  TANAGBR. 
PLATE  XXX. 

Summer  resident;  common  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  State; 
rare  westward.  Arrive  the  last  of  April;  begin  laying  about 
the  20th  of  May;  leave  in  September. 

B.  221.     E.  164.     C.  155.     G.  82,     252.     U.  610. 

HABITAT.  Eastern  United  States;  west  to  the  edge  of  the 
Great  Plains;  north  to  New  Jersey,  Illinois  and  Nebraska; 
casually  north  to  Iowa,  Connecticut  and  Ontario;  accidental  to 
Nova  Scotia;  south  in  winter  to  Cuba,  eastern  Mexico,  Central 
America  and  northern  South  America.  Breeds  throughout  its 
United  States  range. 

SP.  CHAB.  Adult  male:  Rich  rose  red  or  vermilion,  including  wings  and 
tail;  the  former  dusky  on  unexposed  portions  of  the  feathers;  bill  pale;  feet 
darker.  Adult  female:  Dull  brownish  olive  above,  below  dull  brownish  yellow; 
no  wing  bars.  Young  male:  Like  the  female.  Male  changing  plumage  shows 
red,  greenish  and  yellowish  in  irregular  patches,  but  no  black.  The  female  dis- 
tinguished from  erythromelas  by  the  dull  brownish,  ochery  or  buffy  shades  of 
the  olive  and  yellowish,  the  greenish  and  yellowish  of  female  erythromelas  being 
much  clearer  and  paler;  also  by  the  paler  bill  and  feet.  The  tint  of  mature 
males  varies  greatly;  from  rosy  to  brick  red.  (Coues.) 

Stretch  of 
Length.          viing.  Wing.  Tail.  Tarsus.          Bill. 

Male  .....      7.50        11.50         3.75          3.00          .75  .78 

Female...      7.35         11.25         3.65          2.90  .75          .75 

Iris  brown;  bill  olive,  rather  dusky  on  ridge;  legs,  feet  and 
claws  grayish  blue. 

These  handsome  red  birds  inhabit  the  groves,  and  the  streams 
where  skirted  with  trees  and  underbrush.  They  are  seldom  met 
with  in  the  deep  woods.  They  are  shy  and  retiring,  and,  not- 
withstanding their  attractive  dress,  would  rarely  be  noticed  were 
it  not  for  their  oft  repeated  and  peculiarly  emphatic  call  note, 
"  Chicky-tucky-tuck,  "  once  heard,  never  forgotten.  The  song 
of  the  males  sounds  much  like  the  whistling  notes  of  the  Balti- 


500  HISTORY  OF  THE 

more  Oriole,  and  rather  more  prolonged  and  musical  than  that 
of  the  Scarlet  Tanager. 

Their  food  consists  of  insects  and  berries;  the  first  are  caught 
largely  upon  the  wing.  Beetles  are  the  favorite,  and,  as  they 
are  largely  nocturnal,  the  birds  are  often  seen  actively  darting 
for  them,  here  and  there,  until  the  shades  of  eve  darken  into 
night.  The  berries  are  plucked  from  the  bushes  and  vines,  and 
are  also  readily  picked  up  from  the  ground.  In  flight  they  are 
strong,  even  and  quite  rapid. 

Their  nests  are  usually  placed  near  the  extremity  of  horizon- 
tal or  drooping  branches.  I  have  occasionally  found  them  on 
the  river  bottom  lands,  in  the  tops  of  a  thick  growth  of  bushes, 
where  hidden  beneath  the  wild,  overhanging  grapevines;  a 
loose,  frail  structure,  composed  mostly  of  stems  of  weeds,  leaves 
and  strippings  from  plants,  and  lined  with  fine  grasses,  and  oc- 
casionally rootlets,  etc.  Eggs  three  or  four,  .95  x. 68;  light  em- 
erald green,  speckled  and  spotted  with  various  shades  of  purple 
and  dark  brown,  thickest  and  running  together  around  the  larger 
end;  in  form,  oval. 

FAMILY  HIRTINDINDJE.     SWALLOWS. 

11  Bill  short,  triangular,  very  broad  at  base  (nearly  as  wide  as  long)  and  much 
depressed,  narrowing  rapidly  to  a  compressed,  notched  tip;  mouth  opening  nearly 
to  the  eyes.  Primaries  nine,  graduating  rapidly  from  the  exterior  one;  tail 
feathers  twelve.  Feet  weak;  tarsi  scutellate,  shorter  than  middle  toe  and  claw. 
Number  of  joints  in  toes  normal;  basal  joint  of  middle  toe  partially  or  entirely 
adherent  to  lateral  toes.  Wings  long,  falcate.  Tail  forked.  Eyes  small.  Plum- 
age compact,  usually  lustrous.  All  the  American  species  with  a  white  patch  on. 
the  sides  under  the  wing,  and  with  the  iris  hazel  or  brown."* 

GENUS  PEOGNE  BOIE. 

"Body  stout.  Bill  robust,  lengthened;  lower  or  commissural  edge  of  maxilla 
sinuated,  decidedly  convex  for  basal  half,  then  as  concave  to  the  tip,  the  lower 
mandible  falling  within  its  chord.  Nostrils  superior,  broadly  open,  and  nearly 
circular,  without  any  adjacent  membrane,  the  edges  rounded.  Legs  stout. 
Tarsus  equal  to  middle  toe  without  claw;  the  joint  feathered;  lateral  toes  about 
equal;  the  basal  joint  of  the  middle  toe  half  free  internally,  rather  less  so  exter- 
nally. Claws  strong,  much  curved." 

*Birds  of  this  truly  insectivorous  family  have  occasionally  been  known  to  eat  small  berries. 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  501 


Progne  subis 

PURPLE  MARTIN. 
PLATE  XXX. 

Summer  resident;  common.  Arrive  the  last  of  March  to 
first  of  April;  begin  laying  about  the  last  of  April;  leave  the 
last  of  August  to  middle  of  September. 

B.  231.     R.  153.     C.  165.     G.  75,     253.     U.  611. 

HABITAT.  The  whole  of  temperate  North  America;  south  in 
winter  to  southern  Mexico.  Breed  throughout  their  United 
States  range. 

SP.  CHAR.  Adult  male:  Entirely  uniform  lustrous  steel  blue,  with  violet 
blue  reflections;  the  wings  and  tail  black,  slightly  glossed  with  bluish.  Adult 
female:  Above,  glossy  blue  black,  becoming  hoary  grayish  on  the  forehead,  and 
sometimes  on  the  nape  also;  throat  and  jugulum  gray;  rest  of  lower  parts  white, 
relieved  by  dusky  shaft  streaks.  Young:  Similar  to  adult  female,  but  above 
less  glossy  blackish,  and  the  nape  crossed  by  a  more  distinct  grayish  collar. 
The  young  male  is  several  years  in  attaining  the  uniform  glossy  violet  black 
plumage,  the  steel  blue  feathers  appearing  in  gradually  coalescing  patches. 
(Ridgway.) 

Stretch  of 
Length.          wing.  Wing.          Tail.         Tarsus.         Bill. 

8.15          16.25          5.75          3.15          .55          .50 

The  birds  vary  somewhat  in  size,  but  the  females  that  I  have 
measured  average  fully  as  large  as  the  males. 

Iris  brown;  bill,  legs,  feet  and  claws  black. 

These  large  Swallows  are  among  the  first  arrivals  in  the  spring, 
and  they  are  greeted  with  a  hearty  welcome,  as  they  return  to 
their  summer  homes.  The  bird  houses,  erected  for  their  espe- 
cial use,  are  put  in  order,  or,  for  want  of  these  inviting,  church- 
like  dwellings,  boxes  and  gourds  are  placed  on  poles,  trees,  or 
outbuildings,  to  tempt  them  to  remain.  In  unsettled  regions, 
or  where  preparations  are  not  made  to  receive  them,  they  nest 
in  Woodpeckers'  holes  and  natural  cavities  in  trees;  but  as  they 
have  no  fear  of  man,  but  rather  seek  his  presence  and  protec- 
tion, they  gladly  abandon  the  wild  woods  for  a  farmer's  dwell- 
ing or  a  city  home.  They  are  greatly  attached  to  their  selected 
homes,  and,  when  not  disturbed,  will  nest  for  years  in  the  same 
places.  They  are  faithful  guardians,  and  with  a  keen  eye  notice 
the  approach  of  an  enemy,  when,  with  warning  notes  to  others, 
they  so  vigorously  attack  (in  a  manner  similar  to  the  Kingbirds), 


502  HISTORY  OF  THE 

as  to  cause  a  hasty  retreat  of  even  the  largest  birds  of  prey. 
They  are,  therefore,  of  great  value  in  the  protection  of  poultry. 
Like  all  of  the  family,  they  feed  exclusively  upon  the  wing, 
swiftly  gliding  here  and  there  in  their  search  for  insects  —  the 
larger  ones,  especially  beetles,  are  the  favorites.  A  pretty  sight, 
as  they  dart  and  flit  swiftly,  or  sail  slowly,  at  times  a  mere  speck 
in  the  sky;  at  others,  near  the  ground  or  surface  of  the  water, 
skimming  so  low  as  to  often  bathe  their  breasts  and  snap  up 
with  their  bills  a  cooling  drink.  They  are  noisy,  chattering 
birds;  the  first  to  awake  us  in  the  morning  with  twittering  notes. 

Their  attempt  at  song,  though  not  musical,  is  quite  pleasing. 
Preparatory  to  leaving  in  autumn,  they  assemble  in  large  flocks, 
and  rest  for  several  days  upon  the  ridges  of  the  highest  build- 
ings or  dead  trees,  putting  in  a  large  share  of  their  time  in  dress- 
ing or  oiling  their  feathers,  and  in  chattering  away  in  regard  to 
the  contemplated  movement;  occasionally,  as  of  one  accord, 
dash  off  together  for  a  short  distance,  and  then  slowly  return  to 
their  resting  places,  as  if  practicing  for  the  journey.  When  all 
are  ready,  they  wing  themselves  away,  usually  at  night,  in  a  com- 
pact body,  and  almost  with  the  speed  of  an  arrow. 

Their  nests  are  composed  of  various  materials,  loosely  thrown 
together,  such  as  dry  grasses,  straws,  leaves,  bits  of  rags,  strings, 
etc.,  and  warmly  lined  with  feathers.  Eggs  four  to  six,  .97x.70; 
creamy  white;  in  form,  oval  to  ovate. 

GENUS  PETROCHELIDON  CABANIS. 

"Bill  stout  and  deep,  somewhat  as  in  Progne.  Nostrils  entirely  superior, 
open,  without  overhanging  membrane  on  the  inner  (or  upper)  side,  but  some- 
what overhung  by  short  bristles  —  seen  also  along  base  of  inner  mandible  and 
chin.  Legs  stout,  the  tarsi  short,  not  exceeding  the  middle  toe  exclusive  of  its 
claw;  feathered  all  round  for  basal  third  or  fourth,  though  no  feathers  are  in- 
serted on  the  posterior  face.  Tail  falling  short  of  the  closed  wings;  nearly 
square  or  slightly  emarginate;  the  lateral  feathers  broad  to  near  the  ends,  and 
not  attenuated." 

Petrochelidon  lunifrons  (SAY). 

CLIFF  SWALLOW. 
PLATE  XXX. 

Summer  resident;  locally  abundant.  Arrive  the  last  of  April; 
begin  laying  about  the  middle  of  May;  leave  the  last  of  August 
to  middle  of  September. 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  503 

B.  226.     R.  153.     C.  162.     G.  76,     254.     U.  612. 

HABITAT.  North  America  at  large,  and  south  to  Brazil  and 
Paraguay;  breeding  (in  suitable  localities  south  to  Mazatlan, 
Mexico.  Gray  son)  northward  into  the  Arctic  circle. 

SP.  CHAR.  "Top  of  head  glossy  black,  with  greenish  luster;  back  and  scapu- 
lars similar,  but  rather  duller,  arid  sometimes  streaked  by  the  appearance  of 
white  sides  of  the  feathers  —  the  bases  of  the  feathers,  however,  being  plumbe- 
ous; chin,  throat  and  sides  of  head  chestnut  brown,  this  extending  round  on 
the  nape  as  a  distinct  continuous  collar,  which  is  bounded  posteriorly  by  dull 
grayish;  the  chestnut  darkest  on  the  chin,  with  a  rich  purplish  tinge.  Rump 
above  on  sides  pale  chestnut  (sometimes  fading  into  whitish);  upper  tail  coverts 
grayish  brown,  edged  with  paler,  lighter  than  the  plain  brown  of  the  wings  and 
tail;  forehead,  for  the  length  of  the  bill,  creamy  white,  somewhat  lunate,  or  ex- 
tending, in  an  acute  angle,  a  little  over  the  eye;  a  very  narrow  blackish  frontlet; 
loral  region  dusky  to  the  bill;  a  patch  of  glossy  black  in  the  lower  part  of  the 
breast,  and  a  few  black  feathers  in  the  extreme  chin,  the  latter  sometimes  scarcely 
appreciable;  under  parts  dull  white,  tinged  with  reddish  gray  on  the  sides  and 
inside  of  the  wings;  feathers  of  crissum  brownish  gray,  edged  with  whitish,  with 
a  tinge  of  rufous  anteriorly  (sometimes  almost  inappreciable). 

"There  is  no  difference  between  the  sexes,  but  the  young  bird  is  very  differ- 
ent from  the  adult  in  the  following  particulars:  The  steel  blue  above  is  replaced 
by  a  lusterless  dusky  brown,  the  feathers  (except  on  head)  being  margined  with 
a  creamy  tint;  the  neck  merely  tinged  with  rufous;  the  throat  has  only  a  dusky 
suffusion,  and  the  chin  is  much  mixed  with  white;  the  frontal  patch  is  obsolete." 

Stretch  of 
Length.         wing.  Wing.         Tail.       Tursus.       Bill. 

5.75         12.00         4.35         2.20         .48         .30 

The  females  are  fully  as  large  as  the  males. 

Iris  dark  brown;  bill  and  claws  black;  legs  dark  reddish  brown; 
feet  dark  brown. 

These  birds,  of  such  wide  and  extended  range,  are,  during 
the  breeding  season,  only  local  in  their  distribution,  forming 
colonies  here  and  there.  They  are  quite  common  in  the  eastern 
part  of  the  continent,  and  abundant  westward,  especially  on  the 
plateaus  and  in  mountainous  regions. 

In  the  settled  portions  they  select  for  their  nesting  places  the 
vertical  banks  and  overhanging  cliffs  along  the  streams,  or  in 
the  near  vicinity  of  water.  Within  the  settlements  they  prefer 
the  habitations  of  man,  and  build  their  nests  under  the  project- 
ing eaves  of  buildings  etc. ;  the  barn  the  favorite.  A  happy 
community,  apparently  without  family  jars,  or  quarrels  with  their 
neighbors.  Like  all  the  Swallow  family,  they  are  birds  of  the 


504:  HISTORY  OF  THE 

air.  Their  feet  are  weak  and  legs  too  short  to  make  any  head- 
way walking,  and  they  seldom,  if  ever,  attempt  to  use  them,  ex- 
cept as  perchers.  In  motions  and  actions  on  the  wing  they  are 
much  like  the  Purple  Martin,  but  quicker,  and  flit  more  in  their 
sudden  turns  and  intricate  evolutions,  as  they  sport,  or  chase  the 
gnats  and  other  small  insects  upon  which  they  feed. 

Their  ordinary  note  is  a  twitter,  and  attempt  at  song  a  harsh, 
unmusical  squeak. 

Their  nests  are  placed  close  together,  and,  when  under  the 
eaves,  form  a  continuous  row.  They  are  composed  of  mud, 
tempered  with  saliva,  as  it  is  worked  into  little  pellets  with 
their  bills,  and  are  lined  with  dry  grasses,  leaves  and  feathers. 
When  in  exposed  situations,  are  built  in  the  shape  of  a  gourd, 
or  retort,  with  entrance  near  the  top,  projecting  and  turning 
downward;  but  under  the  eaves  or  in  sheltered  situations  are 
more  globular,  and  without  the  long,  rounded  necks.  Eggs  four 
to  six  (usually  four),  .77x.56;  white,  dotted  and  blotched  with 
dark  reddish  brown  (the  markings  vary  greatly  in  size,  number, 
and  in  distribution,  usually  thickest  about  the  larger  end);  in 
form,  oval  to  ovate. 

GENUS  CHELIDON  FORSTEK. 

"Nostrils  lateral.  Tarsi  short,  not  exceeding  middle  toe  without  its  claw;  the 
upper  joint  covered  with  feathers,  which  extend  a  short  distance  along  the  inner 
face  of  the  tarsus.  Tail  very  deeply  forked;  the  lateral  feathers  much  attenu- 
ated, twice  as  long  as  the  middle.  Basal  joint  of  middle  toe  free  for  terminal 
fourth  on  outside,  for  half  on  inside.  Nest  partly  of  mud,  and  lined  with  feath- 
ers; eggs  spotted.  In  type,  and  in  American  species,  the  forehead  and  throat 
rufous;  a  black  pectoral  collar;  tail  feathers  with  large  light  spots  on  inner  webs.1' 

Chelidon  erythrogaster  (BODD.). 

BARN  SWALLOW. 
PLATE  XXX. 

Summer  resident;  common.  Arrive  from  about  the  10th  to 
last  of  April;  begin  laying  about  the  middle  of  May;  leave  the 
last  of  August  to  first  of  September. 

B.  225.     R.  154.     C.  159.     G.  77,     255.     U.  613. 

HABITAT.  North  America  in  general;  south  in  winter  into 
South  America;  found  breeding  as  far  south  as  the  City  of  Mex- 
ico, but  breed  chiefly  north  of  the  southern  United  States. 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  505 

SP.  CHAR.  "Tail  very  deeply  forked;  outer  feathers  several  inches  longer 
than  the  inner,  very  narrow  towards  the  end.  Above,  glossy  blue,  with  concealed 
white  in  the  middle  of  the  back.  Throat  chestnut;  rest  of  lower  parts  reddish 
white,  not  conspicuously  different.  A  steel  blue  collar  on  the  upper  part  of  the 
breast,  interrupted  in  the  middle.  Tail  feathers  with  a  white  spot  near  the 
middle  on  the  inner  web.  Female  with  the  outer  tail  feathers  not  quite  so  long. 
In  the  young  birds,  the  frontal  chestnut  band  is  smaller  and  less  distinct." 

Stretch  of 
Length.  wing.          Wing.         Tail.        Tarsus.        Bill. 

M-ile 7.25          12.95         4.80         4.50          .45  .32 

Female...      6.25          12.50         4.60         3.50          .45  .32 

Iris  dark  brown;  bill,  legs,  feet  and  claws  black. 

These  handsome  Swallows  excel  in  easy  and  graceful  move- 
ments, in  the  air,  all  others  of  the  family,  and  they  are,  I  think, 
the  swiftest  flyers  among  the  birds.  They  are  more  evenly  dis- 
tributed during  the  breeding  season  than  the  Cliff  Swallows,  as 
the  mated  pairs  often  nest  alone,  and  never  in  very  large  com- 
munities. They  are  social  birds,  and,  while  mated,  strongly  at- 
tached to  each  other,  the  male  often  feeding  his  mate  as  she 
patiently  and  lovingly  sits  upon  her  treasures,  and  he  also  as- 
sists in  rearing  the  young.  Their  song  is  but  a  succession  of 
sharp,  squeaky,  warbling  twitterings,  at  times  quite  animated  and 
pleasing;  their  call  note  a  simple  twit. 

Their  nests  are  attached  to  the  sides  of  rafters  in  barns  and 
suitable  places  in  outbuildings,  under  bridges  etc.,  and,  in  the 
unsettled  portions  of  the  country,  under  overhanging  rocks  and 
in  the  fissures  or  cavern-like  cavities.  A  semi-cup-shaped  struct- 
ure, rather  roughly  constructed  of  layers  of  mud  and  grasses, 
and  lined  with  the  finer  grasses  and  feathers.  Eggs  three  to 
six  (usually  four).  .  77x.55;  pure  translucent  white,  spotted  and 
blotched  with  purple  and  varying  shades  of  dark  reddish  brown, 
and,  occasionally,  lilac  stains,  usually  aggregating  thickest  about 
the  larger  end;  in  form,  oval. 

GENUS  TACHYCINETA  CABANIS. 

"Nostrils  lateral,  overhung  or  bordered  internally  by  incumbent  membrane. 
Tarsi  with  the  tibial  joint  covered  by  overhanging  feathers,  adherent  a  short 
distance  along  inner  face,  about  equal  to  middle  toe  without  claw.  Lateral  toes 
equal.  Adhesion  of  basal  joint  of  middle  toe  variable.  Tail  emarginate  only, 
or  slightly  forked;  fork  not  exceeding  half  an  inch  in  depth.  Color  blue  or 
green  above,  with  or  without  metallic  gloss;  with  or  without  white  rump.  En- 
tirely white  beneath." 


506  HISTORY  OF  THE 

Tachycineta  bicolor  (VIEILL.). 

TREE  SWALLOW. 
PLATE  XXX. 

Summer  resident;  rare;  in  migration  common.  Begin  to  ar- 
rive early  in  March,  and  commence  laying  the  last  of  May  to 
first  of  June.  The  bulk  leave  in  September,  a  few  remaining 
until  the  last  of  October. 

B.  227.     R.  155.     C.  160.     G.  78,     256.     U.  614. 

HABITAT.  The  whole  of  North  America,  wintering  from  the 
Gulf  coast  south  to  Cuba  and  Nicaragua.  Breeds  from  about 
latitude  37°  north  into  the  Arctic  regions. 

SP.  CHAR.  "  Glossy  metallic  bluish  greeii  above;  entirely  white  beneath.  Fe- 
male duller  in  color.  Young  bird  dull  sooty  gray  above,  much  like  that  of  T7. 
thalassina,  but  may  readily  be  distinguished  by  the  feathers  of  the  throat  be- 
ing pure  white  to  their  roots,  instead  of  having  the  concealed  bases  grayish,  as 
in  that  species." 

Stretch  of 
Length.          -wing.  Wing.          Tail.         Tarsus.         Bill. 

Male 6.05          13.00         4.75         2.40  .45  .30 

Female...      5.85          12.45         4.50         2.30          .45  .30 

Iris  dark  brown;  bill  and  claws  black;  legs  and  feet  grayish 
brown. 

These  hardy  birds  arrive  early  in  the  spring,  but  usually  do 
not  commence  building  their  nests  until  about  the  first  of  June. 
One  of  the  earliest  nests  found  was  on  Brier  Island,  Nova 
Scotia.  The  pair  arrived  the  16th  of  May,  1880,  and  at  once 
took  possession  of  a  hollow  in  a  fence  rail,  and  on  the  20th,  the 
day  I  left,  the  nest  was  completed  and  warmly  lined  with 
feathers. 

They  are  very  similar  to  others  of  the  family  in  habits,  ac- 
tions and  twittering  notes,  but  are  more  quarrelsome,  and  rather 
slower  in  flight  than  any  others  that  I  have  described,  though 
strong  and  easy,  flying  high  and  low,  and  skimming  for  hours 
and  hours,  largely  over  the  water,  in  quest  of  insects  that  abound 
there,  apparently  never  tiring.  In  fact,  Swallows  are  really  only 
at  home  in  the  air. 

Their  nests  are  placed  in  Woodpecker' s  holes,  natural  cavities 
in  trees,  and  about  our  dwellings  in  boxes,  etc.  They  are  very 
loosely  constructed  of  fine  dry  grasses  and  leaves,  and  thickly 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  507 

lined  with  downy  feathers.  Eggs  usually  four  or  five, .  76  x .  52 ; 
pure  transparent  white;  in  form,  ovate  or  pointed  oval.  A  set 
of  four  eggs,  taken  June  14th,  1883,  at  Pewaukee,  Wisconsin, 
from  a  cigar  box  nailed  to  the  side  of  an  outbuilding,  are,  in  di- 
mensions: .  74  x .  54,  .  76  x .  51,  .  78  x .  52,  .  79  x .  50. 

GENUS  CLIVICOLA  FOKSTEE. 

"Bill  small;  nostrils  lateral,  overhung  by  a  straight-edged  membrane.  Tar- 
sus about  equal  to  middle  toe  without  claw;  feathered  at  upper  end,  especially 
on  inner  face,  and  having  also  a  small  tuft  of  feathers  attached  to  posterior 
edge  near  the  hind  toe.  Middle  toe  with  basal  joint  adherent  externally  to 
near  the  end,  half  way  internally,  the  claws  comparatively  little  curved,  the 
lateral  reaching  beyond  the  base  of  the  middle.  Tail  slightly  forked.  Color, 
dull  lustreless  brown  above;  in  riparia,  white  beneath,  with  gray  pectoral 
bands." 

Clivicola  riparia  (LINN.). 

BANK  SWALLOW. 
PLATE  XXX. 

Summer  resident;  abundant  in  suitable  locations.  Arrive  in 
April;  begin  laying  the  middle  to  last  of  May;  the  bulk  leave 
in  August,  not  later  than  the  first  of  September. 

B.  229.     R.  157.     C.  163.     G.  79,     257.     U.  616. 

HABITAT.  Northern  hemisphere  in  general;  in  America,  south 
to  Brazil,  and  throughout  the  West  Indies;  breeding  chiefly  in 
the  United  States  and  northward  into  the  Arctic  regions;  win- 
ters from  about  the  southern  borders  of  the  United  States  south- 
ward. 

SP.  CHAK.  "Adult:  Above,  grayish  brown,  somewhat  fuliginous,  with  a  tend- 
ency to  paler  margins  of  the  feathers.  Beneath,  pure  white,  with  a  band  across 
the  breast,  and  the  sides  of  the  body  like  the  back.  Young  birds  have  less 
einargiuate  tails,  and  the  feathers  of  back,  rump  and  wings  edged  with  whitish." 

Stretch  of 
Length.        wing.  Wing,          Tail.       Tarsus.       Bill. 

Male 5.25         10.60         3.95         2.00         .45         .25 

Female  ....     5.00         10.25         3.80         1.90        .45         .25 

Iris  dark  brown;  bill  and  claws  black;  legs  and  and  feet  dark 
brown. 

The  range  of  this  species  is  almost  unlimited,  extending  in 
America  as  stated  above,  and  from  northern  Asia  and  Europe, 
south  into  Africa.  They  do  not,  like  most  of  their  congeners, 


508  HISTORY  OF   THE 

prefer  to  make  their  homes  with  man,  but,  from  choice,  more  re- 
mote from  his  habitations.  In  flight  they  are  rapid,  but  rather 
unsteady  and  fluttering.  In  their  search  for  flies,  etc.,  they 
skim  low  over  the  land  and  water,  much  like  others  of  the  tribe. 
Their  voice  is  a  low,  muttering  twitter.  They  are  social  birds, 
and  breed  together  in  communities,  and  are,  therefore,  local  in 
their  distribution.  They  select  for  their  breeding  places  the  per- 
pendicular sides  of  banks  along  the  streams,  or  any  steep  em- 
bankment where  the  soil  is  sufficiently  soft  to  enable  them  to 
excavate  with  their  bills  holes  for  their  nests,  which  are  usually 
near  the  top,  and  about  three  feet  in  depth,  but  in  gravelly  soil 
have  been  known  to  go  great  distances,  or  until  a  place  free  from 
stones  overhead  has  been  reached  (this  is  evidently  to  prevent 
injury  to  their  eggs  or  young  from  falling  earth  or  pebbles), 
the  end  worked  out  oven  shaped,  and  lined  with  fine  grasses  and 
feathers.  In  favorable  situations  the  holes  are  near  together, 
and  in  large  communities  the  banks  are  honeycombed.  Eggs 
four  to  six,  .  69x.49  (they  vary  in  size);  pure  white;  when  un- 
blown have  a  rosy  hue;  in  form,  oval. 

GENUS  STELGIDOPTERYX  BAIBD. 

"Bill  rather  small;  nostrils  oval,  superior,  margined  behind  (but  scarcely 
laterally)  by  membrane,  but  not  at  all  overhung;  the  axes  of  the  outline  converg- 
ing. Frontal  feathers  soft  and  (like  chin)  without  bristles.  Tarsi  equal  to  middle 
toe  without  claw;  the  upper  end  covered  with  feathers  all  round;  none  at  lower 
end.  Basal  joint  of  middle  toe  adherent  externally  nearly  to  end;  internally, 
scarcely  half.  Lateral  toes  about  equal,  their  claws  not  reaching  beyond  base 
of  middle  claw.  Tail  slightly  emargiuate;  the  feathers  broad,  and  obliquely 
rounded  at  end.  Edge  of  the  wing  rough  to  the  touch;  the  shafts  of  the  fibrillse 
of  outer  web  of  outer  primary  prolonged,  and  bent  at  right  angles  into  a  short, 
stiff  hook. 

"The  great  peculiarity  of  this  genus  consists  in  the  remarkable  roughness  of 
the  edge  of  the  wing  (said  to  occur  also  in  Psalidoprocne,  CAB.).  The  object  is 
uncertain,  but  is  probably  to  enable  the  bird  to  secure  a  foothold  on  vertical  or 
inclined  rocks,  among  or  on  which  it  makes  its  nest.  A  favorite  breeding  place 
of  8.  serripennis  is  in  the  piers  and  abutments  of  bridges,  and  these  hooks  might 
render  essential  aid  in  entering  into  their  holes." 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  509 

Stelgidopteryx  serripennis  (AUD.). 

BOUGH- WINGED  SWALLOW. 
PLATE  XXX. 

Summer  resident;  quite  common.  Arrive  about  the  middle 
of  April;  begin  laying  about  the  middle  of  May;  leave  in  bulk 
the  last  of  August  and  first  of  September;  a  few  occasionally 
remain  as  late  as  the  first  of  October. 

B.  230.     R.  158.     C.  164.     G.  80,     258.     U.  617. 

HABITAT.  United  States  at  large  (except  the  extreme  north- 
ern border,  and  in  the  New  England  States  only  found  in  Con- 
necticut); south  in  winter  to  Guatemala;  breeds  throughout  its 
United  States  range. 

"Sp.  CHAR.  "Above,  smoky  brown;  rather  deeper  on  the  head,  perhaps  a 
little  paler  on  the  rump.  Larger  quills  and  tail  feathers  dusky  brown;  the  sec- 
ondaries and  greater  coverts  sometimes  lighter  along  their  external  edges.  The 
under  parts  (for  about  half  the  total  length),  from  bill  to  and  including  breast, 
with  the  sides  of  body  and  lining  of  wings,  mouse  gray;  rather  lighter  along  the 
throat;  the  rest  of  under  parts,  including  crissum,  white,  the  latter  with  the  shafts 
sometimes  dusky,  and  very  rarely  with  dusky  blotches  at  the  ends  of  the  longer 
feathers. 

"Young  birds  differ  in  a  tinge  of  reddish  fulvous  on  the  upper  parts;  the 
wing  coverts,  secondaries  and  inner  primaries  margined  more  or  less  broadly 
with  a  brighter  shade  of  the  same.  The  gray  of  the  under  parts  is  also  washed 
with  this  color,  especially  on  the  chin  and  across  the  breast.  The  hooks  of  the 
edge  of  the  wing  have  not  yet  become  developed." 

Sexes  alike.  The  following  are  measurements,  etc.,  of  a  pair 
in  "The  Goss  Ornithological  Collection:'* 

Stretch  of 
Length.  iving.          Wing.          Tail.         Tarsus.         Bill. 

Male 5.50          12.25         4.40         2.10          .40  .30 

Female...      5.20          11.50         4.05         1.95          .40  .28 

Iris  dark  brown;  bill  and  claws  black;  legs  and  feet  dark 
brown. 

These  birds  closely  resemble  the  Bank  Swallow  in  habits  and 
actions,  and  their  manner  of  flight  and  low,  twittering  notes  are 
very  similar.  They  are  not  so  local  in  their  distribution  during 
the  breeding  season,  as  they  nest  together  in  smaller  numbers 
and  often  in  pairs  by  themselves.  They,  however,  soon  after 
assemble  together  in  large  flocks  and  remain  a  little  later  in  the 
season. 


510  HISTORY  OF  THE 

They  also  nest  in  holes  in  the  sides  of  upright  banks,  invari- 
ably along  streams  or  over  water,  but  they  are  not  so  deep  or 
uniform;  and  often  nest  in  holes  caused  by  decaying  roots  and 
openings  from  various  causes,  and  in  crevices  in  abutments  of 
bridges,  etc.  The  place  at  the  end,  rounded  out  for  the  nest, 
is  loosely  lined  with  grasses  and  feathers.  Eggs  usually  four 
or  five,  .73x.52;  pure  white;  in  form,  ovate  or  pointed  oval. 
A  set  of  five  eggs,  taken  May  30th,  1882,  at  Pewaukee,  Wiscon- 
sin, are  in  dimensions  only:  .70x.50,  ,70x.50,  .70x50,  .71x 
50,  .71x52. 

FAMILY  AMPELID.32.     WAXWINGS,  ETC. 

Legs  moderate.  Nostrils  elongated,  linear,  with  the  frontal  feathers  ex- 
tending close  to  the  edge  and  to  anterior  extremity,  concealing  them;  these 
feathers  short,  velvety  and  erect,  with  few  bristles.  Wings  very  long  and 
pointed;  outer  or  first  primary  so  much  reduced  as  to  be  almost  inappreciable; 
the  second  nearly  the  longest.  Wing  nearly  twice  the  length  of  the  short,  nar- 
row, even  tail.  Under  coverts  of  tail  reaching  almost  to  its  tip.  Secondary 
quills  of  fully  adult  birds  with  flat,  horny  appendages  at  end  of  shaft  like  red 
sealing  wax  (except  in  A.japonicd).  Young  birds  streaked  beneath.  Adults 
plain.  This  family  as  restricted  contains  but  a  single  genus,  Ampelis.  The 
most  obvious  characters  consist  in  short,  broad,  and  rather  depressed  bill,  with 
short  (decidedly  convex)  gonys  and  densely  feathered  nasal  fossa,  and  the  wax- 
like  appendages  to  the  tips  of  the  secondary  quills  in  the  adult.  (Ridgway.) 

SUBFAMILY  AMPELINJL     WAXWINGS. 

Wings  -very  long  and  much  pointed,  longer  than  the  short,  even  tail.  First 
primary  excessively  rudimentary;  the  outermost  about  the  longest.  Gape  with- 
out bristles.  Frontal  feathers  extending  forward  beyond  the  nostrils.  Often 
with  horny  appendages  like  red  sealing  wax  at  end  of  shafts  of  secondaries. 
(Ridgway.) 

GENUS  AMPELI8  LINN^US. 

"Tail  even.  Tertials  and  secondaries  with  horny  appendages  like  red  seal- 
ing wax.  A  well-developed  soft  crest." 

Ampelis  garrulus  LINX. 

BOHEMIAN  WAXWINQ. 
PLATE  XXX. 

Winter  visitant;  very  rare. 

B.  232.     R.  150.     C.  166.     G.  73,     259.     U.  618. 

HABITAT.  Northern  portion  of  the  northern  hemisphere;  in 
North  America,  south  in  winter  more  or  less  regularly  (in  the 
Kocky  Mountains  to  southern  Colorado)  to  latitude  40°;  occa- 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  511 

sionally  winter  in  small  flocks  a  little  farther  south.      Breed  far 
northward. 

SP.  CHAR.  "Crest  lengthened.  Body  generally  soft,  silky  brownish  ashy, 
with  a  purplish  cast,  the  wing  coverts  and  scapulars  more  brownish,  becoming 
more  reddish  anteriorly  and  ashy  posteriorly;  the  rump  and  upper  tail  coverts, 
as  well  as  the  secondaries,  being  nearly  pure  ash.  Anteriorly  the  color  passes 
gradually  into  deep  vinaceous  chestnut  on  the  forehead  to  behind  the  eye  and 
on  the  cheeks;  abdomen  yellowish  white;  lower  tail  coverts  deep  chestnut.  A 
stripe  on  side  of  the  head,  covering  the  lores  and  nasal  feathers  (scarcely  meet- 
ing across  the  forehead),  involving  the  eye,  and  continued  back  toward  the  occi- 
put and  beneath  the  crest,  with  a  large  patch  covering  the  chin  and  throat,  deep 
black;  a  narrow  crescent  on  lower  eyelid,  and  a  short  stripe  between  the  black 
of  the  throat  and  that  of  the  chin  at  the  base  of  the  lower  mandible,  two  very 
broad  bars  on  the  wing,  one  across  ends  of  primary  coverts,  and  the  other  across 
ends  of  secondaries  (the  first  occupying  both  webs,  and  the  latter  the  outer), 
white.  Primary  coverts,  primaries  and  tail  slaty  black,  the  latter  growing 
gradually  ashy  basally.  A  broad  band  across  the  end  of  tail,  and  a  longitudinal 
space  along  end  of  outer  web  of  primaries,  gamboge  yellow — the  marks  on 
primaries,  however,  sometimes  white,  only  stained  with  yellow.  Each  of  the 
secondaries  with  an  expanded  continuation  of  the  shaft,  in  form  of  flattened, 
very  thin,  somewhat  elliptical  appendages,  of  a  bright  vermilion  red,  resembling 
red  sealing-wax,  with  the  white  of  outer  web  of  primaries  continued  around  end 
of  inner  webs." 

The  following  are  measurements,  etc.,  of  a  pair  in  "The  Goss 
Ornithological  Collection : ' ' 

Stretch  of 
Length.          wing.  Wing.         Tail.         Tarsus.         Bill. 

Male 8.40          14.20         4.70         2.80          .85  .45 

Female...       8.25          13.90         4.60         2.70          .85  .45 

Iris  brown;  bill,  legs,  feet  and  claws  black. 

These  birds,  of  elegant  plumage,  are  very  social,  and  live  and 
wander  about  together  in  flocks,  except  during  the  breeding  sea- 
son. A  very  irregular  winter  sojourner  or  visitant,  here  to-day, 
there  to-morrow.  From  my  observation  (in  winter),  they  are 
rather  silent  when  at  rest;  only  real  noisy  on  the  wing,  or  as  they 
flutter  in  the  trees  and  bushes  in  search  of  berries,  etc.  I  say 
flutter,  for  at  such  times  the  rear  ones  are  continually  rising  and 
passing  over  the  others,  and  alighting  a  little  ahead  —  like  the 
Pinon  Jay  —  uttering,  as  they  fly,  a  "Zee,  zee-ze"  note,  that, 
coming  from  the  throats  of  many,  sounds  quite  loud  and  chat- 
tering. In  their  regular  flights,  they  are  steady  and  strong,  but 
only  moderately  swift. 


512  HISTORY  OF  THE 

Their  food  consists  chiefly  of  fruits  and  berries  (the  juniper 
and  mountain  ash  berries  the  favorite).  Insects,  in  their  season, 
help  to  make  up  their  bill  of  fare,  and  they  catch  them  readily 
upon  the  wing. 

They  are  not  naturally  wild  or  timid;  tame  easily,  and  make 
handsome  cage  birds.  I  can  find  no  mention  of  a  song,  by 
writers  that  have  met  with  them  in  their  summer  homes;  but 
they  are  so  friendly  and  attentive  to  each  other,  at  all  times, 
that  I  think  they  must,  in  the  early  mating  season,  express  their 
love  and  joy  in  song;  probably,  like  their  cousins,  the  Cedar 
Waxwings,  in  so  low  and  lisping  a  manner  as  not  to  be  heard 
over  twenty  yards  away. 

Their  nests  are  said  to  be  placed  on  the  branches  of  trees, 
from  six  to  about  twenty  feet  from  the  ground;  a  rather  bulky, 
compact  structure,  composed  of  twigs,  strippings  of  bark,  root- 
lets, leaves,  stems  of  grasses,  and  sometimes  lichens  and  mosses, 
and  lined  with  fine  rootlets,  grasses  and  feathers.  Eggs  three 
to  five.  They  vary  in  dimensions,  as  given  by  American  writ- 
ers, from  .9  Ox.  65  to  l.OOx.  67;  bluish  white  to  purplish  gray, 
spotted  with  lilac  and  dark  brown  to  black,  thickly  set  about  the 
larger  end;  in  form,  oval.  A  set  of  four  eggs,  in  my  brother's 
collection,  taken  in  Labrador,  June  18th,  1885,  are:  .98x.  70,. 
.99x.70,  1.05x.69,  1.06x.70.*  (Average  of  European  eggs: 
l.OOx. 69  to  .70.) 

Ampelis  cedrorum  (VIELLL.). 

CEDAR  WAXWING. 
PLATE  XXX. 

Resident;  irregular;  some  years  common,  others  rare.  Begin 
laying  about  the  last  of  June. 

B.  233.     R.  151.     C.  167.     G.  74,     260.     U.  619. 

HABITAT.  The  whole  of  temperate  North  America;  south  in 
winter  to  Guatemala  and  the  West  Indies.  Breeds  nearly 
throughout  its  summer  range. 

SP.  CHAB.  Crest  moderate.  General  color  soft  vinaceous  cinnamon,  deep- 
est anteriorly,  more  olivaceous  on  back,  scapulars  and  wing  coverts;  passing 

*  The  average  differences  as  given  are  so  great,  that  I  am  inclined  to  think  there  must  be 
some  mistake  in  the  identification,  and  that  the  smaller  seta  may  prove  to  be  the  eggs  of  A. 
cedrorum. 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  513 

into  pure  light  ash  on  the  rump  and  upper  tail  coverts,  and  into  dingy  yellow 
on  flanks  and  abdomen.  Lower  tail  coverts  white.  Whole  of  the  wing  poste- 
rior to  the  greater  coverts  slaty  ash,  almost  black  along  end  of  inner  webs  of 
primaries,  the  outer  webs  of  which  are  narrowly  edged  with  hoary  whitish. 
Tail  slate,  passing  into  black  terminally,  tipped  with  a  broad,  sharply-defined 
band  of  gamboge  yellow.  A  broad  stripe  of  intense  velvety  black  on  side  of 
head  starting  from  nostril,  passing  across  lores,  and  involving  the  eye,  contin- 
ued from  it  beneath  the  crest  to  the  occiput;  chin  dull  black,  blending  gradu- 
ally into  the  brownish  of  the  throat.  A  narrow  white  line  across  the  forehead 
and  along  the  sides  of  crown,  between  brown  of  crown  and  back  lores,  etc.;  a 
narrow  crescent  on  lower  eyelid,  and  a  stripe  between  black  of  lores  and  that 
of  the  throat,  white.  Fully  adult  male  and  female  with  each  secondary  quill 
terminated  by  a  bright  red  horny  appendage  to  the  shaft.  Younger  birds  with 
these  very  small  and  few  in  number,  or  entirely  absent.  Young:  In  general 
appearance  similar  to  the  adult.  Colors  more  grayish,  with  indistinct  con- 
cealed whitish  streaks  on  nape  and  down  back,  these  stripes  becoming  very 
conspicuous  on  the  sides  and  flanks  and  across  breast.  No  black  on  chin. 
Rump  grayish  brown;  abdomen  and  flanks  diugy  whitish.  No  appendages  to 
secondaries,  and  the  yellow  baud  across  end  of  tail  narrower  than  in  adult. 
(Ridgicay.) 

Stretch  of 
Length.          wing.          Wing.         Tail.         Tarsus.        Bill. 

Male 7.10         11.75          3.80         2.50  .67          .44 

Female...      7.00         11.50          3.70         2.45  .66          .42 

Iris  brown;  bill,  legs,  feet  and  claws  black. 

These  handsome  roving  birds  frequent  in  flocks  the  woods, 
orchards  and  groves.  They  were  formerly  abundant  in  suitable 
localities  throughout  their  range,  but  their  love  for  berries  and 
fruits  is  causing  their  ranks  to  be  thinned  by  the  murderous  shot- 
guns. As  they  feed  together  in  large  numbers,  their  presence 
to  fruit  growers  is  alarming,  and  it  is  hard  to  convince  them  that, 
in  ridding  their  orchards  of  the  various  forms  of  injurious  in- 
sects, they  are  more  beneficial  than  hurtful.  Doctor  Brewer,  in 
"North  American  Land  Birds,"  says: 

"It  is  unfortunate  for  the  horticulturist  that  this  bird  has 
done  so  much  to  merit  his  prejudices  and  reprobation,  and  that 
he  does  not  appreciate  to  the  full  the  immense  services  it  ren- 
ders to  him  each  spring  in  the  destruction  of  injurious  insects. 
A  flock  of  these  birds  will,  in  a  short  space  of  time,  devour  an 
immense  number  of  the  larvae  of  the  destructive  canker  worms 
(Phalcence)  that  infest  the  apples  and  elms  of  Massachusetts, 
and,  if  permitted,  would  soon  greatly  reduce  their  numbers. 

-33 


514  HISTORY  OF   THE 

But  these  prejudices  cannot  be  softened  by  their  good  deeds, 
and  the  Cherry  Bird  is  still  hunted  and  destroyed." 

In  flight  they  are  strong  and  graceful,  and  glide  with  ease 
through  the  woodlands  as  they  sweep  about  in  quest  of  food. 
They  are  generally  spoken  of  as  birds  without  a  song,  and  their 
feeble  attempt  is  hardly  worthy  to  be  called  one;  they  do,  how- 
ever, at  times,  utter  low,  warbling  notes,  with  tremulous  wings, 
in  a  manner  expressive  of  love  and  joy;  in  sound  very  similar 
to  their  lisping  call  notes,  but  much  softer.  It  is  evidently  not 
intended  for  outsiders,  for  its  voice  is  scarcely  audible  twenty 
paces  away. 

The  birds  at  all  times  are  social  and  friendly,  and  during  the 
breeding  season  the  mated  pairs  are  very  attentive  to  each  other; 
and  while  they  often  select  a  nesting  place  in  an  exposed  situa- 
tion, they  are,  as  a  rule,  so  silent  and  secretive  that  their  presence 
is  rarely  known,  except  to  the  egg  hunters.  They  nest  late  in 
the  season,  in  order  that  the  berries  may  be  ripening  at  the  time 
of  hatching,  for  their  young  are  reared  upon  fruits  as  well  as 
insects;  the  latter  are  often  captured  upon  the  wing. 

Their  nests  are  built  in  low  trees  (apple  and  cedar  the  favor- 
ites), sometimes  in  bushes;  a  deep,  bulky  structure,  composed  of 
twigs,  steins  of  weeds,  grasses,  and  coarse  fibrous  strippings  from 
vines  and  plants,  and  is  lined  sparingly  with  leaves  and  fine  root- 
lets. Eggs  usually  four,  .  85x.  60;  pale  clay  white,  with  an  olive 
or  bluish  hue  and  purple  shell  stains,  and  thinly  spotted  with 
varying  shades  of  brown  —  chiefly  blackish,  usually  aggregating 
thickest  about  the  larger  end;  in  form,  oval  to  ovate. 

FAMILY  LANIID^l.     SHRIKES. 

"Bill  very  powerful,  strong,  and  much  compressed;  the  tip  abruptly  hooked, 
deeply  notched,  and  with  a  prominent  tooth  behind  the  notch;  both  mandibles 
distinctly  notched,  the  upper  with  a  distinct  tooth  behind,  the  lower  with  the 
point  bent  up.  Tarsi  longer  than  the  middle  toe;  strongly  scutellate.  Primaries 
ten;  first  primary  half  the  second,  or  shorter  (occasionally  wanting).  Wings 
short,  rounded;  tail  long,  and  much  graduated.  Sides  of  the  tarsi  with  the  plates 
divided  on  the  outside. 

"Of  this  family,  only  a  single  genus  is  known  in  North  America." 


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BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  515 

GENUS  LANIUS  LINX.EUS. 

"Feathers  of  forehead  stiffened;  base  of  bill  (including  nostrils)  covered  by 
bristly  feathers,  directed  forward.  Bill  shorter  than  the  head,  much  compressed, 
and  very  powerful.  Gulmeii  decurved  from  base;  the  mandible  abruptly  bent 
down  in  a  powerful  hook,  with  an  acute  lobe  near  the  tip.  Tip  of  lower  man- 
dible bent  upwards  in  a  hook;  the  gonys  very  convex.  Rictus  with  long  bristles. 
Legs  stout;  the  tarsi  rather  short,  and  longer  than  the  middle  toe;  the  lateral 
equal;  the  claws  all  very  sharp  and  much  curved.  Wings  rounded;  the  first 
primary  about  half  the  second,  which  is  equal  to  sixth  or  seventh.  Tail  longer 
than  the  wings,  much  graduated,  the  feathers  broad." 

Lanius  borealis  VIEILL. 

NORTHERN  SHRIKE. 
PLATE  XXXI. 

Winter  sojourner;  quite  common.  Arrive  early  in  November; 
leave  in  March. 

B.  236.     R.  148.     C.  186.     G.  70,     261.     U.  621. 

HABITAT.  Northern  North  America;  south  in  winter  to  about 
latitude  35°;  breeds  north  of  the  United  States,  and  occasion- 
ally in  the  higher  mountain  regions  of  the  latter. 

SP.  CHAB.  Adult:  Above,  clear  bluish  ash,  blanching  on  the  rump  and  scap- 
ulars; below  white,  always  vermiculated  transversely  with  fine  wavy,  blackish 
lines;  a  broad  black  bar  along  side  of  head,  not  meeting  its  fellow  across  fore- 
head; interrupted  by  a  white  crescent  on  under  eyelid,  and  bordered  above  by 
hoary  white,  that  also  occupies  the  extreme  forehead;  wings  and  tail  black,  the 
former  with  a  large  white  spot  near  base  of  the  primaries,  and  white  tips  of  most 
of  the  quills,  the  latter  with  the  outer  web  of  the  outer  feathers  edged,  and  all 
the  feathers  except  the  middle  pair  broadly  tipped,  with  white,  and  with  con- 
cealed white  bases;  bill  and  feet  bluish  black;  eyes  blackish.  Young:  The 
colors  much  less  pure  and  clear.  Above,  grayish  brown,  scarcely  or  not  whiten- 
ing on  the  scapulars,  tail  coverts  and  forehead.  The  younger  the  browner, 
sometimes  almost  with  a  rusty  tinge;  grayer  according  to  age.  Below  brownish 
white  (the  younger  the  browner),  the  wavy  dark  markings  stronger  than  in  the 
adult;  the  bar  along  the  head  poorly  defined,  merely  dusky,  or  quite  obsolete. 
Wings  and  tail  brownish  black,  with  less  white  than  in  the  adult.  Bill  plumbe- 
ous brown,  flesh  colored  at  base  below.  At  a  very  early  age,  the  upper  parts 
are  probably  vermiculated  somewhat  like  the  lower,  as  in  the  same  stage  of  L. 
ludovicianus;  but  this  state  I  have  not  observed.  In  old  age  the  dusky  ver- 
miculation  of  the  under  parts  is  much  diminished,  but  I  have  never  seen  it 
absent  altogether.  This  feature,  coupled  with  the  particular  character  of  the 
head  markings  and  the  large  size  and  comparatively  short  tarsi,  will  always  dis- 
tinguish this  species  from  L.  ludovicianus  or  excubitorides.  (Coues.) 

Stretch  of 
Length.          wing.          Wing.          Tail.         Tarsus.          Bill. 

Male 10.00         14.60         4.60         4.60         1.05          .70 

Female..          9.80         14.40         4.50         4.45         1.02          .70 


516  HISTORY  OF  THE 

Iris  dark  brown;  bill  horn  color,  dark  at  tips  (of  one  specimen 
blackish),  with  base  of  under  mandible  bluish  white;  legs,  feet 
and  claws  black. 

These  birds,  noted  for  their  cruelty  and  rapacity,  frequent  the 
edges  of  woodlands,  orchards  and  hedges,  where  they  are  a 
terror  to  the  smaller  birds,  occasionally  giving  chase,  but  as  a 
rule  watch  silently  from  a  perch,  and  pounce  with  unerring  cer- 
tainty upon  their  unsuspecting  prey.  In  the  warmer  months 
they  feed  largely  upon  beetles  and  grasshoppers,  but  with  us, 
upon  birds  and  mice.  They  not  only  kill  to  sustain  life,  but  for 
pure  "cussedness;"  for,  after  satisfying  their  hunger,  they  take 
delight  in  impaling  their  victims  on  thorns,  sharp-pointed  twigs, 
etc.,  and  sometimes  draw  and  push  them  under  splinters  on 
fence  rails.  It  also  affords  them  the  greatest  pleasure  to  tease 
and  frighten  the  birds,  and  in  order  to  draw  them  near,  occa- 
sionally rnirnic  one  in  distress.  They  boldly  enter  the  door- 
yards,  and  have  been  known  to  attack  cage  birds,  not  only  when 
hanging  upon  the  outside  of  houses,  but  within.  In  the  cities 
they  are  beginning  to  turn  their  attention  to  the  English  Spar- 
row, as  they  are  much  easier  to  capture  than  our  native  birds. 
In  their  flights  they  are  not  regular,  but  usually  keep  near  the 
ground,  and  sweep  through  the  air  in  an  undulating,  but  strong 
and  easy  manner.  Their  ordinary  notes  are  harsh  and  squeaky. 
Mr.  Nelson,  in  his  "Report  upon  Natural  History  Collections 
in  Alaska,"  gives  the  following  description  of  their  song: 

"While  at  the  Yukon  mouth  the  last  of  May,  1879,  I  had  the 
good  fortune  to  observe  this  bird  several  times,  and  also  to  hear 
its  song.  In  May,  1879,  while  the  ground  was  still  largely 
covered  with  snow,  I  was  passing  through  a  thicket  where  the 
winter's  drifts  still  lay  deep  enough  to  half  bury  the  bushes, 
when  suddenly  a  low,  soft,  musical  whistle,  consisting  of  half  a 
dozen  liquid  trills,  ending  in  two  or  three  strange  grating  notes, 
fell  upon  my  ear.  After  a  slight  pause  this  was  repeated,  and 
with  some  difficulty,  a  moment  later,  I  made  out  the  indistinct 
form  of  a  bird  close  to  the  ground  in  a  dense  bush,  about  twenty 
yards  in  advance,  where  it  had  evidently  concealed  itself  on  my 
approach.  I  hastily  fired  into  the  bush  to  secure,  as  I  sup- 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  517 

posed,  some  rarity,  and  hurrying  forward  to  gain  the  prize,  was 
more  surprised  than  pleased  to  find  nothing  but  an  ordinary 
Shrike.  On  another  occasion,  I-  was  led  a  long  chase  through 
a  piece  of  tangled  wood,  bordering  on  one  of  the  Yukon  chan- 
nels in  the  delta,  by  some  strange  and  musical  notes  unlike 
anything  I  had  ever  heard  before,  which  appeared  to  be  uttered 
close  at  hand,  and  a  moment  later  to  be  far  away.  After  con- 
siderable time,  as  the  wood  became  more  open,  the  author  of 
these  notes  was  found  skulking  from  tree  to  tree,  in  advance, 
and  a  long  shot  brought  down  another  Shrike." 

Their  nests  are  usually  placed  in  bushy  or  thorny  trees;  a 
rude,  bulky  structure,  composed  of  twigs,  grasses  and  stems,  and 
warmly  lined  with  mosses,  lichens  and  downy  feathers.  Eggs 
four  to  six,  1.07x.78;  pale  bluish  green,  spotted  and  blotched 
with  purple,  brown  and  lilac;  in  form,  oval  or  ovate. 


Lanius  ludovicianus 

LOGGERHEAD  SHRIKE. 

This  species  is  entered  on  the  authority  of  Prof.  F.  H.  Snow, 
who  states  in  his  catalogue  of  the  birds  of  Kansas  that  "sev- 
eral typical  specimens  of  this  southern  form  have  been  taken." 
This  bird  has  not  come  under  my  observation  in  the  State. 
Its  natural  home  is  in  the  south  Atlantic  and  Gulf  States,  east 
of  the  Mississippi  River.  It  occasionally  wanders  northward, 
and  Kansas  is  without  doubt  its  extreme  western  limits,  where 
it  can  only  be  safely  entered  as  a  straggler. 

B.  237.     R.  149.     C.  187.     G.  71,     262.     U.  622. 

HABITAT.  "Florida,  the  Carolinas  and  the  Gulf  States  east 
of  Texas."  (Check  List  of  N.  A.  Birds.}  "More  southern 
portions  of  eastern  United  States,  but  north  irregularly  to  Ohio, 
Vermont,  etc.;  regularly  to  Virginia  and  southern  Illinois." 
(Ridgway.  ) 

SP.  CHAR.  Adult:  Above,  slate  colored,  slightly  whitish  on  upper  tail  cov- 
erts and  end  of  scapulars;  below,  white,  sometimes  a  little  ashy  shaded,  but  no 
wavy  black  lines,  or  only  a  few  slight  ones;  white  on  wings  and  tail  less  exten- 
sive than  in  borealia  or  excubitorides;  black  bridle  meeting  its  fellow  across  fore- 
head, not  interrupted  by  white  on  lower  eyelid,  scarcely  or  not  bordered  above 
by  hoary  white.  Young:  Differing  from  the  adult  much  as  young  borealis  does, 


518  HIS  TOUT  OF  THE 

and  decidedly  waved  below,  as  in  that  species;  but  the  size  and  other  characters 
are  distinctive.   (Coues.) 

Stretch  of 
Length.  wing.          Wing.  Tail.        Tarsus.          Bill. 

Male 8.75          12.50         3.90         4.00         1.02          .65 

Female...      8.50          12.15         3.65         3.75         1.00          .62 

Iris  dark  brown;  bill,  legs,  feet  and  claws  black. 

I  have  occasionally  met  with  these  birds  in  Florida,  usually 
about  the  settlements  and  natural  openings  or  clearings  in  the 
woodlands,  but,  as  my  observation  is  confined  to  the  winter 
months,  I  take  pleasure  in  quoting  from  "Birds  of  Illinois" 
Mr.  Ridgway's  interesting  description  of  their  habits,  etc.: 

"It  is  partial  to  those  more  open  localities  where  there  are 
hedgerows  or  plenty  of  low,  thorny  trees,  preferable  the  honey 
locust  (Gleditschia  triacanthos],  wild  crab  apple,  or  trees  of  like 
character.  These  seem  indispensable  to  its  presence,  for  the 
reason  that  the  slender,  sharp-pointed  thorns  are  required  for 
impaling  its  prey,  and  the  matted,  impenetrable  covert  for  con- 
cealment or  protection  of  its  nest. 

"Notwithstanding  the  fact  that  this  species  occasionally  kills 
and  devours  small  birds,  it  is  of  great  benefit  to  the  farmer, 
from  the  fact  that  it  destroys  large  numbers  of  grasshoppers  and 
field  mice.  The  habit  of  impaling  its  victims  on  thorns  is  one 
common  to  the  whole  family  of  Shrikes,  and  also  one  that  has 
not  been  satisfactorily  explained,  for  it  seems  that  objects  so 
impaled  are  seldom  touched  by  the  birds  afterward.  It  has 
been  suggested  that  the  bird  improves  every  opportunity  to  pro- 
cure food,  and  when  not  needing  it  impales  it  to  provide  for  an 
emergency;  and  that,  when  fresh  food  is  readily  obtained,  it  is 
preferred.  This  may  be  the  true  explanation,  but  we  think  a 
more  plausible  one  may  be  found. 

"In  the  protection  of  its  young,  no  bird  displays  greater  cour- 
age or  more  affectionate  solicitude  for  its  offspring.  I  have  re- 
peatedly, when  I  have  climbed  to  a  nest  containing  young,  had 
the  parent  birds  alight  within  my  reach,  and  retreat  only  when 
I  had  attempted  to  grasp  them,  all  the  while  they  were  greatly 
excited  with  anger,  and  were  there  an  opportunity  to  do  so  with- 
out being  seen,  would  actually  bite  my  hand.  During  such  oc- 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  519 

casions  they  keep  up  a  peculiar  crackling  sound,  mingled  with 
a  sonorous  '  Qua  a-a,  qua  a-a. ' 

"The  notes  of  this  species  are  exceedingly  varied;  so  much 
so,  in  fact,  that  it  is  confounded  by  many  people  with  the  Mock- 
ingbird, although  this  is,  perhaps,  as  much  on  account  of  the 
general  similarity  of  their  plumage  as  for  any  other  reason. 
Some  of  the  notes  are  soft  and  musical,  but  most  of  them  are 
harsh,  that  most  frequently  heard  resembling  the  creaking  of  an 
ungreased  wheelbarrow  or  rusty  gate  hinge.  It  is  supposed 
that  it  imitates  the  notes  of  smaller  birds,  in  order  to  entice  them 
within  reach. 

"When  taken  from  the  nest  and  reared  in  captivity,  the  Log- 
gerhead Shrike  makes  a  most  affectionate  and  interesting  pet. 
It  becomes  so  perfectly  tame  as  not  to  require  the  restraint  of 
a  cage,  but  will  follow  its  keeper  about  the  fields,  and  seeks  his 
companionship  with  all  the  intelligence  and  devotion  of  a  dog. 

"While  watching  for  its  prey,  the  Shrike  occupies  a  promi- 
nent perch,  the  summit  of  a  small  tree  in  the  midst  of  a  field  or 
common,  sitting  'bolt  upright'  and  scanning  carefully  the  sur- 
roundings in  every  direction.  Its  flight  is  very  peculiar;  on 
leaving  the  perch  it  sinks  nearly  to  the  ground,  describing  a 
curve  as  it  descends,  and  passing  but  a  few  feet  above  the  sur- 
face, ascending  in  the  same  manner  to  the  object  on  which  it 
next  alights.  The  flight  is  performed  in  an  undulating  manner, 
the  bird  sustaining  itself  a  short  time  by  a  rapid  fluttering  of 
the  wings,  and  sinking  as  this  motion  is  temporarily  suspended. 
While  flying,  the  white  patch  on  the  wing  is  very  conspicuous. 

"The  very  bulky  nests  of  this  species  are  usually  placed  in 
thorny  trees,  or  in  those  having  a  dense  canopy  of  vines.  At 
Mount  Carmel,  however,  I  have  frequently  found  them  in  apple 
trees.  They  are  composed  largely  of  wool  and  feathers.  When 
built  in  young  trees  of  the  honey  locust,  where  it  is  absolutely  im- 
possible to  reach  them  by  climbing,  they  are  often  poked  from  their 
position  out  of  spite  by  the  '  small  boy, '  with  poles  or  fence  rails. ' ' 

Their  eggs,  four  to  six  in  number,  are  similar  in  size,  color 
and  form  to  the  eggs  of  the  White-rumped  Shrike;  in  fact,  can- 
not be  distinguished  from  them. 


520  HISTORY  OF   THE 

Lanius  ludovicianus  excubitorides  (SWAINS.). 

WHITE-RUMPED  SHRIKE. 
PLATE  XXXI. 

Summer  resident;  occasionally  lingers  into  winter.  Arrive 
early  in  the  spring;  begin  laying  about  the  first  of  May. 

B.  238.     R.  149a.     C.  188.     G.  72,     263.     U.  622a. 

HABITAT.  The  central  regions  of  North  America,  north  to  the 
Saskatchewan,  southwesterly  to  Lower  California,  and  over  the 
table  lands  of  Mexico;  occasionally  stragglers  in  the  States  far 
eastward. 

SP.  CHAR.  Adult:  Leaden  gray  or  light  slate  color,  whitening  on  the  scapu- 
lars and  upper  tail  coverts.  Beneath,  white,  slightly  shaded  with  the  French 
gray  oil  the  sides,  but  without  dusky  vermiculation.  A  narrow  stripe  across  the 
forehead,  continuous  with  a  broad  bar  along  the  side  of  the  head,  embracing  the 
eye,  black,  slightly  (if  at  all)  bordered  with  whitish.  Lower  eyelid  not  white. 
Wings  and  tail  black,  with  white  markings,  much  as  in  the  last  species.  Young: 
Vermiculated  below  with  dusky,  upon  a  brownish  ground,  about  to  the  same  ex- 
tent as  is  seen  in  very  old  examples  of  L.  borealis.  General  tone  of  the  upper 
parts  less  pure  than  in  the  adult;  scapulars  and  tail  coverts  not  purely  white; 
black  bar  of  head  less  firm,  but,  as  far  as  it  goes,  maintaining  the  characters  of 
the  species.  At  a  very  early  age,  the  upper  parts  (including  the  whitish  of  the 
scapulars  and  tail  coverts)  are  finely  vermiculated  with  dusky  waves.  The  ends 
of  the  quills,  wing  coverts  and  tail  feathers  often  have  rusty  or  rufous  markings. 
Extreme  examples  of  excubitorides  look  very  different  from  ludomcianus  proper, 
but  the  two  are  observed  to  melt  into  each  other  when  many  specimens  are  com- 
pared, so  that  no  specific  character  can  be  assigned.  (Coues.) 

Stretch  of 
Length.  wing.  Wing.  Tail.        Tarsus.          Bill. 

Male 9.00          12.75         3.90         4.00         1.05          .63 

Female...       8.70          12.25         3.70         3.70         1.02          .01 

Iris  brown;  bill,  legs,  feet  and  claws  black. 

This  pale  race  of  the  Loggerhead  Shrike  is  similar  to  it  in 
habits  and  actions,  and,  like  it,  occasionally  kills  small  birds  and 
mice,  but  feeds  almost  wholly  upon  grasshoppers,  beetles  and 
crickets.  It  also  has  the  habit  of  the  family  of  impaling  its  vic- 
tims on  thorns,  etc.,  but  less  frequently  than  the  Northern  Shrike. 
Its  ordinary  voice  is  harsh  and  creaking.  It  has,  however,  con- 
siderable talent  in  the  way  of  mimicry,  especially  in  uttering  the 
notes  of  birds  in  distress;  and,  during  the  early  mating  season, 
I  have  occasionally  heard  it  sing  from  a  perch  a  rather  pleasing, 
musical  song,  interrupted  at  times  with  its  harsh,  grating  notes. 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  521 

Its  nest  is  placed  in  thorn  trees,  hedges,  briers,  etc. ;  a  rough, 
bulky  structure,  composed  of  small  sticks  and  stems,  with  bits 
of  leaves,  wool,  feathers  and  other  soft,  fragmentary  substances 
sparingly  woven  in,  and  lined  with  fine  stemlets  of  weeds  and 
grass,  and  sometimes  with  hairs.  Eggs  four  to  six,  1.02x.73; 
dull  grayish  to  yellowish  white,  spotted  with  varying  shades  of 
brown  and  obscure  lilac,  more  or  less  confluent  at  the  larger 
end;  in  some  cases  thickly  spotted  and  blotched  over  the  entire 
surface,  so  as  to  nearly  conceal  the  ground  color;  in  form,  oval. 
A  set  of  five  eggs,  taken  June  5th,  1878,  at  Pewaukee,  Wis- 
consin, from  a  nest  in  a  small  thorn  tree,  are,  in  dimensions: 
l.OOx.72,  l.Olx.75,  1.02x.75,  1.03x.73,  1.05x.73. 

FAMILY  VIREONID-ffi.    YIREOS. 

"The  essential  features  of  this  family  seem  to  consist  in  the  combination  of 
the  dentirostral  bill,  notched  iu  both  mandibles;  the  ten  primaries  (except  Vireo- 
*ylvia),  of  which  the  outer  is  usually  from  one-fourth  to  one-half  the  second,  the 
rather  short,  nearly  even  tail,  with  narrow  feathers,  and  the  great  amount  of  ad- 
hesion of  the  anterior  toes — the  whole  basal  joint  of  the  middle  being  generally 
united  on  both  sides  to  the  adjacent  joints,  and  decidedly  shorter  than  the  basal 
of  inner  or  two  basal  of  outer.  The  outer  lateral  toe  is  generally  appreciably 
longer  than  the  inner,  reaching  considerably  beyond  the  base  of  the  middle  claw. 
The  tarsi  are  always  distinctly  scutellate  anteriorly.  The  young  are  never 
spotted  or  streaked  as  in  the  Thrushes;  nor,  indeed,  do  the  adults  exhibit  such 
markings. 

"The  Vireonidos  are  peculiar  to  the  new  world,  and  are  widely  distributed, 
although  but  one  genus  belongs  to  the  United  States." 

GENUS  VIREO  VIEILT.OT. 

Wing  equal  to  or  longer  than  tail,  less  rounded,  the  third  or  fourth  quill 
longest,  and  second  much  longer  than  secondaries;  tail  nearly  even,  or  if  rounded, 
the  difference  between  longest  and  shortest  feathers  much  less  than  length  of  bill 
from  nostril;  bill  stouter,  and  relatively  narrower  and  higher  at  base.  (Ridgway.) 

SUBGENUS  VIKEOSYLVA  BONAPARTE. 

"Wings  long  and  pointed,  one-third  or  one- fourth  longer  than  the  nearly 
even  or  slightly  rounded  tail.  First  quill  very  small  (less  than  one-third  the 
second),  sometimes  apparently  wanting.  Second  quill  longer  than  the  seventh, 
much  longer  than  the  secondaries.  Tarsi  short  (scarcely  exceeding  .70  of  an 
inch);  toes  rather  long.  Body  slender  and  elongated.  Bill  slender,  narrow, 
straight;  the  culmen  straight  for  its  basal  half,  the  commissure  quite  straight; 
light  horn  color,  paler  beneath.  Feet  weak." 


522  HISTORY  OF  THE 

Vireo  olivaceus  (LINN.)- 

RED-EYED  VIBEO. 
PLATE  XXXI. 

Summer  resident;  abundant  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  State. 
Arrive  the  last  of  April;  begin  laying  about  the  20th  of  May; 
the  bulk  return  early  in  September,  a  few  remain  until  the  first 
of  October. 

B.  340.     K.  135.     C.  170.     G.  64,     264.     U.  624. 

HABITAT.  Eastern  temperate  North  America;  west  to  the 
Rocky  Mountains;  south  in  winter  through  eastern  Mexico  to 
northern  South  America;  occasionally  winters  as  far  north  as 
Florida.  Breeds  chiefly  from  the  southern  United  States  north- 
ward. 

Sp.  CHAK.  "Upper  parts  olive  green.  Top  of  head,  from  bill  to  nape,  ash 
color.  A  white  line  from  nostrils  above  and  beyond  the  eye,  bordered  above  by 
a  dusky  line  forming  the  edge  of  the  ashy  cap,  and  below  by  a  similar,  perhaps 
paler,  loral  and  postocular  cheek  stripe.  Beneath,  including  tibia,  white,  with 
perhaps  a  tinge  of  olivaceous  ash  across  the  breast;  the  sides  of  the  neck  like 
the  back;  sides  of  the  body  with  a  faint  wash  of  olive.  Axillars  and  crissum 
faintly  tinged  with  sulphur  yellow;  lining  of  wings  and  its  edges,  the  latter  es- 
pecially, nearly  white.  Quills  blackish  brown,  edged  externally,  except  at  ends 
of  primaries,  with  olive,  internally  with  white.  Tail  feathers  lighter  browu, 
edged  externally  like  the  back;  internally  with  pale  olivaceous  white." 

Stretch  of 
Length.  wing.          Wing.          Tail.         Tarsus.         Rill. 

Male 6.10  9.75         3.20          2.50          .70  .53 

Female...      5.60  9.20          3.00          2.20          .70  .50 

Iris  brick  red;  bill  bluish  black,  under  pale  horn  color  at 
base;  legs,  feet  and  claws  plumbeous. 

These  birds  occasionally  frequent  the  groves  and  shade  trees 
about  our  dwellings,  but  their  natural  haunts  are  within  the 
woodlands,  and  they  are  the  most  abundant  along  the  timbered 
streams.  They  are  very  common  throughout  their  range,  and 
make  their  presence  known  by  their  song,  as  it  is  often  repeated 
at  all  times  of  the  day,  from  the  time  of  their  arrival  until  late 
in  autumn,  but  in  the  latter  part  of  the  season  it  is  less  animated 
and  not  so  often  heard.  They  sing  from  the  topmost  branches 
of  the  trees  —  an  indescribable  song,  consisting  of  a  few  clear, 
warbling  notes,  repeated  in  a  loud,  animated  and  almost  continu- 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  523 

ous  strain,  and  in  so  musical  a  manner  as  to  be  ever  pleasing 
and  never  tiresome. 

Like  all  of  the  family,  they  feed  upon  insect  life,  for  which 
they  industriously  hunt  among  the  branches  and  leaves,  and  they 
are  quite  expert  in  catching  upon  the  wing.  Small  berries  in 
their  season  are  also  relished  as  a  dessert.  In  flight  they  glide 
through  the  air  rather  swiftly,  and  in  an  easy,  steady  manner. 

Their  prehensile  nests  are  suspended  from  the  forks  or  twigs 
of  trees,  and  are  made  of  and  fastened  at  the  rim  to  and  around 
the  twigs  with  lint-like  fibers,  shreds  from  weeds,  vines,  bits  of 
old  leaves,  spider  threads,  and  cocoons,  woven  in  and  fastened 
together  with  saliva,  and  lined  with  hair-like  stems  and  rootlets; 
to  be  looked  for  anywhere  from  the  lowest  branches  to  near  the 
tops  of  the  tallest  trees.  Eggs  three  to  five  (usually  four), 
.  82x.  56;  pure  white,  thinly  and  irregularly  specked  with  red- 
dish brown,  chiefly  about  the  larger  end;  in  form,  oval. 

Vireo  gilvus  (VIEILL.). 

WABBLING  VIR3O. 
PLATE  XXXI. 

Summer  resident;  common  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  State. 
Arrive  the  last  of  April;  begin  laying  about  the  20th  of  May; 
leave  in  September. 

B.  245.     R.  139,     139a.     C.  174,     175.     G.  65,     265.     U.  627. 

HABITAT.  North  America  in  general,  from  the  fur  countries 
to  Mexico;  breeding  from  the  southern  United  States  north- 
ward throughout  their  range.  (The  western  form,  V.  gilvus 
swainsoni,  has  not  been  recognized  by  the  A.  O.  U.  committee; 
the  difference  upon  which  the  variety  was  based  not  appearing 
to  them  to  be  constant.  Mr.  Bidgway  has  since  restored  it  in 
his  "Manual."  I  have  not  material  enough  at  hand  to  venture 
an  opinion,  and  will  only  say  to  the  reader,  if  finally  reinstated 
as  a  race,  that  it  does  not  differ  in  its  habits  and  actions  in  the 
least  from  this  species,  and  its  nest  and  eggs  are  not  distin- 
guishable.) 

SP.  CHAR.  "Above,  olive  green,  strongly  glossed  with  ashy;  the  head  and 
nape  above  more  distinctly  ashy,  but  without  decided  line  of  demarcation  be- 
hind and  without  dusky  ridge;  rump  pure  olive.  Stripe  from  nostril  over  eye 


524:  HISTORY  OF   THE 

to  nape,  eyelids  and  space  below  eye  creamy  white.  A  rather  dusky  postocular 
and  loral  spot,  the  latter  not  extending  to  the  bill.  Under  parts  white,  with 
tinge  of  greenish  yellow  (occasionally  of  creamy  fulvous  or  buff),  especially  on 
breast;  sides  more  olivaceous.  Crissum  and  axillars  scarcely  more  yellowish. 
Quills  and  rectrices  wood  brown,  edged  internally  with  whitish,  externally  with 
olivaceous,  except  perhaps  on  longer  primaries.  Edge  of  wing  white.  Larger 
wing  coverts  grayish  brown,  with  paler  edges,  and  no  trace  of  olivaceous.  First 
quill  very  short  or  spurious;  second  about  equal  to,  generally  rather  longer  than, 
sixth;  third  longest;  fourth,  then  fifth  a  little  shorter." 

Stretch  of 
Length.         -wing.  Wing.         Tail.         Tarsus.          Bill. 

Male 5.75  9.10          2.75         2.20          .70  .40 

Female...      5.50          8.85          2.60         2.00          .68  .40 

Iris  brown;  bill  —  upper  dusky,  under  pale;  legs  and  feet 
plumbeous;  claws  brown. 

These  familiar  birds  inhabit  the  groves,  orchards,  parks  and 
shade  trees  about  our  dwellings.  They  are,  I  think,  the  sweet- 
est songsters  of  the  family,  and  nearly  as  constant  singers  as  the 
Bed-eyed,  and  their  soft,  warbling,  musical  notes  much  more 
varied.  They  are  great  favorites,  not  only  on  account  of  their 
musical  talent,  but  for  their  valuable  services  in  ridding  the  fruit 
and  shade  trees  of  the  many  injurious  insect  pests,  that  are  so 
destructive  to  the  foliage  and  fruit 

Their  nests,  like  those  of  the  Red-eyed,  are  suspended  to  the 
slender  forks  of  twigs,  and  are  composed  of  about  the  same 
material,  but  smoother  and  more  compact  in  their  make-up. 
They  usually  build  from  twenty  to  even  one  hundred  feet  from 
the  ground.  (I  once  found  a  nest  only  seven  feet  up,  but,  in  the 
vicinity  of  taller  trees,  such  finds  are  rare.)  Eggs  four  or  five, 
.75x.55;  crystal  white,  sparingly  spotted  about  the  larger  end 
with  reddish  and  dark  brown,  intermingled  with  lilac;  in  form, 

oval. 

SUBGENUS  LANIVIREO  BAIRD. 

"Body  stout;  head  broad.  Bill  short  and  stout,  broad  at  base,  the  culmeu 
curved  from  the  base,  the  commissure  considerably  arched." 

Vireo  flavifrons  VIEILI,. 

YELLOW-THROATED  VIREO. 
PLATE  XXXI. 

Summer  resident;  quite  common  in  the  eastern  part  of  the 
State.  Arrive  the  last  of  April  to  first  of  May;  begin  laying 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  525 

about  the  20th  of  May;  the  bulk  leave  early  in  September;  a 
few  occasionally  linger  into  October. 

B.  253.     R.  140.     C.  176.     G.  66,     266.     U.  628. 

HABITAT.  Eastern  United  States,  occasionally  crossing  the 
line  into  the  British  possessions;  south  in  winter  through  east- 
ern Mexico,  to  Costa  Rica.  I  found  them  quite  common  in 
Guatemala.  Breed  throughout  their  United  States  range. 

SP.  CHAR.  "Head  and  neck  above  and  on  sides,  with  interscapular  region, 
bright  olive  green.  Lower  back,  rump,  tail  and  wing  coverts  ashy.  Wings 
brown,  with  two  white  bands  across  the  coverts,  the  outer  edges  of  inner  sec- 
ondaries* and  inner  edges  of  all  the  quills,  with  inside  of  wing,  white.  Outer 
primaries  edged  with  gray,  the  inner  with  olive.  Tail  feathers  brown,  entirely 
encircled  by  a  narrow  edge  of  white.  Under  parts  to  middle  of  body,  a  line 
from  nostrils  over  eye,  eyelids,  and  patch  beneath  the  eye  ( bordered  behind  by 
the  olive  of  neck),  bright  gamboge  yellow;  rest  of  under  parts  white,  the  flanks 
faintly  glossed  with  ashy.  Lores  dusky.  No  spurious  primary  evident;  second 
quill  longest;  first  shorter  than  third. 

"Autumnal  birds,  perhaps  more  especially  the  young,  are  more  glossed  with 
olivaceous,  which  invades  the  ashy  portions  and  tinges  the  white." 

Stretch  of 
Length.          wing.          Wing.          Tail.         Tarsus.        Bill. 

Male 5.75         9.60          3.10          2.20        .75         .50 

Female...     5.60         9.40         3.00         2.10        .75         .48 

Iris  brown;  bill  —  end  dusky,  rest  bluish;  legs,  feet  and  claws 
lead  color. 

These  handsome  birds  frequent  the  woods,  and  seem  to  prefer 
the  timbered  lands  along  the  streams;  at  least,  this  is  the  case 
in  their  western  range.  In  the  Eastern  States  they  are  said  to 
be  quite  a  familiar  bird,  and  to  inhabit  alike  the  orchards  and 
shade  trees;  and,  as  they  are  not  wild  or  timid,  will  no  doubt 
soon  become  accustomed  to  the  presence  of  man,  and  readily 
make  their  homes  about  our  prairie  dwellings,  as  soon  as  the 
trees  and  shrubbery  form  inviting  haunts;  at  any  rate,  they  are 
much  more  common  here  than  in  former  years. 

In  flight  they  are  less  steady  and  not  so  swift  as  the  Red-eyed. 
Their  food  habits  are  the  same,  but  they  look  more  for  the 
supply  among  the  foliage  in  the  treetops.  Their  song  is  not 
so  constant,  and  is  delivered  in  a  slower  and  more  plaintive 
strain,  but  in  a  very  clear  and  musical  manner.  Among  the 
Yireos  they  rank  next  to  the  Warbling  in  song. 


526  HISTORY  OF  TUB 

In  regard  to  their  nesting  habits  I  will  say,  that  on  the  9th 
of  May,  1877,  I  found,  in  the  timber  near  Neosho  Falls,  Kan- 
sas, a  nest  of  this  bird  (a  pendent  one,  as  all  Yireos'  nests  are) 
attached  to  branches  of  a  very  small  horizontal  limb  of  a  large 
hickory  tree,  about  twenty  feet  from  the  ground,  and  ten  feet 
below  the  limbs  that  formed  the  top  of  the  tree.  In  the  forks 
of  the  tree  the  Cooper's  Hawks  were  nesting,  and  I  discovered 
the  Yireo  and  its  nest  in  watching  the  Hawks  —  or  rather  the 
man  I  had  hired  to  climb  the  tree  to  the  Hawks'  nest.  The 
little  bird  at  first  flew  off,  but  on  his  near  approach  returned 
and  suffered  him  to  bend  the  limb  toward  the  tree  and  cover 
her  with  his  hand  on  the  nest.  The  twig  was  quickly  broken, 
and  the  bird  and  nest  lowered  by  a  line  in  a  small  covered 
basket,  taken  to  collect  the  eggs  of  the  Hawk.  Such  manifes- 
tations of  courage  and  love,  so  rare  and  exceptional,  touched 
me  to  the  heart,  and  it  was  hard  to  make  up  my  mind  to  rob 
and  kill  the  bird  and  her  mate,  scolding  in  the  treetop.  I  can 
only  offer  in  extenuation  that  they  were  the  first  I  had  ever  met 
with  in  the  State,  and  the  strong  desire  to  have  them  in  my 
collection.  The  nest  was  made  of  and  fastened  to  the  limb 
with  silk-like  threads  and  bits  of  cotton  from  plants,  fastened 
together  by  saliva,  and  partly  covered  or  dotted  over  with  lichen, 
and  lined  with  small  stems  of  weeds  and  grass.  The  beautiful 
nest  was  in  plain  sight,  there  being  nothing  near  to  hide  it  from 
view.  It  contained  three  eggs  and  also  one  of  the  Cowbird 
(Molothus  ater).  One  of  the  eggs  was  broken  by  the  bird  in 
her  struggle  to  escape  from  the  collector's  grasp  while  in  the 
nest.  The  color  of  the  eggs  was  pure  white,  with  a  few  scat- 
tering small  spots  of  reddish  brown  toward  the  larger  end. 
They  each  measure  .79x.58.  Four  taken  from  another  nest  (a 
full  set)  measure:  .78x.57,  .80x.58,  .79x.58,  .78x.57. 

I  have  since  noticed  these  birds  in  the  woodlands  on  several 
occasions,  and  on  the  18th  of  May,  1883,  while  strolling  along 
the  south  bank  of  the  Kansas  River,  near  Topeka,  in  the  timber 
skirting  the  stream,  I  had  the  pleasure  to  find  a  pair  of  them 
building  a  nest  in  a  honey  locust,  about  sixteen  feet  from  the 
ground,  and  eight  feet  from  the  body  of  the  tree.  The  nest 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  527 

was  fastened  to  the  forks  of  a  small  horizontal  branch.  The 
frame  of  the  nest  appeared  to  be  completed.  The  birds  were 
busy  at  work,  the  female  lining  the  nest  with  small,  hair-like 
stems,  the  male  covering  the  outside  with  soft,  lint-like  fibrous 
strappings  from  plants  (these  closely  resembling  the  limb  and 
its  surroundings),  and  dotting  it  over  with  lichen.  Happy  in  the 
thought  that  he  was  not  only  beautifying  the  home  of  his  lady 
bird,  but  protecting  her  from  view  by  his  artistic  skill  (notwith- 
standing the  fact  that  she  had  selected  an  open  and  exposed  sit- 
uation, he  could  not  refrain  from  expressing  his  joy,  at  intervals 
during  the  work,  in  snatches  of  his  sweetest  notes.  The  female, 
more  watchful,  sighted  me,  and  gave  notice  .of  the  intrusion. 
Quick  as  thought,  the  birds  were  away.  The  male,  alighting 
near  the  top  of  an  adjoining  tree,  at  once  poured  forth  his  song 
in  loudest  notes,  no  doubt  thinking  that  by  attracting  my  atten- 
tion to  him,  I  would  lose  sight  of  the  nest.  Knowing  it  was 
now  too  late  for  concealment,  and  that  any  attempt  to  hide  away 
would  only  increase  their  suspicions,  and  stop  or  delay  the  work, 
I  carelessly  walked  nearer,  in  order  to  have  a  better  view,  and 
lay  down  on  my  back  in  an  open  space.  In  a  short  time  the 
female  returned,  hopped  about  the  tree,  inspected  me  closely 
from  the  lower  limbs,  and  then  flew  away  and  returned  several 
.times,  before  bringing  material,  or  venturing  to  approach  the 
nest.  But  the  moment  she  did  so,  the  song  of  the  male  ceased, 
and  the  work  of  building  was  actively  resumed.  As  the  female 
stood  upon  the  top  of  the  nest,  with  head  down  and  inside,  I 
could  not  see  the  manner  of  arranging  the  lining;  but  as  she 
kept  walking  around  upon  the  rim,  I  could,  in  imagination,  see 
her  plaiting  and  weaving  in  and  out  the  hair-like  stems.  It  was 
very  easy  and  interesting,  however,  to  see  and  note  the  actions 
of  the  male,  as  he  deftly  worked  the  material  into  the  frame- 
work, running  the  longer,  fibrous,  thread-like  strips  through,  and 
then  quickly  springing  upon  the  top,  and  fastening  them  on  the 
inside.  Then  he  would  rearrange  the  outside,  stopping  a  mo-, 
ment  to  inspect  the  work,  and  then  off  in  search  of  more  mate- 
rial, occasionally  warbling  a  few  notes  on  the  way;  but  he  was 
silent  at  the  nest,  while  I  remained  so  near.  At  the  rate  their 


528  HISTORY  OF   THE 

work  was  progressing,  I  think  the  nest  would  have  been  com- 
pleted during  the  day.  I  do  not  know  that  it  is  the  usual  cus- 
tom for  the  female  to  confine  her  labors  to  the  plain  and  neces- 
sary work,  and  the  male  to  the  decorative  and  ornamental  parts, 
but  it  was  so  in  this  case.  It  may  be  that  the  time  of  laying 
was  near  at  hand,  and  that  the  female  felt  the  pressing  necessity 
for  the  completion  of  the  interior;  for,  in  such  cases,  I  have  seen 
nests  of  birds  enlarged  and  completed  by  the  males,  while  the 
females  were  sitting  upon  their  treasures. 

Eggs  three  to  five,  usually  four;  in  form,  oval. 

Vireo  solitarius  (WILS.). 

BLUE-HEADED  VIREO. 
PLATE  XXXI. 

Migratory;  rare.  Arrive  the  last  of  April  to  first  of  May; 
leave  on  the  way  southward  by  the  last  of  September. 

B.  250.     R.  141.     C.  177.     G.  67,     267.     U.  629. 

HABITAT.  Eastern  North  America;  north  to  Hudson's  Bay 
and  Great  Slave  Lake;  south  in  winter  through  eastern  Mexico 
to  Guatemala;  breeds  chiefly  north  of  the  United  States. 

SP.  CHAR.  "Above  olive  green,  including  upper  tail  coverts;  the  top  and 
sides  of  head  and  nape  ashy  plumbeous;  sides  of  the  neck  plumbeous  olive; 
broad  line  from  nostril  to  and  around  eye,  involving  the  whole  lower  eyelid, 
white;  a  loral  line  involving  the  edge  of  the  eyelid,  and  a  space  beneath  the  eye, 
dusky  plumbeous;  beneath  white;  the  sides  yellow,  overlaid  with  olive,  this  color 
not  extending  anterior  to  the  breast;  axillars  and  base  of  crissum  pale  sulphur 
yellow,  the  long  feathers  of  the  latter  much  paler  or  nearly  white;  wings  with 
two  bands  and  outer  edges  of  innermost  secondaries  olivaceous  white;  the  quills 
dark  brown,  edged  externally  with  olive  green,  internally  with  white;  tail  feath- 
ers similarly  marked,  except  that  the  lateral  feather  is  edged  externally  also 
with  white,  the  central  without  internal  border.  First  quill  spurious,  rather 
more  than  one-fifth  the  second,  which  is  intermediate  between  the  fifth  and 
sixth;  third  longest. 

"Spring  specimens  show  sometimes  a  gloss  of  plumbeous  on  the  back,  obscur- 
ing the  olive,  the  contrast  of  colors  being  greater  in  the  autumnal  and  young 
birds;  sometimes  the  crissum  appears  nearly  white.  The  length  of  the  spuri- 
ous primary  varies  considerably,  from  .45  to  .75  of  an  inch. 

"In  autumn  the  colors  are  similar,  but  slightly  duller  and  less  sharply  de- 
fined, while  the  back  is  considerably  tinged  with  ashy." 

Stretch  of 
Length.  wing.  Wing.          Tail.        Tarsus.         Bill. 

Male 5.50          9.50          3.00         2.30         .70          .42 

Female...      5.40  9.25          2.90        2.25          .70  .40 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  529 

Iris  dark  brown;  bill  black,  with  basal  half  of  under  blue; 
legs,  feet  and  claws  slate  blue. 

These  solitary  birds  inhabit  the  deep  woods,  and  seldom  fre- 
quent the  open  grounds  or  habitations  of  man,  and  are  therefore 
but  little  known,  except  by  the  bird  lover.  In  their  food  habits 
and  actions,  they  are  very  similar  to  the  Red-eyed.  I  have  never 
been  so  fortunate  as  to  meet  with  them  on  their  breeding 
grounds,  and  therefore  take  pleasure  in  quoting  from  Mr.  Gen- 
try's interesting  description  of  their  nesting  habits,  etc.,  in  his 
"Life  Histories  of  Birds  of  Pennsylvania."  He  says: 

"Although  affecting  a  partiality  for  retired  situations,  it  can- 
not be  considered  a  shy  and  timid  species.  Like  many  others 
have  done,  as  time  advances  it  will  become  more  familiar  with 
man.  It  is  but  three  years  ago  since  we  first  met  this  species 
in  this  part  of  the  country  in  anything  like  great  numbers. 
Last  spring  it  was  nearly  as  abundant  as  Vireo  olivaceus.  As 
the  forests  disappear,  and  new  conditions  are  imposed  upon  its 
environment,  a  change  of  nidification  will  be  the  inevitable  re- 
sult. 

"From  observations  extending  over  three  years,  we  are  sat- 
isfied that  the  sexes  arrive  together.  The  females,  being  more 
modest  and  retired  than  their  mates  and  comparatively  songless, 
are  less  observed.  In  less  than  a  fortnight  after  their  arrival, 
a  site  is  chosen  for  a  nest,  which  is  a  matter  of  some  moment. 
After  a  couple  of  days  thus  spent,  a  place  is  mutually  agreed 
upon,  and  nidification  at  once  begun.  This  happens  about  the 
20th  of  May,  and  sometimes  as  late  as  the  10th  of  June;  about 
the  time,  usually,  when  Quercus  palustris  has  doffed  its  ripened 
catkins,  which  are  principally  utilized  in  the  construction  of  its 
nest.  Each  nest  is  uniform  in  structure,  and  remarkably  homo- 
geneous in  composition:  where  the  tassels  of  the  pin  oak  are 
used,  nothing  else  is  to  be  found;  where  grass  is  the  favorite  ar- 
ticle, as  a  species  of  Aira  in  exceptional  cases,  this  alone  is  a 
noticeable  feature. 

"The  nest  is  gracefully  disposed  between  the  bifurcating 
branches  of  a  twig,  and  presents  a  neat  and  cozy  appearance. 
The  interior  is  comparatively  even,  and  strictly  symmetrically 

34- 


530  HISTORY  OF   THE 

cup-shaped.  The  exterior,  with  its  roughened  aspect,  produced 
by  the  projecting  catkins,  is  a  rather  imposing  sight. 

"The  female  adjusts  the  materials  while  the  male  is  busy  in 
fetching  them.  On  the  completion  of  the  structure,  which  is 
the  work  of  three  days,  the  female,  on  the  succeeding  day,  be- 
gins to  deposit,  at  the  rate  of  one  egg  per  day,  her  complement 
of  eggs,  which  requires  from  three  to  four  days,  according  to  the 
number  laid.  On  the  ensuing  day  incubation  takes  place  and 
continues  from  ten  to  eleven  days,  arid  is  the  sole  labor  of  the 
female.  While  thus  occupied,  the  male,  like  a  dutiful  husband, 
supplies  her  with  nourishment. 

"Like  its  near  congeners,  the  female  of  this  species  is  very 
unsuspicious,  and  lacks  timidity.  Persons  may  pass  and  repass 
underneath  the  nest,  which  is  mostly  placed  ten  feet  from  the 
ground,  without  exciting  distrust  or  creating  alarm.  But  when 
an  effort  is  made  to  violate  this  confidence  by  hostile  intentions, 
the  female  glides  silently  out  of  the  nest  and  does  not  exert  her- 
self in  the  least  to  ward  off  an  attack;  but  the  male,  when  not 
absent  on  foraging  business,  is  close  by  the  nest  and  ready  by 
his  valor  to  resent  an  injury  or  deter  an  assault.  With  open  bill 
and  vehement  scolding,  ho  hazards  his  own  life. 

"Its  song  differs  from  that  of  any  other  Yireo.  It  is  a  pro- 
tracted and  peculiar  ditty,  which  is  heard  at  irregular  intervals, 
and  begins  with  an  animated  warble,  which  gradually  increases 
in  sound  until  a  certain  pitch  is  attained,  when  it  breaks  down 
to  a  falsetto  note,  then  rises  again,  and  ultimately  ceases. 

"The  eggs  are  five  in  number,  oblong  oval,  and  slightly 
pointed  at  one  end;  the  ground  color  is  a  transparent  white, 
flesh  colored  in  unblown  specimens,  and  chiefly  marked  with 
reddish  brown  spots  about  the  larger  end.  They  measure  .77 
inch  in  length  and  .52  in  breadth." 

SUBGENUS   VIREO    VlEILLOT. 

"Wings  short  and  rounded,  a  little  longer  than  the  tail,  equal  to  it,  or  shorter. 
First  primary  distinct  and  large,  from  two-fifths  to  a  half  or  more  the  length  of 
the  second,  shorter  or  not  longer  than  the  eighth." 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  531 

Vireo  atricapillus  Wooim. 

BLACK-CAPPED  VIREO. 
PLATE  XXXI. 

Quite  a  common  summer  resident  in  the  gypsum  hills,  at  or 
near  the  south  line  of  the  State;  at  least,  I  found  them  very 
common  in  southeastern  Comanche  county.  Arrive  the  last  of 
April;  begin  laying  the  last  of  May  to  first  of  June;  leave  in 
September. 

B.  247.     R.  142.     C.  185.     G. ,     268.     IT.  630 

HABITAT.  Southern  portion  of  the  Great  Plains;  north  into 
southwestern  Kansas;  south  in  winter  into  Mexico. 

SP.  CBCAE.  Adult  male:  Top  and  sides  of  head  deep  black,  the  lores  and 
orbital  ring  pure  white;  lower  parts  pure  white,  the  sides  and  flanks  olive 
greenish,  tinged  with  yellow;  upper  parts  olive  green,  the  wings  and  tail  black, 
with  pale  olive  yellow  edgings.  Adult  female:  Similar  to  male,  but  black  of 
head  usually  duller,  more  slate-colored.  Young,  in  first  autumn  and  winter: 
Top  and  sides  of  head  dull  grayish  brown;  lores,  orbital  ring,  and  lower  parts 
dull  bnffy  white,  or  pale  dull  buffy,  the  sides  brown  olive;  upper  parts  more 
brownish  than  in  adult.  (Ridgicay.) 

Stretch  of 
Length.          wing.  Wing.  Tail.         Tarsus.         Bill. 

Male 4.65  6.95          2.15          1.80          .73          .39 

Female...      4.40  6.80          2.10          1.70          .73          .38 

Iris  light  brick  red;  upper  mandible  black,  lower  mandible 
blue,  edges  and  tips  of  both  whitish;  legs,  feet,  claws  deep  blue. 

These  birds  are  very  local  in  their  distribution,  and,  until  of 
late,  very  little  has  been  known  in  regard  to  their  habits.  They 
inhabit  the  oak  woods  upon  the  uplands,  and  the  bushes  and 
trees  in  the  ravines  on  bluffy  prairie  lands.  They  have  been 
found  breeding  in  Comal,  Medina,  Comanche  and  Cooke  coun- 
ties, in  Texas  —  invariably  in  trees  and  near  the  ground.  They 
search  for  their  food,  which  consists  of  small  forms  of  insect 
life  (and,  no  doubt,  small  berries  in  season),  chiefly  in  the  higher 
branches,  and  dart  from  their  perch  and  capture  on  the  wing. 

While  collecting  and  observing  birds  in  southeastern  Coman- 
che county,  Kansas,  from  May  7  to  18,  inclusive,  1885,  I  cap- 
tured three  pairs  of  Vireo  atricapillus,  and  saw  quite  a  number, 
all  in  the  deep  ravines  in  the  gypsum  hills,  on  the  Red  or  Salt 
Fork  of  the  Arkansas  River.  The  birds  were  quite  bold  and 
noisy,  but  this  may  be  the  case  only  during  mating  and  the  early 


532  HISTORY  OF  THE 

part  of  the  breeding  season.  They  are  very  pleasing  singers, 
their  song  being  not  like  the  "  Who' s-af  raid, "  jerky  notes  of 
the  White-eyed  Yireo,  nor  as  loud  as  those  of  the  Red-eyed,  but 
a  more  warbling  and  varied  song  than  that  of  any  other  of  the 
family  which  I  have  heard. 

On  the  llth  I  found  a  nest  near  the  head  of  a  deep  canon, 
suspended  from  the  forks  of  the  end  of  a  horizontal  branch  of  a 
small  elm  tree,  about  five  feet  from  the  ground.  It  was  screened 
from  sight  above  by  the  thick  foliage  of  the  tree  and  the  larger 
surrounding  trees,  but  beneath,  for  quite  a  distance,  there  was 
nothing  to  hide  it  from  view.  The  material,  however,  of  which 
it  was  made  so  closely  resembled  the  gypsum  that  had  crumbled 
from  the  rocks  above,  arid  thickly  covered  the  ground,  that  I 
should  have  passed  it  by  unnoticed  had  I  not,  on  my  near  ap- 
proach, been  attracted  to  the  spot  by  the  scolding  and  the  ex- 
cited actions  of  the  birds.  On  discovering  the  nest,  I  did  not 
stop  to  examine  it,  but  kept  leisurely  on  my  course  till  out  of 
sight,  then  cautiously  turned  back,  and,  at  a  safe  distance,  had 
the  pleasure  of  seeing  both  of  the  birds  busily  at  work  building 
their  nest,  then  about  two-thirds  completed.  The  nest  is  hemi- 
spherical in  shape,  and  composed  of  broken  fragments  of  old, 
bleached  leaves,  with  here  and  there  an  occasional  spider's 
cocoon,  interwoven  together,  and  fastened  to  the  twigs  with 
fibrous  strappings  and  silk-like  threads  from  plants  and  the  webs 
of  spiders,  and  lined  with  fine  stems  from  weeds  and  grasses. 
On  the  18th,  my  last  day  in  the  vicinity,  I  went  to  the  nest,  con- 
fidently expecting  to  find  a  full  set  of  eggs,  but,  on  account  of 
the  cold,  wet  weather,  or  for  some  other  cause,  the  bird  had  not 
laid,  and  I  had  to  content  myself  with  the  nest. 

Eggs  usually  four,  .72x.51;  plain  white;  in  form,  oval. 

Vireo  noveboracensis  (GMEL.). 

WHITE-EYED  VIREO. 
PLATE  XXXI. 

Summer  resident;  common  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  State. 
Arrive  in  April;  begin  laying  about  the  middle  of  May;  leave 
the  last  of  September  to  middle  of  October. 

B.  248.     R.  143.     C.  181.     G.  68,     269.     U.  681. 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  533 

HABITAT.  Eastern  United  States;  west  to  the  Rocky  Mount- 
ains; south  in  winter  to  Guatemala.  Winters  from  the  Gulf 
States  southward;  breeds  throughout  its  United  States  range; 
resident  in  the  Bermudas. 

SP.  CHAR.  "First  primary  about  half  the  length  of  second,  which  is  longer 
than  secondaries  and  about  equal  to  the  eighth;  the  fourth  longest;  third  and 
fifth  little  shorter.  Above,  quite  olive  green;  sides  of  neck,  and  a  gloss  on  its 
upper  surface,  ashy.  The  middle  concealed  portions  of  feathers  of  lower  back 
and  rump  pale  sulphur  yellowish.  Beneath,  white;  the  chin  and  lower  cheeks 
with  a  grayish  tinge;  the  sides  of  breast  and  body,  with*  axillars  and  base  of 
crissurn  (more  faintly),  bright  yellow;  the  inner  wing  coverts  and  rest  of  crissura 
much  paler,  almost  white.  A  broad  yellow  line  from  nostrils  to  and  continuous 
with  a  yellow  ring  round  the  eye,  which  is  encircled  exteriorly  by  olivaceous;  a 
dusky  loral,  but  no  postocular  spot.  Wings,  with  two  covert  bauds  and  inner- 
most secondaries  (externally),  broadly  yellowish  white;  rest  of  quills  edged  ex- 
ternally with  olive,  except  the  two  outer  and  tips  of  other  primaries,  which  are 
grayish.  Rectrices  edged  externally  with  olive,  except  outermost,  which  is  bor- 
dered by  grayish.  All  the  long  quills  bordered  internally  with  whitish. 

"Specimens  vary  slightly,  in  a  greater  amount  of  ashy  on  the  head,  and  less 
brilliancy  of  the  yellow  of  head  and  sides.  Sometimes  there  is  a  decided  ashy 
shade  in  the  white  of  the  throat  and  jugulum,  which  again  has  a  very  faint  tinge 
of  yellowish." 

Stretch  of 
Length.          iving.  IVing.         Tail.         Tarsus.          Bill. 

Male 5.25  8.00          2.45         2.15          .74  .45 

Female...      4.90          7.55         2.30        2.00          .74          .45 

Iris  white;  bill  blue  black,  pale  on  edges;  legs  and  feet  dark 
lead  colored;  claws  horn  blue. 

These  sprightly  little  birds  inhabit  the  thickets  on  the  low 
prairies,  where  entangled  with  briers  and  vines,  and  the  edges 
of  woodlands  bordering  streams  and  swampy  places.  They 
differ  from  others  of  the  family  that  I  have  described,  inas- 
much as  they  not  only  make  their  homes  near  the  ground,  but 
search  for  their  food  (which  consists  almost  wholly  of  insects 
and  their  larva)  in  the  lower  branches  of  the  trees  and  thickest 
growths  of  bushes,  where  they  are  so  completely  hidden  that 
their  presence  would  seldom  be  known  were  it  not  for  their 
sharp,  startling  call  or  alarm  notes  and  song.  Even  the  latter 
is  uttered  in  so  loud  and  emphatic  a  manner  as  to  sound  more 
like  a  boastful  challenge  to  a  rival  than  an  effort  to  please  his 
lady  love.  In  the  latter  part  of  the  season  the  voice  is  toned 
down  and  at  times  quite  musical.  To  the  intruder  or  outside 


534  HISTORY  OF   THE 

world,  their  notes  and  actions  are  expressive  of  an  irritable, 
petulant  temperament.  In  this  respect  they  differ  from  many  of 
the  highest  order  of  animals,  for  if  they  are  not  all  smiles  to 
others,  they  are  at  all  times  a  happy  family  at  home,  the  mated 
pairs  being  very  attentive  and  loving  to  each  other,  and  kindly 
rear  their  young. 

Their  nests  are  deep,  cup-shaped,  and  almost  hemispherical  in 
form.  They  are  suspended  usually  from  grape  or  other  wild, 
running  vines,  ia  a  small  open  space,  surrounded  by  the  thick- 
est growths  they  can  find,  and  are  seldom  over  four  feet  from 
the  ground.  They  are  made  of  hemp-like  fibers,  bits  of  old 
leaves,  mosses  and  lichen  from  decaying  stumps  and  trees,  and 
are  lined  with  fine  stemlets  of  weeds  and  grasses.  Eggs  four 
or  five,  . 75x.  55;  clear  white,  with  a  few  scattering  spots  of  pur- 
ple and  dark  reddish  brown  about  the  larger  end;  in  form,  oval. 

Vireo  belli!  AUD. 

BELL'S  VIREO. 
PLATE  XXXI. 

Summer  resident;  abundant.  Arrive  the  last  of  April;  be- 
gin laying  the  last  of  May;  the  bulk  leave  early  in  September. 

B.  246.     R.  145.     C.  183.     G.  69,     270.     U.  633. 

HABITAT.  Middle  portions  of  the  United  States;  from  Illinois 
and  Minnesota  west  to  the  eastern  base  of  the  Rocky  Mount- 
ains; south  in  winter  into  southern  Mexico;  breeding  from  cen- 
tral Texas  (and  probably  farther  south)  northward  throughout 
its  range. 

SP.  CHAR.  Wings  dull  dusky  grayish,  the  middle  and  greater  coverts  nar- 
rowly and  not  very  sharply  tipped  with  dull  white.  Top  of  head  and  neck  dull 
brownish  gray,  gradually  changing  to  grayish  olive  green  on  back,  scapulars, 
rump  and  upper  tail  coverts;  a  rather  indistinct  loral  streak,  and  interrupted 
orbital  ring,  dull  white;  cheeks  and  ear  coverts  light  brownish  gray,  fading 
gradually  into  dull  white  or  buffy  white  of  throat;  median  lower  parts  white, 
the  breast  usually  faintly  tinged  with  sulphur  yellow;  sides  and  flanks  sulphur 
yellow,  tinged  with  olive;  under  tail  coverts  and  under  wing  coverts  clear  pale 
sulphur  yellow.  (Ridgway.) 

'    Stretch  of 
Length.  wing.  Wing.  Tail.         Tarsus.         Bill. 

Male 4.90  7.15          2.15         1.90          .70  .40 

Female..         4.75  7.00          2.10         1.80          .70  .40 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  535 

Iris  brown;  bill  —  upper  dark  brown,  under  pale;  legs,  feet 
and  claws  plumbeous. 

These  active  birds  are  quite  common  throughout  their  range. 
They  inhabit  the  dense  patches  of  bushes  and  briers  on  the 
prairies;  hedge  fences  are  also  a  favorite  resort.  In  their  food 
habits  and  actions  they  are  very  similar  to  the  White-eyed. 
Their  call  and  alarm  notes  are  not  quite  so  harsh,  and  their 
song  is  delivered  in  a  less  emphatic  manner;  an  indescribable 
sputtering,  that  does  not  rank  it  high  in  the  musical  scale. 

Their  deep,  cup-shaped  nests  are  suspended  from  slender  forks 
of  twigs  or  vines,  and  are  composed  of  lint-like  strippings  from 
plants,  neatly  interwoven  with  bits  of  old  leaves  and  other  frag- 
mentary substances,  and  lined  with  fine,  slender  stemlets  from 
weeds  and  grasses;  in  some  cases,  lined  with  hairs.  Eggs  usu- 
ally four,  .  69x.  50;  pure  white,  thinly  speckled  or  dotted  around 
the  larger  end  with  dark  reddish  brown;  in  form,  oval. 

FAMILY  MNIOTILTIDJE.     WOOD  WARBLERS. 

Bill  not  conoid;  angle  of  gonys  not  forward  of  the  nostril;  tertials  not  elon- 
gated, but  with  their  tips  falling  far  short  of  the  ends  of  the  longest  primaries; 
hind  claw  much  shorter  than  its  digit.  (Ridgway.) 

"  This  varied  aud  pretty  family  embraces  the  great  majority  of  warblers  —  syl- 
van nymphs,  that  fairly  swarm  with  us  during  their  migratory  flights;  the  larger 
portion  winging  themselves  northward  to  breed,  and  all,  with  one  exception  (the 
Oven  Bird — Dendroica  coronala),  wintering  south  of  our  limits,  chiefly  in  south- 
ern Mexico  and  Central  America." 

GENUS  MNIOTILTA  VIEILLOT. 

"General  form  sylvicoline;  bill  rather  long,  compressed,  shorter  than  the 
head,  with  very  short  rictal  bristles  and  a  shallow  notch.  Wings  considerably 
longer  than  the  tail,  which  is  slightly  rounded;  first  quill  shorter  than  second 
and  third.  Tarsi  rather  short;  toes  long,  middle  one  equal  to  the  tarsus;  hind 
toe  nearly  as  long,  the  claw  considerably  shorter  than  its  digit.  Color  white, 
streaked  with  black.  Nest  on  ground;  eggs  white,  blotched  with  red." 

Mniotilta  varia  (LINX.). 

BLACK  AND  WHITE  WARBLER. 
PLATE  XXXI. 

Summer  resident;  quite  common  in  the  eastern  part  of  the 
State.  Arrive  the  last  of  April;  begin  laying  about  the  20th  of 
May;  leave  in  September. 

B.  167.     R.  74,     74a.     C.  91,     92.     G.  32,     271.     U.  636. 


536  HISTORY  OF   THE 

HABITAT.  Eastern  North  America;  north  to  Hudson's  Bay, 
Great  Slave  Lake,  etc. ;  west  to  the  Great  Plains;  south  in 
winter  through  Mexico  to  Central  America;  West  Indies. 
Breeds  from  the  Gulf  coast  northward. 

SP.  CHAR.  Plumage  black  striped  with  white  above;  beneath,  white  with 
black  streaks;  wing  with  two  white  bands,  and  two  outer  tail  feathers  with 
white  spot  near  end  of  inner  web.  Adult  male:  Throat  thickly  streaked  with 
black,  the  latter  sometimes  nearly  uniform.  Young  male:  Throat  pure  white, 
without  streaks;  otherwise  like  adult.  Adult  female:  Similar  to  young  male, 
but  colors  duller,  the  back  less  intense,  and  white  of  lower  parts  tinged  with 
brownish,  especially  along  sides.  Nestling:  Similar  to  adult  female,  but  colors 
much  duller  and  less  sharply  denned,  the  head  stripes  dull  grayish  instead  of 
black,  and  the  white  parts  tinged  with  fulvous.  (Ridgway.) 

Stretch  of 
Length.          wing.  Wing.  Tail.         Tarsus.          Bill. 

Male 5.12  8.50          2.75         2.00          .65  .45 

Female .  . .      5.00  8.20          2.65         1.90          .65  .45 

Iris  black;  bill  black,  with  under,  in  some  cases,  pale  blue; 
legs  and  feet  bluish  black;  claws  pale  yellow. 

These  remarkable  birds,  with  the  habits  largely  of  the  Creep- 
ers and  build  of  the  Warblers,  inhabit  alike  the  high  and  low 
woodlands,  and  often  frequent  the  orchards,  but  they  are  the 
most  abundant  along  the  banks  of  streams,  or  in  the  near  vicinity 
of  water,  as  insect  life  usually  abounds  in  such  places.  They 
are  enabled,  by  reason  of  the  elongation  of  their  toes,  especially 
the  hinder  one,  to  creep  (Spiral-like)  around,  up  and  down  the 
bodies  of  trees  and  their  branches,  where  they  industriously 
search  in  the  cracks  and  natural  interstices  of  the  bark  for  the 
eggs  and  larva  that  are  so  injurious  to  the  trees.  They  are, 
therefore,  of  great  value  in  ridding  the  forests  and  orchards  of 
their  deadly  pests. 

They  are  not  timid,  but  rather  bold  birds,  that  neither  seek 
nor  shun  the  habitations  of  man.  As  they  move  about  they 
often  utter  a  weak  call  note,  "Tsip,"  and  during  the  early 
breeding  season  their  song  is  almost  incessantly  heard;  a  feeble 
and  not  very  musical  effort.  The  birds  arrive  from  the  south 
mated,  or  at  least  I  have  always  met  with  them  in  the  early 
spring  in  pairs. 

Their  nests  are  usually  placed  in  a  depression  in  the  ground, 
at  the  roots  of  a  tree,  under  the  shelter  of  a  log,  bush  or  bunch 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  537 

of  weeds,  and  are  composed  of  strippings  from  plants,  grasses, 
moss,  leaves,  and  the  inner  bark  from  decaying  trees,  and  lined 
with  fine  stemlets  of  grass  and  hairs.  They  are  occasionally 
partially  roofed  over.  The  materials  selected  so  closely  resemble 
the  ground  and  its  surroundings,  that  their  nests  are  oftener 
found  by  accident  than  otherwise.  Eggs  four  or  five,  .  65x.  52; 
white,  with  a  creamy  tinge,  irregularly  specked  and  spotted  with 
umber  and  reddish  brown,  chiefly  around  the  larger  end;  in 
some  cases  a  few  purplish  spots;  in  form,  oval.  A  set  of  five 
eggs,  collected  May  23d,  at  West  Newton,  Mass.,  are,  in  dimen- 
sions: .64x.50,  .64x.52,  .65x.51,  .66x.52,  .66x.52. 

GENUS  PROTONOTABIA  BAIRD. 

"Characterized  by  its  long,  distinctly  notched  bill,  and  long  wings,  which 
are  an  inch  longer  than  the  slightly  graduated  tail  (the  lateral  feathers  about 
.12  of  an  inch  shorter).  The  under  tail  coverts  are  very  long,  reaching  within 
half  an  inch  of  the  tip  of  the  tail.  The  tarsi  and  hind  toe  are  proportionately 
longer  than  in  the  true  Warblers.  The  uotch  and  great  size  of  the  bill  distin- 
guish it  from  the  Swamp  Warblers." 

Protonotaria  citrea  (BODD.). 

PBOTHONOTARY  WARBLER. 
PLATE  XXXI. 

Summer  resident  in  eastern  to  middle  Kansas;  common  in 
the  eastern  portion  of  the  State.  Arrive  the  last  of  April;  be- 
gin laying  the  last  of  May;  the  bulk  leave  in  August;  a  few 
linger  into  September. 

B.  169.     R.  75.     C.  95.     G.  33,     272.     U.  637. 

HABITAT.  Eastern  United  States,  chiefly  in  the  Mississippi 
Valley;  north  regularly  to  Georgia,  Iowa  and  Nebraska;  casu- 
ally north  to  New  Brunswick,  Ontario  and  Minnesota;  west  into 
eastern  Nebraska  and  Texas;  south  in  winter  to  Cuba,  Central 
America  and  northern  South  America.  Breeds  in  suitable  lo- 
calities in  the  United  States,  throughout  its  regular  range,  and 
probably  occasionally  as  it  straggles  northward. 

SP.  CHAR.  Head  and  lower  parts,  except  lower  tail  coverts,  yellow;  lower 
tail  coverts,  lining  of  wing,  and  inner  webs  of  tail  feathers,  white;  back,  scapu- 
lar, rump,  sometimes  top  of  head,  olive  green;  wings  plain  bluish  gray  or  plum- 
beous. Adult  male:  Head,  neck  and  lower  parts  (except  tail  coverts)  intense 
cadmium  yellow,  sometimes  tinted  with  orange,  the  top  of  the  head  sometimes 


538  HISTORY  OF  THE 

olive  greenish.  Adult  female:  Similar  to  the  duller  colored  males,  but  yellow 
appreciably  less  pure,  the  top  of  the  head  always  olive  greenish,  and  gray  of 
wings  and  tail  less  bluish;  size  somewhat  less.  Nestling:  Head,  neck,  chest, 
fore  part  of  sides,  and  back,  olive,  lighter  on  lower  parts;  no  yellow  beneath, 
except  after  moult  has  commenced;  otherwise  much  like  adult  female.  (Ridy- 
way.) 

Stretch  of 
Length.          -wing.  Wing.          Tail.       Tarsus.         Bill. 

Male 5.50         9.00          2.90         2.15        .72          .55 

Female 5.30         8.60          2.75         1.95        .72          .55 

Iris  and  bill  black;  legs,  feet  and  claws  dark  blue. 

This  active  species  inhabits  the  willows  bordering  streams, 
ponds  and  swampy,  timbered  lands.  The  males  arrive  about  a 
week  in  advance  of  the  females,  and,  upon  the  arrival  of  the 
latter,  love  making  commences  in  earnest,  each  male  showing 
off  to  the  best  advantage,  and  bravely  fighting  for  his  choice. 
The  female,  apparently  indifferent  to  their  rivalry,  gladly  accepts 
the  conqueror,  and  is  his  devotedly  thereafter.  They  soon  se- 
lect a  locality  that  suits,  and  commence  hunting  for  a  nesting 
place;  a  Woodpecker  hole  or  natural  cavity  in  a  willow  over- 
hanging or  near  the  water. 

Their  call  note,  often  heard,  is  a  sharp  "Chip,"  and  their  or- 
dinary song  loud  but  not  musical;  sounds  much  like  the  "Peet- 
weet,  tweet,  weet"  of  the  Solitary  Sandpiper;  but  I  have  often 
heard  them  sing  near  the  nest,  when  the  mate  was  sitting,  in  a 
low,  soft  and  rather  sweet  warbling  manner.  They  search  for 
their  food  in  low,  wet  thickets,  and  on  drift  wood  and  partly- 
submerged  logs.  It  consists  chiefly  of  the  small  forms  of 
aquatic  life;  spiders  and  beetles  are  also  favorites. 

My  brother  was  the  first  to  discover  and  report  that  they  nest 
in  holes  in  trees.  Soon  after,  we  found  a  pair  nesting  in  a  brace 
hole  in  our  saw  mill,  and  it  gave  us  an  excellent  opportunity  to 
observe  their  habits,  as  they  soon  learned  that  they  had  nothing  to 
fear  from  us  (they  are  not  naturally  wild  or  timid  birds).  Sev- 
eral years  afterward  I  found  a  nest  in  the  mill;  it  was  built  in 
an  old  tin  cup,  sitting  on  a  beam  close  beneath  the  roof.  Their 
natural  nesting  places  are  in  holes  in  willow  trees  and  stubs,  and 
never  far  from  the  ground. 

Their  nests  are  composed  of  moss,  grasses,  dry  leaves,  lichens, 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  539 

and  even  bits  of  soft,  rotten  wood,  interwoven  with  fine  rootlets, 
and  lined  with  hairs.  Eggs  usually  five  or  six  (as  high  as  eight 
have  been  taken),  . 68x. 56;  creamy  white,  thickly  spotted  with 
lilac,  purple  and  dark  reddish  brown,  thickest  and  often  conflu- 
ent at  larger  end;  in  form,  rounded  oval. 

GENUS  HELMITHERUS  RAFINESQUE. 

"Bill  large  and  stout,  compressed,  almost  tanagrine;  nearly  or  quite  as  long 
as  the  head.  Culnien  very  slightly  curved;  goiiys  straight;  no  notch  in  the  bill; 
rectal  bristles  wanting;  tarsi  short — but  little  longer,  if  any,  than  the  middle 
toe;  tail  considerably  shorter  than  the  wings,  rather  rounded;  wings  rather  long, 
the  first  quill  a  little  shorter  than  the  second  and  third." 

Helmitherus  vermivorus  (GMEL.). 

WORM-EATING  WARBLER. 
PLATE  XXXI. 

Summer  resident  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  State;  rare.  Arrive 
the  last  of  April;  begin  laying  the  last  of  May;  leave  the  last 
of  August  to  middle  of  September. 

B.  178.     R.  77.     C.  96.     G.  34,     273.     U.  639. 

HABITAT.  Eastern  United  States;  north  to  southern  New  Eng- 
land, the  great  lakes  and  Iowa,  chiefly  south  of  latitude  40°; 
west  to  eastern  Nebraska  and  Texas;  south  in  winter  to  Cuba, 
Jamaica,  and  southern  Central  America.  Breeds  throughout 
most  of  its  United  States  range. 

SP.  CHAR.  Adult  (sexes  alike) :  Head  buff,  with  a  broad  black  stripe  on  each 
side  of  the  crown  (from  nostrils  to  occiput),  and  a  narrower  black  stripe  behind 
the  eye,  along  upper  edge  of  the  auriculars,  continued  more  or  less  distinctly  at 
the  anterior  angle  of  the  eye;  upper  parts  plain  olive  green;  lower  parts  buff, 
paler  on  chin,  throat,  abdomen  and  crissum,  where  sometimes  almost  white. 
Young,  first  plumage:  Head,  neck  and  lower  parts  deep  buif,  the  black  stripes 
of  the  adult  merely  indicated  by  indistinct  stripes  of  dull  brown;  back,  scapu- 
lars, rump  and  wing  coverts  dull  light  brown,  tinged  with  cinnamon,  the  greater 
coverts  passing  into  deep  buff  terminally;  remiges  and  rectrices  olive  green,  as 
in  the  adult.  The  buff  of  head  stripes,  etc.,  is  deeper  in  autumnal  specimens. 
(Ridgway.) 

Stretch  of 
Length.          -wing.  Wing.  Tail.         Tarsus.        Bill. 

Male 5.50  8.55  2.90  2.10          .65          .55 

Female...      5.30  8.25          2.75  1.95          .65          .52 

Iris  dark  brown;  bill  —  upper  blackish  brown,  under  pale; 
legs,  feet  and  claws  brownish  flesh  color. 


540  HISTORY  OF  THE 

This  species  inhabits  the  deep  woods  and  thick  growths  in  the 
ravines.  They  are  shy  and  retiring,  and,  as  their  call  note  is 
weak,  they  are  liable  to  be  passed  unnoticed.  They  search  for 
their  food  not  only  among  the  foliage  but  upon  the  ground, 
where  they  scratch  among  the  leaves,  and  move  about  much  like 
the  Oven-bird,  barring  the  teetering  motion  of  the  body  when 
they  halt.  They  feed  largely  upon  the  leaf-eating  worms.  In 
the  stomachs  of  two  examined  I  found  caterpillars  and  small 
spiders. 

Its  song  is  feeble.  Mr.  Ridgway  says  it  closely  resembles  that 
of  the  Chipping  Sparrow,  and,  to  my  ear,  is  not  any  more  mu- 
sical. 

Their  nests  are  embedded  in  dry  leaves,  in  a  slight  depression 
in  the  ground,  and  are  usually  hidden  beneath  small  plants  or 
neatly  concealed  by  the  leaves  around  and  partially  covering 
them.  The  interior  is  lined  with  small,  flexible,  hair-like  stem, 
lets.  Eggs  usually  four,  .68x.  55;  white  to  creamy  white,  finely 
spotted  with  varying  shades  of  reddish  brown,  thickest  and  run. 
ning  together  about  the  larger  end,  intermingled  with  a  few  lilac 
stains.  Some  are  thickly  and  others  are  thinly  marked.  They 
also  vary  greatly  in  size,  and  in  form,  from  broadly  oval  to 
pointed  oval. 

GENUS  HELMINTHOPHILA  RIDGWAY. 

Bill  rather  elongated  (but  shorter  than  the  head),  somewhat  conical,  very 
acute,  the  outlines  nearly  straight  but  sometimes  slightly  decurved  at  the  tip; 
no  trace  of  a  notch  at  the  tip  nor  of  bristles  at  the  base.  Wings  long  and  pointed 
(decidedly  longer  than  a  moderately-developed  tail);  the  first  quill  nearly,  some- 
times quite,  the  longest.  Tail  nearly  eveu  or  slightly  emargiuate.  Tarsi  ap- 
preciably longer  than  the  middle  toe  and  claw.  (Ridgway. ) 

Helminthophila  pinus  (Lmx.). 

BLUE- WINGED  WARBLER. 
PLATE  XXXI. 

Summer  resident  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  State;  rare;  in 
migration  quite  common.  Arrive  the  last  of  April;  begin  lay- 
ing the  last  of  May;  leave  early  in  September. 

B.  180.     R.  79.     C.  98.     G.  35,     274.     U.  641. 

HABITAT.  Eastern  United  States;  north  to  southern  New  Eng- 
land, the  Great  Lakes  and  Minnesota;  west  to  Nebraska,  middle 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  541 

Kansas  and  Texas;  south  in  winter  to  eastern  Mexico  and  Gua- 
temala; breeding  in  its  United  States  range. 

SP.  CHAB.  Adult  male:  Forehead,  fore  part  of  crown,  cheeks  and  entire 
lower  parts  (except  crissum),  pure  gamboge  yellow,  most  intense  on  forehead; 
crissum  and  lining  of  wing  white,  usually  more  or  less  tinged  with  yellow.  Oc- 
ciput, cervix,  back,  scapulars  and  rump  plain  olive  green,  brightest  on  the  rump 
where  more  tinged  with  yellow;  wings  and  tail  bluish  gray,  the  former  crossed 
by  two  white  bands,  formed  by  tips  of  middle  and  greater  coverts;  two  outer 
tail  feathers  with  most  of  the  inner  web  white,  the  third  with  about  the  termi- 
nal half  white.  Lores  and  a  narrow  postocular  streak  deep  black.  Bill  wholly 
deep  black;  iris  brown;  legs  and  feet  dull  plumbeous,  more  or  less  tinged  with 
yellowish,  especially  on  soles  of  toes.  In  autumn  similar,  but  yellow  of  fore- 
head more  or.  less  obscured  by  olive  green;  maxilla  dark  plumbeous  to  brownish 
black,  its  edge  (with  mandible)  dull  flesh  color,  or  purplish  brown,  the  latter  with 
a  blackish  stripe  along  each  side.  Adult  female:  Similar  to  the  male,  but  colors 
appreciably  duller.  (Ridgicay.) 

Dimensions  of  a  pair  in  "The  Goss  Ornithological  Collec- 
tion:" 

Stretch  of 
Length.          wing.  Wing.          Tail.         Tarsus.         Bill. 

Male 5.00  7.20         2.40         2.10          .68  .42 

Female...      4.70          6.85          2.25         1.85          .68  .40 

Iris  dark  brown;  bill  black,  sometimes  with  base  of  under 
pale;  legs  and  feet  dark  blue;  claws  and  bottoms  of  feet  pale 
greenish  yellow. 

This  pretty  warbler  occasionally  frequents  the  gardens  and 
orchards,  but  its  natural  haunts  are  within  the  low,  open  woods, 
neglected  fields,  and  the  edges  of  timber  fringing  the  streams 
where  the  bushes  and  weeds  grow  rank.  It  is  an  industrious 
hunter,  hopping  nimbly  about  among  the  slender  branches  of 
flowering  plants  for  the  leaf-eating  worms  and  other  small  forms 
of  life. 

It  is  not  a  very  musical  bird,  but  during  the  early  breeding 
season  (I  have  occasionally  heard  them  sing  in  autumn)  they 
often  mount  on  the  top  of  a  bush,  and  utter,  with  tremulous 
wings,  a  sharp,  wiry  song,  that  sounds  much  like  that  of  the 
Grasshopper  Sparrow. 

Their  nests  are  built  on  the  ground,  among  the  standing  weeds 
and  grasses,  or  hidden  beneath  a  bush,  bunch  of  briers  or  vines. 
They  rest  on  a  foundation  of  dry  leaves,  and  are  composed 
chiefly  of  strippings  from  grapevines,  plants,  etc.,  intermingled 


542  HISTORY  OF  THE 

with  leaves  and  grasses,  and  usually  lined  with  finer  grasses. 
Eggs  four  or  five,  .60x.50;  white,  thinly  speckled  with  varying 
shades  of  reddish  brown  to  black,  chiefly  at  or  near  the  larger 
end;  in  form,  oval.  A  set  of  five  eggs,  collected  June  15th, 
1882,  at  Old  Saybrook,  Connecticut,  are,  in  dimensions:  .  58x.47, 
.59x.49,  .60x.46,  .61x.48,  .63x.48. 

Helminthophila  ruficapilla  (  WILS.). 

NASHVILLE  WARBLER. 
PLATE  XXXI. 

Migratory;  rather  rare.  Arrive  the  last  of  April  to  first  of 
May;  the  bulk  return  and  leave  in  September;  a  few  linger  as 
late  as  the  middle  of  October. 

B.  183.     R.  85.     C.  106.     G.  36,     275.     U.  645. 

HABITAT.  Eastern  temperate  North  America  (accidental  to 
Greenland);  west  to  the  Great  Plains;  south  in  winter  to  east- 
ern Mexico  and  Guatemala;  breeding  from  the  northern  United 
States  northward. 

"Sp.  CHAR.  "Head  and  neck,  above  and  on  sides,  ash  gray;  the  crown  with 
a  concealed  dark  brownish  orange,  hidden  by  ashy  tips  to  the  feathers.  Upper 
parts  olive  green,  brightest  on  the  rump.  Under  parts  generally,  with  the  edge 
of  the  wing,  deep  yellow;  the  anal  region  paler;  the  sides  tinged  with  olive.  A 
broad,  yellowish-white  ring  round  the  eye;  the  lores  yellowish;  no  superciliary 
stripe.  The  inner  edges  of  the  tail  feathers  margined  with  dull  white.  Female: 
Similar,  but  duller;  the  under  parts  paler  and  with  more  white;  but  little  trace 
of  the  red  of  the  crown." 

Stretch  of 
Length.          iving.  Wing.  Tail.          Tarsus. .       Bill. 

Male 4.60  7.60          2.40         1.85          .65  .40 

Female...      4.50  7.50         2.35         1.75          .65  .40 

Iris  dark  brown;  bill  dusky,  pale  beneath;  legs  dark  brown; 
feet  and  claws  dusky,  with  yellowish  hue. 

These  sprightly  Warblers  frequent  the  timber  skirting  the 
streams  and  clearings,  especially  where  there  is  plenty  of  under- 
growth. In  the  early  part  of  June,  1880,  I  found  them  quite 
common  at  Grand  Manan,  N.  B.  From  their  actions,  I  think 
they  were  nesting,  but  I  failed  to  find  their  nests.  They  seemed 
to  prefer  for  their  breeding  grounds  the  edges  of  the  high,  open 
woodlands,  where  the  growth  is  a  mixture  of  evergreen  and 
deciduous  trees.  Prof.  J.  A.  Allen  gives  the  following  interest- 
ing description  of  their  nesting  habits,  etc. ,  at  Springfield,  Mass. : 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  543 

'  'Abundant  in  May,  and  in  the  early  part  of  autumn.  Arrives 
May  1st  to  5th,  and  for  two  or  three  weeks  is  a  common  inhabit- 
ant of  the  orchards  and  gardens,  actively  gleaning  insects  among 
the  unfolding  leaves  and  blossoms  of  the  fruit  trees;  nearly  all 
go  north,  but  a  few  retire  to  the  woods  and  breed.  During  June, 
1863, 1  frequently  saw  them  in  my  excursions  in  the  woods;  often 
three  or  four  males  in  an  hour' s  walk.  Its  song  so  much  resem- 
bles that  of  the  Chestnut-sided  Warbler  that  it  might  readily  be 
mistaken.*  To  this  c£use,  and  the  difficulty  of  seeing  such  small 
birds  in  the  dense  foliage,  is  doubtless  owing  the  fact  of  its  be- 
ing so  commonly  overlooked  by  naturalists  during  the  summer 
months,  rather  than  to  its  (supposed )  extreme  rarity  in  this  lati- 
tude at  that  season.  I  have  found  the  nest  of  this  species,  for 
two  successive  seasons,  as  follows:  May  31st,  1862,  containing 
four  freshly-laid  eggs.  The  nest  was  placed  on  the  ground,  and 
sunken  so  that  the  top  of  the  nest  was  level  with  the  surface  of 
the  ground,  and  protected  and  completely  concealed  above  by 
the  dead  grass  and  weeds  of  the  previous  year.  It  was  com- 
posed of  fine  rootlets  and  dry  grasses,  lined  with  fine  dried  grass 
and  a  few  horse  hairs,  and  covered  exteriorly  with  a  species  of 
fine  green  moss.  The  eggs  were  white,  sprinkled  with  light 
reddish-brown  specks,  most  thickly  near  the  larger  end;  longer 
diameter  .60,  and  the  shorter  .50.  The  following  year,  June 
5th,  1863,  I  found  another  nest  of  this  species,  within  three  or 
four  feet  of  where  the  one  was  discovered  the  previous  year, 
containing  three  eggs  of  this  species  and  one  of  the  Cowbird,  in 
all  of  which  the  embryos  were  far  advanced.  The  nest,  in  every 
particular,  was  built  and  arranged  like  the  one  above  described, 
and  the  eggs  must  have  been  laid  at  just  about  the  same  time. 
The  locality  of  the  nest  was  a  mossy  bank  at  the  edge 
of  young  woods,  sloping  southward,  and  covered  with  bushes 
and  coarse  grass." 

Eggs  three  to  five,  .61x49;  white  to  creamy  white,  minutely 
spotted  over  the  surface,  chiefly  about  the  larger  end,  with  red- 
dish brown  and  lilac;  in  form,  oval. 

*  The  males  sing  quite  loudly  from  the  treetops,  but,  to  my  ear,  their  song  is  less  musical 
than  the  Chestnut-sided  Warbler,  and  much  more  like  the  trill  of  the  Chipping  Sparrow. 


HISTORY  OF  THE 
Helminthophila  celata  (SAY). 

.  ORANGE-CROWNED  WARBLER. 
PLATE  XXXI. 

Migratory;  common.  Arrive  the  last  of  April  to  first  of 
May;  begin  to  return  the  last  of  August;  the  bulk  leave  in 
September,  a  few  remain  until  the  last  of  October. 

B.  184.     K.  86.     C.  107.     G.  37,     276.     U.  646. 

HABITAT.  Northern  North  America;  breeding  from  the  Rocky 
Mountains  north  into  the  Arctic  regions ;*rare  in  the  northeast- 
ern United  States;  quite  common  in  the  Middle  States  and 
throughout  the  Mississippi  valley;  wintering  in  the  South  At- 
lantic and  Gulf  States  and  eastern  Mexico.  (Replaced  from  the 
Alaskan  peninsula  southward  along  the  Pacific  coast  into  Lower 
California,  by  H.  celata  lutescens.) 

SP.  CHAR.  "Above,  grayish  olive  green,  rather  brighter  on  the  rump.  Be- 
neath, entirely  greenish  yellowish  white,  except  a  little  whitish  about  the  anus; 
the  sides  tinged  with  grayish  olivaceous.  A  concealed  patch  of  pale  orange 
rufous  on  the  crown,  hidden  by  the  grayish  tips  of  the  feathers.  Eyelids  and 
obscure  superciliary  line  yellowish  white;  a  dusky  obscure  streak  through  the 
eye.  Inner  webs  of  tail  feathers  broadly  edged  with  white.  Female  with 
little  or  none  of  the  orange  on  the  crown,  and  the  white  edgings  to  inner  webs 
of  tail  feathers.  Young  lacking  the  orange  entirely,  and  with  two  fulvous  whit- 
ish bands  on  the  wing." 

Dimensions  of  a  pair  in  '  'The  Goes  Ornithological  Collection: ' ' 

Stretch  of 
Length.         wing.          Wing.          Tail.         Tarsus.        Bill. 

Male 4.70  7.50          2.35        2.00         .70          .41 

Female...      4.60          7.40         2.30        1.90         .68          .40 

Iris  dark  brown;  bill  dusky,  with  forks  of  under  pale  blue; 
legs,  feet  and  claws  dark  brown;  bottoms  of  feet  greenish  yellow. 

These  lively  little  birds  frequent  the  groves,  edges  of  wood- 
lands, the  gardens  and  shrubbery  about  our  dwellings.  In  the 
winter  season  I  have  usually  met  with  them  along  the  coast,  in 
thickets  and  scattering  bushes  upon  the  bottom  lands.  They 
are  rather  unsuspicious  birds,  that,  regardless  of  the  intruder, 
continue  their  search  among  the  foliage  for  the  leaf  worms,  etc., 
and  often  dart  from  their  perch  and  successfully  capture  the 
passing  insects.  As  they  flit  here  and  there,  occasionally  utter 
a  sharp  "Chip,"  that  sounds  more  like  an  alarm  than  a  call 
note. 


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BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  545 

Their  song,  only  beard  during  the  mating'and  breeding  sea- 
son, is  a  simple  lay  —  a  few  sweet  trills  uttered  in  a  spirited 
manner,  and  abruptly  ending  on  a  rising  scale. 

Their  nests,  according  to  Mr.  Kennicott,  who  found  them 
breeding  in  the  middle  of  June,  in  the  vicinity  of  Great  Slave 
Lake,  are  uniformly  placed  on  the  ground,  usually  among  the 
leaves  in  a  clump  of  low  bushes,  but  sometimes  hidden  in  the 
side  of  a  bank.  They  were  large  for  the  size  of  the  bird,  and 
were  composed  almost  entirely  of  long,  coarse  strips  of  bark, 
loosely  interwoven  with  a  few  stems  of  plants  and  dry  grasses, 
and  warmly  lined  with  hair  and  fur  of  small  animals,  in  some 
cases  wholly  with  fine  grasses.  Eggs  four  to  six,  .  64x.48; 
white,  or  creamy  white,  finely  speckled  (chiefly  on  the  larger 
end)  with  reddish  brown;  in  form,  oval. 


Helminthophila  peregrina  (WILS.). 

TENNESSEE  WARBLER. 
PLATE  XXXII. 

Migratory;  common  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  State.  Arrive 
the  last  of  April  to  first  of  May;  return  in  September,  but  do 
not  all  leave  for  the  south  until  about  the  middle  of  October. 

B.  185.     R.  87.     C.  109.     G.  38,     277.     U.  647. 

HABITAT.  Eastern  temperate  North  America;  west  to  the  base 
of  the  Rockv  Mountains  (rare  east  of  the  Alleghanies,  common 

«/  \  o  / 

westward);  breeding  from  the  northern  United  States  north- 
ward to  Hudson's  Bay  and  the  Great  Slave  Lake  region;  south 
in  winter  to  northern  South  America;  Cuba. 

SP.  CHAR.  "Top  and  side  of  the  head  and  neck  ash  gray;  rest  of  upper 
parts  olive  green,  brightest  on  the  rump;  beneath,  dull  white,  faintly  tinged  in 
places,  especially  on  the  sides,  with  yellowish  olive.  Eyelids  and  a  stripe  over 
the  eye  whitish;  a  dusky  line  from  the  eye  to  the  bill;  outer  tail  feathers  with 
a  white  spot  along  the  inner  edge  near  the  tip.  Female:  With  the  ash  of  the 
head  less  conspicuous;  the  under  parts  more  tinged  with  olive  yellow. 

"Autumnal  specimens  and  young  birds  are  sometimes  so  strongly  tinged  with 
greenish  yellow  as  to  be  scarcely  distinguishable  from  //.  celata.  The  wing  is, 
however,  always  longer,  and  the  obscure  whitish  patch  on  the  inner  edge  of  the 
exterior  tail  feathers,  near  its  tip,  is  almost  always  appreciable.  In  celata  this 
edge  is  very  narrowly  and  uniformly  margined  with  whitish." 
—35 


546  HISTORY  OF   THE 

Dimensions  of  a  pair  in  "The  Goss  Ornithological  Collection:" 

Stretch  of 
Length.          ^u^ng.  Wing.         Tail.          Tarsus,          Bill. 

Male 4.75  7.75          2.50         1.85          .65  .41 

Female...      4.60  7.50          2.40         1.70          .65  .40 

Iris  dark  brown;  bill  —  upper  black,  under  bluish;  legs  and 
feet  dark  grayish  blue;  claws  brown. 

These  little  Warblers  frequent  the  edges  of  woodlands  and  the 
banks  of  streams,  where  fringed  with  trees,  low  bushes  and  tall 
weeds,  also  the  orchards  and  gardens.  They  are  very  lively 
and  easy  in  their  motions,  as  they  flit  here  and  there  in  search 
of  caterpillars  and  other  leaf-eating  forms  of  life,  often  hanging 
head  downward  at  the  end  of  slender  branches  and  swaying 
about  much  like  the  Titmice.  They  are  also  quite  expert  insect 
catchers  on  the  wing.  They  occasionally  puncture  the  grapes 
with  their  bills  and  eat  the  pulp  or  succulent  part,  but  they  are 
not  abundant  enough  to  be  considered  injurious,  even  if  fruit 
were  as  natural  a  food  as  insect  life;  as  it  is,  it  can  only  be  con. 
sidered  a  freak,  or  for  a  dessert.  In  1879  I  called  attention  to 
the  fact  in  the  Nuttall  Ornithological  Club  Bulletin,  Vol.  5,  p.  48. 
I  can  find  no  other  mention  of  the  same,  and  am  inclined  to 
think  the  habit  is  not  a  general  one. 

Their  call  note,  often  repeated,  is  a  low  but  sharp  "Chip"  or 
"Tweet,"  and  their  song  a  feeble,  varied  warble,  too  squeaky  to 
be  musical.  I  have  never  been  so  fortunate  as  to  find  their  nests, 
or  see  their  eggs,  and  very  little  is  definitely  known  in  regard 
to  their  nesting  habits,  farther  than  that,  like  all  the  species  of 
this  genus,  it  usually  nests  on  the  ground.  Doctor  Brewer,  in 
"North  American  Land  Birds,"  says: 

"A  nest  of  this  Warbler  (Smith.  Coll.,  3476),  obtained  on 
the  northern  shore  of  Lake  Superior  by  George  Barnston,  is 
but  little  more  than  a  nearly  flat  bed  of  dry,  matted  stems  of 
grass,  and  is  less  than  an  inch  in  thickness,  with  a  diameter  of 
about  three  inches.  It  is  not  circular  in  shape,  and  its  width 
is  not  uniform.  Its  position  must  have  been  on  some  flat  sur- 
face, probably  the  ground.  The  eggs  resemble  those  of  all  the 
family  in  having  a  white  ground,  over  which  are  profusely  dis- 
tributed numerous  small  dots  and  points  of  a  reddish  brown, 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  547 

and  a  few  of  purplish  slate.     They  are  of  an  oblong  oval  shape, 
and  measure  .68x.50  of  an  inch. 

"A  nest  near  Springfield,  Massachusetts,  obtained  by  Prof. 
Horsford,  the  parent  bird  having  been  secured,  was  built  in  a 
low  clump  of  bushes,  just  above  'the  ground.  It  is  well  made, 
woven  of  fine  hempen  fibers  of  vegetables,  slender  stems  of 
grass,  delicate  mosses,  and  other  like  materials,  and  very  thor- 
oughly lined  with  hair.  It  measures  two  and  three-fourths 
inches  in  diameter  and  two  in  height.  The  cavity  is  two  inches 
wide  and  one  and  three-fourths  deep.  The  eggs  measure  .60x 
.50  of  an  inch,  are  oblong  oval  in  shape,  their  ground  color  a 
pearly  white,  marked  in  a  corona,  about  the  larger  end,  with 
brown  and  purplish-brown  spots." 

GENUS  COMPSOTHLYPIS  CABANIS. 

"In  the  species  of  this  genus  the  bill  is  conical  and  acute;  the  culmen  very 
gently  curved  from  the  base,  the  commissure  slightly  concave.  The  notch,  when 
visible,  is  further  from  the  tip  than  in  Dendroica,  but  usually  is  either  obsolete 
or  entirely  wanting.  Bristles  weak.  The  tarsi  are  longer  than  the  middle  toe. 
The  tail  is  nearly  even  and  considerably  shorter  than  the  wing.  Color:  Blue 
above,  with  a  triangular  patch  of  green  on  the  back;  anterior  lower  parts  yel- 
low." 

Compsothlypis  americana  (LINN.). 

PABTJLA  WARBLER. 
PLATE  XXXII. 

Summer  resident  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  State;  rare;  during 
migration  very  common;  rare  in  the  western  portion.  Begin 
to  arrive  as  early  as  the  middle  of  April;  begin  laying  the  last 
of  May.  The  bulk  leave  for  the  south  in  September;  a  few  oc- 
casionally remain  until  the  middle  of  October. 

B.  168.     K.  88.     C.  93.     G.  39,     278.     U.  648. 

HABITAT.  Eastern  North  America;  north  to  Canada;  west 
to  the  base  of  the  Rocky  Mountains;  south  in  winter  to  south- 
ern Florida,  West  Indies,  eastern  Mexico  and  Central  America; 
breeding  from  the  Gulf  coast  northward  throughout  their  range, 
chiefly  north  of  latitude  41°. 

SP.  CHAK.  Eyelids  white;  yellow  of  lower  parts  not  extending  farther  back 
than  breast;  the  sides  and  flanks  white,  tinged  with  bluish  gray  and  rusty  brown. 
Adult  male:  Above  bluish  gray  (more  blue  on  head),  the  back  bright  olive  green; 


548  HISTORY  OF  THE 

wing  with  two  broad,  white  bauds;  chin,  throat  and  breast  yellow;  chest  more 
or  less  tinged  with  orange  brown,  this  often  bordered  anteriorly  by  a  blackish 
band  across  the  lower  throat;  rest  of  lower  parts  white;  the  sides  tinged  with 
bluish  gray  and  reddish  brown.  Adult  female:  Similar  to  the  male  but  paler; 
all  colors  less  pronounced.  Young,  in  first  autumn:  Upper  parts  in  general 
tinged  with  olive  green;  yellow  of  lower  parts  paler.  Young:  Yellow  of  lower 
parts  replaced  by  light  grayish,  the  chin  tinged  with  yellow;  above,  dull  gray- 
ish, more  olive  on  back;  the  wings  and  tail  much  as  in  adult  female,  but  duller 
grayish.  (Ridgway.) 

Stretch  of 
Length.  wing.  Wing.          Tail.         Tarsus.        Bill. 

Male 4.55  7.20          2.25         1.80  .65  .40 

Female...      4.20  6.75          2.05         1.60  .65  .38 

Iris  dark  brown;  bill — upper  black,  under  pale  yellow;  legs, 
feet  and  claws  pale  brown;  bottoms  of  feet  yellowish. 

The  natural  haunts  of  this  graceful  little  Warbler  are  within  the 
timbered  lands  along  the  streams  and  borders  of  swamps,  where 
it  delights  to  forage  in  the  topmost  branches  of  the  trees,  skip- 
ping from  branch  to  branch,  darting  off  to  catch  a  passing  in- 
sect, peeping  into  the  crevices  of  the  bark  from  the  under  side 
of  the  limbs,  or  swaying  from  the  ends  of  leafy  twigs,  with  the 
ease  and  freedom  of  the  Chickadee.  When  the  fruit  trees  are 
in  blossom,  it  visits  the  gardens  and  orchards,  and  rids  the  buds 
and  blossoms  of  many  a  pest.  It  is  thought  by  some  to  also 
feed  upon  the  pollen  and  other  soft  parts  of  blossoms,  but  I 
have  so  far  failed,  upon  dissection,  to  find  a  trace  of  anything 
but  insect  life. 

Their  call  note  sounds  much  like  "Cheep,"  and  when  scold- 
ing or  alarmed  it  is  uttered  in  a  chattering  manner.  Their  song 
is  a  feeble  effort,  that  can  only  be  heard  a  short  distance;  a 
rather  sharp,  lisping,  twittering  trill. 

For  their  nesting  places,  they  select  low  or  swampy  lands, 
where  the  pendulous  mosses  grow.  Dr.  Brewer,  in  "North 
American  Land  Birds,"  gives  the  following  minute  description 
of  their  nests  and  eggs: 

"The  nests  of  this  Warbler,  so  far  as  have  fallen  under  my 
observation,  have  always  been  made  of  long  gray  lichens,  still 
attached  to  the  trees  on  which  they  grow.  With  great  skill  do 
these  tiny  architects  gather  up,  fasten  together,  and  interweave, 
one  with  the  other,  the  hanging  ends  and  long  branches.  By 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  549 

an  elaborate  intertwining  of  these  long  fibers,  they  form  the 
principal  part,  sometimes  the  whole,  of  their  nests.  These 
structures  are  at  once  simple,  beautiful,  ingenious,  and  skillfully 
wrought.  When  first  made  they  are  somewhat  rude  and  unfin- 
ished, but  as  their  family  are  gathered,  the  eggs  deposited,  in- 
cubated and  hatched,  a  change  has  been  going  on.  Little  by 
little  has  the  male  bird  busied  himself,  when  not  procuring  food 
for  his  mate,  in  improving,  strengthening  and  enlarging  the 
nest.  These  same  acts  of  improvement  upon  the  original  nests 
are  noticed  with  Hummingbirds,  Vireos,  and  a  few  other  birds. 

"The  nests  are  sometimes  constructed  on  the  sides  of  trunks 
of  trees,  when  covered  with  long  gray  lichens,  but  are  more 
frequently  found  hanging  from  branches,  usually  not  more  than 
six  or  eight  feet  from  the  ground.  Thus  surrounded  by  long, 
hanging  mosses,  in  clumps  not  distinguishable  from  the  nests 
themselves,  they  would  not  be  readily  recognized  were  it  not 
that  those  familiar  with  the  habits  of  the  bird  may  be  readily 
guided  to  the  spot  by  the  artless  movements  of  the  unsuspecting 
parents. 

"These  birds  are  confiding,  easily  approached,  and  rarely 
exhibit  signs  of  alarm.  Even  when  their  nest  is  disturbed  they 
make  but  little  complaint,  and  do  not  manifest  any  very  great 
signs  of  emotion.  When  built  against  a  trunk  these  nests  con- 
sist only  of  an  interweaving  of  the  mosses  above  and  below  a 
very  small  opening;  within,  a  small,  cup-shaped  flooring  has 
been  made  of  the  same  material,  and  usually  cannot  be  removed 
without  destroying  all  semblance  of  a  nest.  When  pensile  they 
are  perfectly  circular  in  shape,  with  an  entrance  on  one  side, 
and  rarely  with  any  lining.  Occasionally  they  are  models  of 
symmetry  and  beauty. 

' '  The  eggs,  four  or  five  in  number,  have  a  clear  white  ground, 
and  are  sparingly  spotted  with  markings  of  reddish  brown,  slate, 
purple  and  lilac.  In  some  the  first  predominate;  in  others  the 
last  three  shades  are  more  abundant,  and  usually  form  a  con- 
fluent ring  around  the  larger  end.  They  measure  from  .62  to 
.65  of  an  inch  in  length,  and  from  .49  to  .50  in  breadth." 

Eggs  three  to  five.     A  set  of  four  eggs,  collected  at  Shelter 


550  HISTORY  OF  THE 

Island,  N.  Y.,  are,  in  dimensions:   .65x.44,  .66x.45,  .67x.48, 
,68x.47;  in  form,  oval. 

GENUS  DENDROICA  GRAY. 

"  Bill  conical,  attenuated,  depressed  at  the  base,  where  it  Is,  however,  scarcely 
broader  than  high,  compressed  from  the  middle.  Culmen  straight  for  the  basal 
half,  then  rather  rapidly  curving,  the  lower  edge  of  upper  mandible  also  con- 
cave. Gonys  slightly  convex  and  ascending.  A  distinct  notch  near  the  end  of 
the  bill.  Bristles,  though  short,  generally  quite  distinct  at  the  base  of  the  bill. 
Tarsi  long,  decidedly  longer  than  middle  toe,  which  is  longer  than  the  hinder 
one;  the  claws  rather  small  and  much  curved,  the  hind  claw  nearly  as  long  as 
its  digit.  The  wings  long  and  pointed;  the  second  quill  usually  very  little 
longer  than  the  first.  The  tail  slightly  rounded  and  emarginate.  Colors:  Tail 
always  with  a  white  or  yellow  spot;  its  ground  color  nearly  clear  olive  green. 
In  D.  cBStiva,  edged  internally  with  yellow." 

SUBGENUS  DENDROICA  GKAY. 

No  white  spot  at  base  of  quills,  or  else  no  other  white  markings  on  outer  sur- 
face of  wings;  wing  less  than  half  as  long  again  as  tail.  (Ridyway.) 

Dendroica  sestiva  (GMEL.). 

YELLOW  WARBLER. 
PLATE  XXXII. 

Summer  resident;  abundant  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  State; 
not  uncommon  westward.  Arrive  the  last  of  April;  begin  lay- 
ing about  the  middle  of  May;  leave  the  last  of  August  to  first 
of  September. 

B.  203.     R.  93.     C.  111.     G.  40,     279.     U.  652. 

HABITAT.  North  America  at  large;  breeding  from  northern 
Mexico  northward  to  the  Arctic  coast;  wintering  in  Mexico, 
Central  America,  and  southward  into  South  America.* 

SP.  CHAR.  "Adult:  Head,  all  round,  and  uuder  parts  generally,  bright  yel- 
low; rest  of  upper  parts  yellow  olivaceous,  brightest  on  rump;  back  with  obso- 
lete streaks  of  dusky  reddish  brown;  fore  breast  and  sides  of  the  body  streaked 
with  brownish  red;  tail  feathers  bright  yellow;  the  outer  webs  and  tips,  with  the 
whole  upper  surface  of  the  innermost  one,  brown;  extreme  outer  edges  of  wing 
and  tail  feathers  olivaceous  like  the  back;  the  middle  and  greater  coverts  and 
tertials  edged  with  yellow,  forming  two  bauds  on  the  wings.  Female  similar, 
with  the  crown  olivaceous  like  the  back,  and  the  streaks  wanting  on  the  back 
and  much  restricted  on  the  under  parts;  tail  with  more  brown.  Young:  Dull 
brownish  olive  above;  pale  ochraceous  yellow  beneath,  with  the  throat  more 

*  Dendroica  astiva  morcomi  OOALK,  au  alleged  western  form,  is  not  recognized  by  the 
A.  O.  U.  Committee,  as  the  little  differences  that  may  exist  are  thought  to  be  too  inconstant 
and  uncertain  to  entitle  it  to  a  subspeciflc  separation. 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  551 

whitish;  the  yellow  of  tail  restricted  to  inner  half  of  inner  webs.     The  latter 
feature  will  serve  to  distinguish  it  from  any  North  American  species." 

Stretch  of 
Length.         wing.  Wing.  Tail.          Tarsus.         Bill. 

Male 5.20  8.00          2.55         2.00          .70  .42 

Female...      5.00          7.65         2.40        1.80         .70          .40 

Iris  bluish  black;  bill  dark  blue,  upper  nearly  black;  legs, 
feet  and  claws  light  yellowish  brown. 

These  widely  distributed  and  attractive  birds  are  the  most 
common  and  familiar  of  all  the  Warblers.  They  seldom  fre- 
quent the  deep  woods,  preferring  the  groves,  orchards,  gardens, 
parks  and  shade  trees  for  their  haunts,  and  they  are  as  much  at 
home  in  the  large  cities  as  in  the  country.  (Or  were  until  the 
introduction  and  spread  of  the  aggressive  English  Sparrow.) 
They  are  great  favorites,  not  only  on  account  of  their  song  and 
pretty  ways,  but  because  they  are  very  beneficial  in  ridding  the 
trees,  vines,  etc,  of  the  various  forms  of  injurious  insects,  for 
which  they  diligently  hunt  among  the  foliage. 

They  sing  sweetly,  and  late  in  the  season  —  a  lively,  cheerful, 
whistling  song.  Their  call  note  is  a  rather  loud  "Chip." 

Their  nests  are  placed  in  small  trees  and  bushes,  giving  prefer- 
ence to  orchards  and  shrubbery  in  gardens;  a  neatly-constructed 
nest  of  fibrous  strippings  and  cotton-like  substances  from  plants, 
and  lined  sparingly  with  fine  grasses,  hairs,  and  now  and  then  a 
feather.  Eggs  four  or  five,  . 66x. 50;  bluish  white,  with  specks 
and  blotches  of  brown,  umber  and  lilac,  irregularly  scattered 
over  the  egg,  thickest  around  larger  end;  in  form,  oval. 

Dendroica  coronata  (LINN.). 

MYRTLE  WARBLER. 
PLATE  XXXII. 

Winter  sojourner;  not  common;  in  migration  abundant.  Be- 
gin to  move  northward  the  last  of  March,  and  by  the  middle  of 
April  all  but  a  few  stragglers  have  left  us;  begin  to  return  the 
last  of  September,  the  bulk  not  arriving  until  the  middle  of 
October. 

B.  194.     R.  95.     C.  119.     G.  41,     280.     U.  655. 

HABITAT.  The  whole  of  North  America,  but  chiefly  east  of 
the  Rocky  Mountains,  breeding  from  the  northern  United  States 


552  HISTORY  OF  THE 

northward  into  the  Arctic  regions;  and  what  is  strange  for  so 
hardy  a  bird,  have  been  found  breeding  in  Jamaica;  winter  from 
about  latitude  40°  south  into  southern  Central  America. 

SP.  CHAR.  Outer  surface  of  wings  with  more  or  less  distinct  lighter  mark- 
ings, but  without  white  spot  at  base  of  quills;  rump  yellow;  crown  with  a  yel- 
low patch  (partly  concealed).  Adult  male:  Lower  parts,  including  chin  and 
throat,  white;  the  chest  and  sides  broadly  streaked  with  black  ( these  streaks 
sometimes  more  or  less  confluent,  forming  a  broken  patch),  and  the  sides  of 
the  breast  with  a  yellow  patch;  upper  parts  bluish  gray,  becoming  blackish  011 
sides  of  head,  which  are  marked  by  white  supraloral  and  postocular  streaks;  back 
broadly  streaked  with  black;  wing  with  two  white  bands  across  tip  of  middle 
and  greater  coverts.  Adult  female:  Similar  to  male,  but  much  duller  in  color, 
with  markings  less  conspicuously  contrasted.  Winter  plumage  (sexes  essen- 
tially alike):  Upper  parts  strongly  washed  with  umber  brown,  and  lower  parts 
more  or  less  suffused  with  a  paler  wash  of  the  same  —  the  pattern  of  the  sum- 
mer plumage  being  thereby  much  obscured;  streaks  on  chest,  etc.;  and  yellow 
patches  indistinct.  Young:  No  yellow  anywhere,  except  sometimes  on  rump; 
whole  plumage  thickly  streaked  above  and  below  with  dusky  and  grayish  white; 
tail  much  as  in  adult.  (Ridgicay). 

Stretch  of 
Length.  wing.  Wing.         Tail.         Tarsus.          Bill. 

Male 5.75  9.10          8.00         2.40          .73  .38 

Female...      5.50  8.70          2.80        2.20          .72  .38 

Iris  brown;  bill,  legs,  feet  and  claws  black. 

These  hardy  Warblers  frequent  the  open  woods  and  borders 
of  streams.  During  the  winter  months,  in  their  northern  winter 
homes,  they  feed  chiefly  upon  spiders,  eggs  and  larva  of  insects, 
and  also  upon  the  berries  of  the  poison  ivy,  etc. ;  in  the  early 
spring,  as  they  move  northward,  upon  the  insects  that  gather 
about  the  unfolding  leaves,  buds  and  blossoms.  In  the  spring 
of  1880,  I  found  the  birds  in  large  numbers  on  Brier  Island  and 
other  places  in  Nova  Scotia,  feeding  along  the  beach,  in  com- 
pany with  the  Savanna  Sparrow  and  Horned  Lark,  upon  the 
small  flies  and  other  insects  that  swarm  about  the  kelp  and  de- 
bris washed  upon  the  shore;  uttering  almost  continually,  as  they 
flit  about,  a  "Tweet"  note,  the  males  often  flying  to  the  tops 
of  the  small  hemlocks  to  give  vent  to  their  happiness  in  song, 
which  is  quite  loud  for  Warblers  —  rather  short,  but  soft  and 
pleasing,  and  it  seemed  to  me  especially  so  in  contrast  with  the 
feeble,  reed-like  notes  of  the  Savanna  Sparrow. 

The  birds  usually  build  their  nests  in  low  trees  and  bushes. 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  553 

According  to  Mr.  MacFarlane,  who  found  them  nesting  at  An- 
derson River,  they  occasionally  nest  on  the  ground.  Doctor 
Brewer,  in  "North  American  Land  Birds,"  gives  the  following 
minute  description  of  a  nest: 

"In  the  summer  of  1855,  early  in  July,  I  obtained  a  nest  of 
this  species  in  Parsboro',  Nova  Scotia.  It  was  built  in  a  low 
bush,  in  the  midst  of  a  small  village,  and  contained  six  eggs. 
The  parents  were  very  shy,  and  it  was  with  great  difficulty  that 
one  of  them  was  secured  for  identification.  Though  late  in  the 
season,  incubation  had  but  just  commenced. 

"The  nest  was  built  on  a  horizontal  branch,  the  smaller  twigs 
of  which  were  so  interlaced  as  to  admit  of  being  built  npon 
them,  though  their  extremities  were  interwoven  into  its  rim. 
The  nest  was  small  for  the  bird,  being  only  two  inches  in  depth, 
and  four  and  a  half  in  diameter.  The  cavity  is  one  and  one- 
half  inches  deep  and  two  and  a  half  wide.  Its  base  and  exter- 
nal portions  consist  of  fine,  light  dry  stalks  of  wild  grasses,  and 
slender  twigs  and  roots.  Of  the  last,  the  firm,  strong  rim  of 
the  nest  is  exclusively  woven.  Within,  the  nest  is  composed 
of  soft,  fine  grasses,  downy  feathers,  and  the  fine  hair  of  the 
smaller  mammals." 

Eggs  three  to  six,  .70x.53;  white  to  greenish  white,  spotted 
and  blotched  (thickest  and  usually  forming  a  wreath  around  the 
larger  end)  with  varying  shades  of  umber  brown  to  blackish  and 
pale  lilac  (they  vary  greatly  in  the  amount  of  markings  and 
shape);  being  in  form  rounded  oval  to  ovate. 

Dendroica  auduboni  (TOWNS.). 

AUDUBON'S  WARBLER. 
PLATE  XXXII. 

Migratory  in  western  Kansas;  rather  common.  Arrive  early 
in  the  spring;  return  and  leave  for  the  south  in  October;  a  few 
occasionally  remaining  late  into  November. 

B.  195.     R.  96.     C.  120.     G.  42,     281.     U.  656. 

HABITAT.  Western  North  America;  north  to  British  Columbia; 
east  to  the  eastern  border  of  the  Great  Plains  (accidentally  to 
Massachusetts);  wintering  in  southern  Arizona  and  California, 


554  HISTORY  OF  TUE 

southward  through  western  Mexico  to  Guatemala;  breeding  in 
the  mountainous  regions  throughout  their  range  in  the  United 
States  and  northward. 

SP.  CHAR.  "Above,  bluish  ash,  streaked  with  black,  most  marked  on  the 
middle  of  the  back;  on  the  head  and  neck  bluish  ash.  Middle  of  crown,  rump, 
chin  and  throat,  and  a  patch  on  the  side  of  the  breast,  gamboge  yellow;  space 
beneath  and  anterior  to  the  eyes,  fore  part  of  breast  and  sides,  black;  this  color 
extending  behind  on  the  sides  in  streaks.  Middle  of  belly,  under  tail  coverts,  a 
portion  of  upper  and  lower  eyelids,  and  a  broad  band  on  the  wings,  with  a  spot 
on  each  of  the  four  or  five  exterior  tail  feathers,  white;  rest  of  tail  feathers 
black.  Female:  Brown  above;  the  other  markings  less  conspicuous  and  less 
black.  Young,  first  plumage:  Whole  body,  including  head  all  round  and  ramp, 
conspicuously  streaked  with  slaty  black,  upon  an  ashy  ground  above  and  white 
below.  No  yellow  on  crown,  rump,  breast  or  throat.  Wings  and  tail  as  in 
autumnal  adult. 

"This  bird  is  very  closely  allied  to  D.  coronata,  but  is  distinguished  by  the 
yellow  (not  white)  throat;  the  absence  of  a  superciliary  white  stripe  (the  eyelids 
white,  however);  the  restriction  of  the  black  of  the  face  to  the  lores,  and  to  a 
suffusion  round  the  eye;  and  the  presence  of  one  broad  baud  on  the  wings  in- 
stead of  two  narrow  ones." 

'     Stretch  of 
Length.          wing.  Wing.        Tail.        Tarsus.      Bill. 

Male 5.75  9.20          3.00         2.45         .73         .40 

Female...      5.50  8.80          2.80        2.35         .72         .40 

Iris  brown;  bill,  legs,  feet  and  claws  black. 

This  western  representative  of  the  Myrtle  Warbler  is  fully  as 
common  in  suitable  localities  throughout  its  range,  and  its  habits 
and  actions  are  precisely  the  same. 

Their  nests  are  usually  placed  in  evergreen  trees,  and  range 
all  the  way  from  three  to  thirty  feet  from  the  ground.  They 
are  composed  of  strips  of  fine  bark,  pine  needles,  steins  of 
plants,  etc.,  and  lined  with  fine  rootlets,  hairs,  and  a  few  downy 
feathers.  Eggs  usually  four,  .68x.52;  greenish  to  pale  olive 
creamy  white,  rather  thinly  spotted  and  dotted  with  varying 
shades  of  brown  to  black  and  pale  lilac,  thickest  about  the 
larger  end;  in  form,  oval. 

Dendroica  maculosa  (GMEL.). 

MAGNOLIA  WARBLER. 
PLATE  XXXII. 

Migratory;  rare.  Arrive  the  first  of  May;  begin  to  return 
the  last  of  August,  and  leave  for  the  south  during  the  month 
of  September. 

B.  204.     R.  97.     C.  125.     G.  43,     282.     U.  657. 


BIRDS  OF  KAXtiAS.  555 

HABITAT.  Eastern  North  America;  west  to  the  base  of  the 
Rocky  Mountains;  breeding  from  the  northern  United  States  to 
Hudson's  Bay  and  Great  Slave  Lake;  south  in  winter  to  the 
Bahamas,  Cuba,  eastern  Mexico  and  southern  Central  America. 

Sp.  CHAR.  Crown  plaiu  grayish,  without  yellow  spot.  Adult  male:  Top  of 
head  plain  bluish  gray,  lighter  around  border  (the  superciliary  region  whitish); 
lores  and  ear  coverts  deep  black;  back  black,  sometimes  mixed  with  yellowish 
olive  green;  wings  black,  with  a  large  white  patch  covering  both  rows  of  cov- 
erts; lower  parts  rich  gamboge  yellow,  the  chest  and  sides  boldly  striped  with 
deep  black.  Adult  female:  Similar  to  male,  but  colors  duller,  the  back  mainly 
(sometimes  entirely)  olive  green;  wing  coverts  with  two  separated  white  bands; 
streaks  on  lower  parts  narrower,  etc.  Autumnal  plumage:  Above,  olive,  be- 
coming grayish  ou  head,  and  greenish  on  back;  throat  pale  grayish;  no  streaks 
across  chest.  Young:  Above,  dull  brown,  very  indistinctly  clouded  with  darker; 
wings  dusky,  with  two  pale,  dingy  yellowish  or  yellowish-white  bands  across 
tips  of  coverts;  chest  smoky  brown,  indistinctly  streaked  with  lighter;  chin  and 
throat  lighter  brownish;  rest  of  lower  parts  pale  sulphur  yellow,  broadly  streaked 
with  dusky,  except  on  belly  and  under  tail  coverts.  (Ridgicay.) 

Stretch  of 
Length.         wing.         Wing.          Tail.        Tarsus.          Bill. 

Male 4.85          7.50         2.40         2.00          .70  .38 

Female...      4.75          7.15          2.25         1.90          .70  .38 

Iris  dark  brown;  bill  black,  with  under  sometimes  pale  at 
base;  legs,  feet  and  claws  dusky;  bottoms  of  feet  dull  greenish 
yellow. 

These  handsome  Warblers  are  decidedly  the  most  showy  of 
the  family,  and  they  are  evidently  aware  of  the  fact,  and  proud 
of  their  rich,  varied  plumage,  as  they  make  the  greatest  display 
possible  of  the  same,  moving  nimbly  and  gracefully  about,  with 
outspread  tail  and  partially  closed  wings,  not  only  in  courtship, 
but  in  their  search  among  the  foliage  for  insect  life.  During 
migration,  they  stop  to  rest  and  feed  in  the  groves,  gardens  and 
orchards,  seldom  in  the  deep  woods.  At  such  times  they  move 
silently  along,  only  uttering  their  ordinary  and  rather  ringing 
"Chip,"  reserving  their  song  for  their  breeding  grounds;  at  least 
I  have  never  heard  one  sing  far  south  of  its  summer  home.  I 
do  not  think  the  birds  are  abundant  anywhere.  In  the  spring 
and  early  summer  of  1880,  I  found  them  quite  common  in  Nova 
Scotia  and  New  Brunswick,  where  they  seemed  to  prefer  for 
their  haunts  the  thick  growths  of  small  spruce  and  hemlock. 
They  make  their  presence  known  by  their  song,  which  is  shrill, 


556  HISTORY  OF  THE 

but  clear  and  sweet,  and,  when  perched  upon  the  top  of  a  tree, 
quite  prolonged;  as  a  rule,  however,  they  are  too  restless  to  re- 
main long  in  a  place,  and  generally  warble  in  broken  notes,  or 
snatches,  as  they  flit  actively  among  the  boughs. 

On  the  llth  of  June,  I  had  the  pleasure  of  finding,  at  Grand 
Manan,  N.  B.,  a  nest  containing  four  eggs,  in  a  little  spruce,  not 
over  three  feet  in  height.  The  nest  was  built  on  the  top  of  a 
spreading  branch,  six  inches  from  the  body  of  the  tree  and  two 
feet  from  the  ground.  It  was  composed  almost  wholly  of  small, 
slim  stems  of  weeds,  and  thickly  lined  with  jet  black,  hair-like 
rootlets,  in  marked  contrast  with  the  dull,  faded  nest.  Eggs: 
.60x.48,  . 63x.  50,  . 65x. 50,  . G8x. 50;  creamy  white,  rather  spar- 
ingly spotted  with  umber  to  reddish  brown  and  lilac,  thickest 
and  sometimes  confluent  around  the  larger  end;  in  form,  oval. 

Dendroica  cserulea  (WILS.). 

CERULEAN  WARBLER. 
PLATE  XXXIL 

Summer  resident  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  State;  common; 
rare  westward.  Arrive  the  last  of  April;  begin  laying  the  last 
of  May.  The  bulk  leave  early  in  September;  a  few  occasionally 
linger  until  the  first  of  October. 

B.  201.     K.  98.     C.  118.     G.  44,     283.     TJ.  .658. 

HABITAT.  Eastern  United  States  and  southern  Canada;  west 
to  the  Great  Plains;  rare  or  casual  east  of  central  New  York 
and  the  Alleghanies;  south  in  winter  to  western  Cuba,  Yucatan, 
Honduras  and  Panama. 

SP.  CHAR.  "Male:  Above,  bright  blue,  darkest  on  the  crown,  tinged  with 
ash  on  the  rump;  middle  of  back,  scapulars,  upper  tail  coverts  and  sides  of  the 
crown  streaked  with  black;  beneath,  white;  a  collar  across  the  breast  and 
streak  on  the  sides  dusky,  blue;  lores,  and  a  line  through  and  behind  the  eye 
(where  it  is  bordered  above  by  whitish),  dusky  blue;  paler  on  the  cheeks.  Two 
white  bands  on  the  wing;  all  the  tail  feathers  except  the  innermost  with  a  white 
patch  on  the  inner  web  near  the  end.  Female:  Greenish  blue  above,  brightest 
on  the  crown;  beneath,  white,  tinged  with  greenish  yellow,  and  obsoletely 
streaked  on  the  sides;  eyelids  and  a  superciliary  line  greenish  white.  The 
autumnal  adult  plumage  of  both  sexes  is  in  every  respect  exactly  like  the  spring 
dress.  Young  males  in  late  summer  are  very  similar  to  adult  females,  but  are 
purer  white  below,  and  less  uniform  greenish  blue  above,  the  dark  stripes  on 
sides  of  the  crown  and  black  centers  to  scapulars  being  quite  conspicuous;  the 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  557 

young  female,  at  the  same  season,  is  similar  in  pattern  to  the  adult,  but  is  dull 
green  above,  without  any  tinge  of  blue,  and  light  buffy  yellow  below. 

"There  is  considerable  variation  in  adult  males,  especially  in  the  width  of 
the  pectoral  collar;  one  (No.  60877,  Mt.  Carmel,  Wabash  county,  111.,  Aug.  9th) 
has  this  entirely  interrupted.  In  this  individual  there  is  no  trace  of  a  whitish 
supra-auricular  streak;  while  others  from  the  same  locality,  and  obtained  at  the 
same  date,  have  the  bands  across  the  jugulum  continuous,  and  a  quite  distinct 
white  streak  over  the  ear  coverts." 

Dimensions  of  a  pair  in  "The  Goss  Ornithological  Collec- 
tion:" 

Stretch  of 
Length.  wing.  Wing.         Tail.          Tarsus.         Bill. 

Male 4.90  8.00          2.65         1.80          .65  .40 

Female...      4.75          7.85         2.60         1.70          .65  .40 

Iris  brownish  black;  bill  black,  with  under  pale  at  base;  legs 
and  feet  deep  blue;  claws  brown. 

These  pretty  azure  birds  inhabit  the  deep  woods,  preferring 
the  timbered  bottom  lands  along  the  streams,  where  they  make 
their  homes  in  the  treetops,  seldom  descending  to  the  lower 
branches,  and  to  the  ground  only  when  in  search  of  material  for 
a  nest.  They  are  lively  and  graceful  in  their  movements,  flit- 
ting here  and  there  through  the  foliage,  and  often,  in  their 
search  for  insect  life,  swaying  head  downward  from  the  ends  of 
slender  twigs  with  the  ease  of  a  Titmouse.  They  are  the  most 
abundant  in  the  eastern  portion  of-  the  Mississippi  valley.  Liv- 
ing as  they  do  in  the  upper  branches,  and  largely  in  the  wild 
woods,  their  breeding  range  is  but  little  known,  and  they  are  no 
doubt  much  more  common  everywhere  than  they  are  generally 
reported  to  be.  I  think  it  safe  to  say  that  they  breed  from  the 
Gulf  coast  northward  throughout  their  range.  During  the 
breeding  season  the  birds  are  quite  constant  singers  —  a  rather 
feeble  effort,  but  clear,  soft  and  musical,  ending  in  a  creaking 
manner. 

Their  nests  are  saddled  on  horizontal  limbs,  from  fifteen  to 
sixty  feet  from  the  ground  —  rarely  below  thirty  feet,  especially 
in  heavily-timbered  lands.  They  are  composed  of  fine  grasses, 
moss,  and  bits  of  hornets'  nests,  interwoven  with  spider  webs  and 
soft  strippings  from  plants,  the  outside  sparingly  dotted  with 
lichen.  Eggs  usually  three  or. four;  creamy  to  greenish  white, 
speckled  with  reddish  brown  and  lilac,  thickest,  and  sometimes 


558  HISTORY  OF  THE 

forming  a  wreath,  around  the  larger  end;  in  form,  oval.  A  set 
of  four  eggs,  taken  June  16th,  1883,  near  Ontario,  Canada,  from 
a  nest  in  an  iron  wood  tree,  fifteen  feet  from  the  ground,  are,  in 
dimensions:  .58x.45,  .59x.45,  .60x.46,  .60x.47. 


Dendroica  pensylvanica 

CHESTNUT-SIDED  WARBLER. 
PLATE  XXXII. 

Migratory;  rare.  Taken  at  Leavenworth,  in  May,  1871,  by 
Prof.  J.  A.  Allen;  and  near  Topeka,  May  2d,1873,  by  Prof.  E.  A. 
Popenoe.  I  have  never  been  so  fortunate  as  to  meet  with  them 
in  the  State. 

B.  200.     R.  99.     C.  124.     G.  45,     284.     U.  659. 

HABITAT.  Eastern  North  America;  north  to  Canada  and  Mani- 
toba; west  to  the  Great  Plains;  breeding  from  about  latitude 
40°  (probably  in  high,  mountainous  regions  south)  northward; 
south  in  winter  to  the  Bahamas,  eastern  Mexico  and  southern 
Central  America. 

SP.  CHAR.  "Male:  Upper  parts  streaked  with  black  arid  pale  bluish  gray, 
which  becomes  nearly  white  on  the  fore  part  of  the  back;  the  middle  of  the  back 
glossed  with  greenish  yellow.  The  crown  is  continuous  yellow,  bordered  by  a 
frontal  and  superciliary  band,  and  behind  by  a  square  spot  of  white.  Loral  re- 
gion black,  sending  off  a  line  over  the  eye,  and  another  below  it.  Ear  coverts 
and  lower  eyelid,  and  entire  under  parts,  pure  white;  a  purplish  chestnut  stripe 
starting  on  each  side,  in  a  line  with  the  black  'mustache,'  and  extending  back  to 
the  thighs.  Wing  and  tail  feathers  dark  brown,  edged  with  bluish  gray,  except 
the  secondaries  and  tertials,  which  are  bordered  with  light  yellowish  green.  The 
shoulders  with  two  greenish  white  bands.  Three  outer  tail  feathers  with  white 
patches  near  the  end  of  the  inner  webs.  Female:  Like  the  male,  except  that 
the  upper  parts  are  yellowish  green,  streaked  with  black;  the  black  'mustache' 
scarcely  appreciable.  The  young,  in  autumn,  are  very  different  from  either  male 
or  female  in  spring.  The  entire  upper  parts  are  of  a  continuous  light  olive 
green;  the  under  parts  white;  the  sides  of  the  head,  neck  and  breast  ash  gray, 
shading  insensibly  into  and  tinging  the  white  of  the  chin  and  throat.  No  black 
streaks  are  visible  above  or  on  the  cheeks,  and  the  eye  is  surrounded  by  a  con- 
tinuous ring  of  white,  as  seen  in  spring.  In  this  plumage  it  has  frequently  been 
considered  as  a  distinct  species.  The  male,  in  this  spring  plumage,  may  usually 
be  distinguished  from  the  female  by  possessing  a  trace  (or  a  distinct  stripe)  of 
chestnut  on  the  flanks,  the  young  female,  at  least,  lacking  it." 

Stretch  of 
Length.        wing.  Wing.         Tail.        Tarsus.         Bill. 

Male  .....     5.00          7.70          2.45         2.00          .70  .37 

Female..       4.80         7.40         2.30        1.90         .70          .36 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  559 

Iris  dark  brown;  bill  black,  sometimes  the  under  mandible  is 
bluish  at  base;  legs,  feet  and  claws  slaty  blue. 

These  charming  little  birds  frequent  the  open  woods,  groves 
and  shrubby  growths  bordering  the  fields,  prairies  and  streams, 
seldom  visiting  the  gardens  and  shade  trees  about  our  dwell- 
ings. They  are  quite  common  east  of  the  Mississippi  Eiver. 
At  Pewaukee,  Wisconsin,  (where  brother  and  I  have  so  often 
rambled  together,)  they  are  a  very  common  summer  resident; 
breeding  in  the  second  growths  of  shrubby  oaks  and  bushes. 
They  are  not  naturally  suspicious  and  wild,  often  allowing  a 
near  approach.  They  search  largely  for  their  food  among  the 
upper  branches,  and  are  expert  in  catching  insects  on  the  wing, 
darting  from  their  perch  and  usually  returning  to  the  same, 
much  Jike  the  true  Flycatchers. 

Their  ordinary  call  note  is  a  rather  feeble  "Tsip,"  which, 
when  alarmed,  is  uttered  in  a  harsh,  chattering  manner.  Their 
song  is  rather  short  —  a  few  varied,  musical  notes,  resembling 
that  of  the  Yellow  Warbler. 

Their  nests  are  placed  in  the  forks  of  low  bushes,  and  are 
composed  of  small  stems,  grasses  and  flax-like  strippings  from 
plants,  rather  loosely  woven  together,  and  lined  with  hairs. 
Eggs  usually  four,  .68x.50;  white,  or  creamy  white,  spotted 
with  reddish  to  dark  brown  and  lilac,  thickest  and  generally 
tending  to  form  a  ring  around  the  larger  end;  some  are  spar- 
ingly, others  profusely  marked;  in  form,  oval.  A  set  of  four 
eggs,  collected  June  15th,  1879,  at  Pewaukee,  Wisconsin,  from  a 
nest  in  the  forks  of  a  low  bush,  in  a  thick  growth,  are,  in  dimen- 
sions: .68x.48,  .69x.50,  .70x.50,  .70x.50. 

Dendroica  striata  (FORST.). 

BLACK-POLL  WARBLER. 
PLATE  XXXIL 

Migratory;  common.  Arrive  the  first  to  middle  of  May; 
begin  to  return  early  in  September.  The  bulk  leave  for  the 
south  during  the  latter  part  of  the  month;  a  few  occasionally 
remain  until  the  last  of  October. 

B.  202.     R.  101.     C.  122.     G.  46,     285.     U.  661. 


560  HISTORY  OF  THE 

HABITAT.  Eastern  and  northern  North  America;  north  to 
the  Arctic  coast,  accidentally  to  Greenland;  west  to  the  Rocky 
Mountains,  and  throughout  Alaska,  north  to  the  peninsula; 
breeding  from  northern  New  England  northward  throughout 
their  entire  range;  south  in  winter  to  the  Bahamas,  Cuba  and 
northern  South  America. 

I  have  never  met  with  the  birds  in  Mexico  or  Central  Amer- 
ica (where  I  have  found  most  all  the  other  Warblers  that  I  have 
described),  neither  can  I  find  any  mention  of  their  occurrence, 
but  I  feel  confident  that  they  do  winter  in  Central  America 
and  in  eastern  Mexico. 

SP.  CHAB.  '•'•Male:  Crown,  nape,  and  upper  half  of  the  head,  black;  the 
lower  half,  including  the  ear  coverts,  white,  the  separating  line  passing  through 
the  middle  of  the  eye.  Rest  of  upper  parts  grayish  ash,  tinged  with  brown  and 
conspicuously  streaked  with  black.  Wing  and  tail  feathers  brown,  edged  exter- 
nally (except  the  inner  tail  feathers)  with  dull  olive  green.  Two  conspicuous 
bars  of  white  on  the  wing  coverts,  the  tertials  edged  with  the  same.  Under 
parts  white,  with  a  narrow  line  on  each  side  of  the  throat  from  the  chin  to  the 
sides  of  the  neck,  where  it  runs  into  a  close  patch  of  black  streaks,  continued 
along  the  breast  and  sides  to  the  root  of  the  tail.  Outer  two  tail  feathers  with 
an  oblique  patch  on  the  inner  web  near  the  end;  the  others  edged  internally 
with  white.  Female:  Similar,  except  that  the  upper  parts  are  olivaceous,  and, 
even  on  the  crown,  streaked  with  black;  the  white  on  the  sides  and  across  the 
breast  tinged  with  yellowish;  a  ring  of  the  same  round  the  eye,  cut  by  a  dusky 
line  through  it.  The  autumnal  dress  of  young  birds  is  very  different  from  that 
of  spring.  The  upper  parts  are  light  olive  green,  obsoletely  streaked  with 
brown;  beneath,  greenish  yellow,  obsoletely  streaked  on  the  breast  and  sides; 
the  under  tail  coverts  pure  white;  a  yellowish  ring  round  the  eye,  and  a  super- 
ciliary one  of  the  same  color.  In  this  dress  it  is  scarcely  possible  to  distinguish 
it  from  the  immature  D.  castanea.  The  young  bird  in  its  first  dress  is  also  quite 
different,  again,  from  the  autumnal  plumaged  birds.  The  upper  parts  are  hoary 
grayish,  the  lower  white;  each  feather  of  the  whole  body,  except  lower  tail  cov- 
erts, with  a  terminal  bar  or  transverse  spot  of  blackish,  those  on  the  upper  parts 
approaching  the  base  of  tbe  feathers  along  the  shaft.  Wings  and  tail  much  as 
in  the  autumnal  plumage." 

Stretch  of 
Length.         wing.          Wing,         Tail.         Tarsus.        Bill. 

Male 5.40  8.75          2.80         2.05  .74          .45 

Female...      5.20          8.50         2.70        2.00          .73         .45 

Iris  brown;  bill — upper  and  end  of  lower  black,  rest  pale  blue; 
legs  and  claws  light  brown;  feet  yellowish  brown. 

These  familiar  birds  are  quite  common  and  are  pretty  gener- 
ally diffused  throughout  their  range.  They  are  among  the  last 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  561 

arrivals  in  spring  and  often  tarry  late  in  the  fall.  They  select 
for  their  summer  homes  the  low  woodlands,  bordering  streams 
and  swamps;  but  during  migration,  visit  alike  the  upland  groves, 
waste  fields,  orchards,  gardens,  etc.,  and  in  their  search  for  food 
are  at  home  wherever  insect  life  can  be  found;  peeping  into  the 
crevices  of  bark  on  logs,  the  bodies  and  lower  branches  of  trees, 
skipping  about  in  the  tops  among  the  foliage,  and  often  darting 
here  and  there  to  catch,  in  the  manner  of  the  Flycatchers,  the 
passing  insects.  They  are  not  naturally  wild,  and  usually  very 
easily  approached. 

Their  song,  often  heard  in  the  early  breeding  season,  con- 
sists of  a  few  low,  varied  notes,  uttered  in  too  lisping  and  wiry 
a  tone  to  be  called  musical. 

The  following  is  a  description  of  a  nest  and  eggs  that  I  suc- 
ceeded in  finding  in  a  dense  undergrowth  at  Grand  Manan,  N. 
B.,  June  19th,  1880.  The  nest  was  built  not  over  two  feet  from 
the  ground,  on  a  horizontal  limb,  and  against  the  body  of  a  small 
spruce  tree.  It  was  quite  bulky,  and  made  from  the  tips  of  fir 
and  spruce  twigs,  fine  rootlets,  grasses  and  slender  lichens,  and 
lined  thickly  with  feathers.  The  eggs  (four  in  number)  are,  in 
dimensions  (large  as  compared  with  measurements  given  by 
others):  .77 x. 5 5,  .78x.56,  .79x.56,  .79x.56;  white  to  creamy 
buff,  speckled  with  various  shades  of  reddish  brown  and  lilac 
and  a  few  streak-like  blotches  of  black,  chiefly  about  the  larger 
end,  where  the  markings  are  rather  confluent,  forming  a  wreath 
upon  one  of  the  eggs;  in  form,  oval. 

Dendroica  "blackburnise  (GMEI,.). 

BLACKBURNIAN  WARBLER. 
PLATE  XXXII. 

Migratory;  rare.  Arrive  the  first  of  May;  return  early  in 
September;  leave  during  the  month. 

B.  196.     R.  102.     C.  121.     G.  47,     286.     U.  662. 

HABITAT.  Eastern  temperate  North  America;  accidental  in 
Greenland;  west  to  the  Great  Plains,  casually  to  Utah;  breed- 
ing from  the  northern  United  States  (probably  high,  mountain- 
ous regions  south)  northward;  south  in  winter,  through  the 

—36 


562  HISTORY  OF   THE 

Bahamas,   eastern   Mexico    and    Central  America,  into    South 
America. 

SP.  CHAR.  "  Upper  parts  nearly  uniform  black,  with  a  whitish  scapular  stripe 
and  a  large  white  patch  in  the  middle  of  the  wing  coverts.  An  oblong  patch  in 
the  middle  of  the  crown,  and  the  entire  side  of  the  head  and  neck  (including  a 
superciliary  stripe  from  the  nostrils),  the  chin,  throat,  and  fore  part  of  the  breast 
bright  orange  red.  A  black  stripe  from  the  commissure,  passing  around  the 
lower  half  of  the  eye,  and  including  the  ear  coverts,  with,  however,  an  orange 
crescent  in  it,  just  below  the  eye,  the  extreme  lid  being  black.  Rest  of  under 
parts  white,  strongly  tinged  with  yellowish  orange  on  the  breast  and  belly,  and 
streaked  with  black  on  the  sides.  Outer  three  tail  feathers  white,  the  shafts 
and  tips  dark  brown;  the  fourth  and  fifth  spotted  much  with  white;  the  other 
tail  feathers  and  quills  almost  black.  Female  similar;  the  colors  duller;  the 
feathers  of  the  upper  parts  with  olivaceous  edges.  Autumnal  males  resemble 
the  females.  They  have  two  white  bands  instead  of  one;  the  black  stripes  on  the 
sides  are  larger;  under  parts  yellowish;  the  throat  yellowish,  passing  into  purer 
yellow  behind.  Autumnal  young  birds  have  the  same  pattern  of  coloration,  but 
the  dark  portions  are  dull  grayish  umber,  with  the  streaks  very  obsolete,  and 
the  light  parts  dull  buffy  white,  tinged  with  yellow  on  the  jugulum;  there  is 
neither  clear  black,  bright  yellow,  nor  pure  white  on  the  plumage,  except  the 
latter  on  the  wing  bauds  and  tail  patches." 

Stretch  of 
Length.          -wing.  Wing.  Tail.        Tarsus.          Bill. 

Male 5.00  8.15         2.60         1.90          .70  .40 

Female...      4.75          7.90         2.50        1.80         .70          .40 

Iris,  legs,  feet  and  claws  dark  brown;  bill  black,  with  base  of 
forks  of  under  white. 

This  beautiful  Warbler  inhabits  the  deep  woods,  seldom  fre- 
quenting the  open  woodlands  and  orchards,  and  is  usually  more 
common,  especially  in  the  middle  and  eastern  portions  of  its 
range,  than  generally  supposed  to  be;  a  rather  silent,  solitary, 
retiring  bird,  that  feeds  chiefly  in  the  treetops,  where  it  flits 
among  the  leaves  in  its  search  for  food,  and  chases  the  winged 
insects  much  like  the  restless  Redstart.  For  its  summer  home 
it  selects  the  coniferous  forests,  where  its  song,  consisting  of  a 
few  pleasing,  warbling  notes,  that  ends  in  a  squeaky  manner,  is 
often  heard.  Its  call  note  is  a  rather  sharp  "Tsip."  Mr. 
Brewster,  on  "Birds  of  Winchendon,  Massachusetts,"  gives  the 
following  interesting  description  of  a  nest,  its  eggs,  etc. : 

"On  both  high  and  low  ground,  wherever  there  were  spruces 
in  any  numbers,  whether  by  themselves  or  mixed  with  other 
trees,  and  also  to  some  extent  where  the  growth  was  entirely  of 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  563 

hemlocks,  the  Blackburnian  Warbler  was  one  of  the  most  abund- 
ant characteristic  summer  birds,  in  places  even  outnumbering 
the  Black-throated  Green  Warbler,  although  it  shunned  strictly 
the  extensive  tracts  of  white  pines  which  D.  mrens  seemed  to 
find  quite  as  congenial  as  any  of  the  other  evergreens.  A  set 
of  four  eggs  was  taken  June  26,  1887.  The  nest,  which  was 
found  by  watching  the  female,  was  built  at  a  height  of  about 
thirty  feet  above  the  ground,*  on  the  horizontal  branch  of  a 
black  spruce,  some  six  feet  out  from  the  main  stem.  Its  bottom 
rested  securely  near  the  base  of  a  short,  stout  twig.  Above 
and  on  every  side  masses  of  dark  spruce  foliage,  rendered  still 
denser  by  a'  draping  of  Usnea  (which  covered  the  entire  tree  pro- 
fusely), hid  the  nest  so  perfectly  that  not  a  vestige  of  it  could 
be  seen  from  any  direction.  This  nest  is  composed  outwardly 
of  fine  twigs,  among  which  some  of  the  surrounding  Usnea  is 
entangled  and  interwoven.  The  lining  is  of  horse  hair,  fine  dry 
grasses,  and  a  few  of  the  black  rootlets  used  by  J).  tnaculosa. 
The  whole  structure  is  light  and  airy  in  appearance,  and  re- 
sembles rather  closely  the  nest  of  the  Chipping  Sparrow.  The 
eggs  measure,  respectively:  .68x.49,  .66x.50,  .69x.49,  .68x.51 
inches.  They  are  marked  with  pale  lavender,  vandyke  brown, 
mars  brown  and  black.  Over  most  of  the  shell  the  markings 
are  fine  and  sparsely  distributed,  but  about  the  larger  end  they 
become  broad  and  more  or  less  confluent,  tending  to  form  a 
wreath  pattern.  Some  of  the  black  markings  are  linear,  re- 
sembling pen  scratches.  The  ground  color  of  these  eggs,  before 
blowing,  would  have  been  passed  for  dull  white,  but,  with  the 
removal  of  their  contents,  a  delicate  yet  faint  greenish  tinge 
appeared,  and  has  since  persisted.  This  greenish  tinge  was  also 
a  characteristic  feature  of  eight  eggs  (representing  two  sets) 
taken  by  Mr.  Bailey,  at  Winchendon,  before  my  arrival,  in  1887." 
Eggs  four  or  five,  . 68x.  50;  in  form,  oval. 


*They  usually  build  much  nearer  the  ground. 


564  HISTORY  OF  THE 

Dendroica  dominica  albilora  BAIRD. 

SYCAMORE  WARBLER. 

Summer  resident  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  State;  rare.  Ar- 
rive the  last  of  April  to  first  of  May;  leave  the  last  of  September 
to  first  of  October. 

B. .     K.  103a.     C.  130.     G.  48,     287.     U.  663a. 

HABITAT.  Mississippi  valley;  north  to  southern  Michigan  and 
northern  Illinois;  west  to  eastern  Kansas  and  Texas;  breeding 
limits  but  little  known;  south  in  winter  from  the  Gulf  coast, 
through  Mexico,  Honduras  and  Guatemala. 

SP.  CHAK.  Adult  (sexes  alike):  Above,  ash  gray,  without  streaks,  the  forehead 
or  sides  of  crown,  or  both,  black.  Wings  blackish,  the  middle  and  greater  cov- 
erts broadly  tipped  with  white  and  edged  with  ash  gray;  remiges  edged  with  ash 
gray.  Tail  dusky,  the  feathers  edged  with  ash  gray,  the  inner  webs  of  three 
outer  rectrices  with  a  large  white  patch  covering  the  terminal  portion  —  on  the 
lateral  feathers  occupying  nearly  half  of  the  web.  A  white  superciliary  stripe, 
sometimes  tinged  with  yellow  anteriorly;  a  crescentic  spot  beneath  eye,  and 
large  space  on  side  of  neck,  immediately  behind  auriculars,  also  white.  Lores 
and  auriculars  deep  black,  this  continued  down  each  side  of  the  throat,  but  on 
sides  of  breast  broken  into  stripes,  which  extend  along  sides  to  flanks.  Chin, 
throat  and  jugulum  bright  gamboge  yellow,  the  first  white  anteriorly.  Eest  of 
lower  parts,  except  as  described,  white.  The  plumage  of  the  adult  in  fall  and 
early  winter  differs  from  the  spring  livery,  as  described  above,  only  in  having 
the  ash  gray,  and  also  the  white  of  the  abdomen,  slightly  tinged  with  brownish. 
The  young  in  first  autumn  are  essentially  similar  to  autumnal  adults,  but  have 
the  brownish  wash  or  discoloration  more  distinct,  and  the  markings  conse- 
quently less  sharply  defined.  (Ridgway.) 

Stretch  of 
Length.          wing.          Wing.          Tail.        Tarsus.         Bill. 

Male 5.20  8.35          2.70        2.20          .65  .45 

Female...      5.00  8.00          2.55        2.00          .65  .45 

Iris  brown;  bill  black;  legs,  feet  and  claws  olive  brown;  bot- 
toms of  feet  greenish  yellow. 

My  knowledge  of  these  birds,  from  observation,  has  been  very 
limited.  I  therefore  quote  from  "Birds  of  Illinois"  Mr.  Kidg- 
way'  s  description  of  their  habits,  etc. : 

' '  The  Sycamore  Warbler  is  a  common  summer  resident  in  the 
bottom  lands,  where,  according  to  the  writer' s  experience,  it  lives 
chiefly  in  the  large  sycamore  trees,  along  or  near  water  courses. 
On  this  account,  it  is  a  difficult  bird  to  obtain  during  the  breed- 
ing season,  the  male  usually  keeping  in  the  topmost  branches  of 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  565 

the  tallest  trees,  out  of  gunshot,  and  often,  practically,  out  of 
sight,  although  his  presence  is  betrayed  by  his  loud,  very  un- 
Warbler-like  song.  The  song  of  this  species  is  so  much  like  that 
of  the  Indigo  Bird,  that  it  requires  a  practiced  ear  to  distinguish 
them;  the  tone  is  remarkably  similar,  but  there  is  a  difference 
in  the  modulation,  which,  after  one  becomes  thoroughly  ac- 
quainted with  it,  renders  it  distinguishable.  In  its  motions,  this 
warbler  partakes  much  of  the  character  of  a  creeper,  often 
ascending  or  descending  trunks  of  trees,  or  following  their 
branches,  much  in  the  manner  of  a  Mniotilta.  The  first  speci- 
men which  the  writer  ever  saw  was  creeping  about  the  eaves 
and  cornice  of  a  frame  dwelling  house,  in  the  center  of  the  town 
of  Mt.  Carmel.  Very  often,  however,  it  could  not  be  distin- 
guished from  other  Warblers,  so  far  as  its  actions  were  con- 
cerned." 

In  my  "Revised  Catalogue  of  the  Birds  of  Kansas."  I  de- 
scribed what  I  then  supposed  to  be  the  nest  and  eggs  of  these 
birds.  I  am  now  satisfied  that  the  authority  is  not  reliable,  upon 
which  the  entry  was  based.  I  have  met  with  the  birds  at  Neosho 
Falls,  Kansas,  on  several  occasions,  during  the  summer  months, 
and  once  as  early  as  the  last  of  April;  always  in  or  about  the 
large  sycamore  trees,  along  the  banks  of  the  Neosho  River;  but 
have  never  been  so  fortunate  as  to  find  them  nesting  anywhere, 
neither  can  I  find  any  authentic  description  of  their  nests  and 
eggs.  They  undoubtedly  nest  in  the  treetops,  like  the  eastern 
bird,  D.  dominica. 

Dendroica  virens  (GMEL.). 

BLACK-THROATED  GREEN  WARBLER. 
PLATE  XXXII. 

Migratory;  not  uncommon.  Arrive  the  last  of  April  to  first 
of  May;  begin  to  return  the  last  of  August;  leave  during  the 
month  of  September  and  early  part  of  October. 

B.  189.     R.  107.     C.  112.     G.  49,     288.     U.  667. 

HABITAT.  Eastern  temperate  North  America;  casual  to  Green- 
land; west  to  the  edge  of  the  Great  Plains;  breeds  from  the 
northern  United  States  northward;  south  in  winter  through 
eastern  Mexico  to  southern  Central  America;  West  Indies. 


566  HISTORY  OF  THE 

Sp.  CHAR.  "Male:  Upper  parts,  exclusive  of  wing  and  tail,  clear  yellow 
olive  greeu;  the  feathers  of  the  back  with  hidden  streaks  of  black.  Forehead 
and  sides  of  head  and  neck,  including  a  superciliary  stripe,  bright  yellow.  A 
dusky  line  from  the  bill  through  the  eye,  and  another  below  it.  Chin,  throat 
and  fore  part  of  the  breast,  extending  some  distance  along  on  the  sides,  con- 
tinuous black;  rest  of  under  parts  white,  tinged  with  yellow  on  the  breast  and 
flanks.  Wings  and  tail  feathers  dark  brown,  edged  with  bluish  gray;  two  white 
bands  on  the  wing;  the  greater  part  of  the  three  outer  tail  feathers  white.  Fe- 
male: Similar,  but  duller;  the  throat  yellow;  the  black  of  breast  much  concealed 
by  white  edges;  the  sides  streaked  with  black.  The  autumnal  male  has  the 
black  of  throat  and  breast  obscured  by  whitish  tips.  Females  are  yellowish 
white  beneath,  tinged  with  grayish  towards  tail." 

Stretch  of 
Length.          wing.  Wing.  Tail.  Tarsus.          Bill. 

Male 5.00          7.75          2.50          2.20  .70  .40 

Female...      4.90          7.40          2.30          2.10  .70  .38 

Iris  dark  brown;  bill  black;  legs,  feet  arid  claws  dusky;  bot- 
toms of  feet  greenish  yellow. 

During  the  breeding  season  these  sylvan  birds  inhabit  the 
coniferous  forests,  from  my  observation  preferring  the  hilly  up- 
lands; and,  in  migration,  are  more  common  in  the  groves  and 
trees  skirting  the  streams  than  in  the  heavily  wooded  bottom 
lands.  They  live  almost  wholly  in  the  upper  branches  of  the 
trees,  and  seldom  alight  upon  the  ground,  except  in  search  of 
material  for  a  nest,  or  at  the  water's  edge  to  bathe.  They  feed 
largely  upon  leaf  worms,  spiders,  beetles  and  flies,  and  in  their 
search  for  the  same  are  in  actions  much  like  the  Vireos,  hopping 
about  among  the  boughs  and  capturing  occasionally  in  the  air  — 
never  in  the  creeping  manner  of  some  of  the  family. 

In  the  early  part  of  June,  1880,  I  found  them  nesting  at 
Digby,  Nova  Scotia,  in  the  thick  growths  of  hemlock,  spruce 
and  pine.  I  discovered  two  nests  that  the  birds  were  building. 
They  were  at  least  thirty  feet  from  the  ground.  The  males 
were  singing  in  every  direction.  Their  song  is  quite  loud;  a 
pleasing,  reed-like  chant,  the  higher  notes  too  shrill  to  be 
musical.  Their  ordinary  call  note  is  a  common  "Chip,"  or 
"Tsip." 

Their  nests  have  occasionally  been  found  near  the  ground, 
but  such  finds  are  exceptional;  as  a  rule,  they  range  from  about 
fifteen  to  fifty  feet  from  the  ground.  They  are  usually  built  on 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  507 

horizontal  forks  of  a  limb  and  near  the  end  of  the  boughs.  A 
rather  small,  compact  structure,  composed  of  fine  strips  of  bark, 
stems  of  plants,  bits  of  leaves,  slender  twigs,  interwoven  with 
tine  grasses  and  feathers,  and  lined  with  hairs  and  fine,  downy 
shreds  from  plants.  Eggs  usually  four,  .  67x.  52;  creamy  white, 
spotted  with  obscure  lilac,  yellowish  to  red  and  dark  brown, 
usually  with  confluent  blotches  about  the  larger  end;  in  form, 
oval  to  rounded  oval. 

Dendroica  vigorsii  (ATTD.). 

PINE  WARBLER. 

Migratory;  rare.  Arrive  in  April;  return  the  last  of  Sep- 
tember to  first  of  October.  The  birds  have  not  as  yet  been 
found  nesting  in  the  State,  but  I  feel  confident  that  they  do  oc- 
casionally breed  in  the  eastern  portion.  They  often  remain 
until  late  in  the  fall. 

B.  198.     K.  111.     C.  134.     G.  50,     289.     U.  671. 

HABITAT.  Eastern  North  America;  north  to  New  Brunswick 
and  Manitoba;  west  to  the  Plains;  breeds  nearly  throughout  its 
range,  wintering  in  the  more  southern  States,  the  Bermudas  and 
Bahama  Isles. 

SP.  CHAR.  '•'•Spring  male:  Upper  parts  nearly  uniform  and  clear  olive  green, 
the  feathers  of  the  crown  with  rather  darker  shafts;  under  parts  generally,  ex- 
cept the  middle  of  the  body  behind,  and  under  tail  coverts  (which  are  white), 
bright  gamboge  yellow,  with  obsolete  streaks  of  dusky  on  the  sides  of  the  breast 
and  body;  sides  of  head  and  neck  olive  green  like  the  back,  with  a  broad  super- 
ciliary stripe;  the  eyelids  and  spot  beneath  the  eye  very  obscurely  yellow;  wings 
and  tail  brown,  the  feathers  edged  with  dirty  white,  and  two  bands  of  the  same 
across  the  coverts;  inner  web  of  the  first  tail  feather  with  nearly  the  terminal 
half,  and  of  the  second  with  nearly  the  terminal  third,  dull,  inconspicuous  white. 
Spring  female:  Similar,  but  more  grayish  above,  and  almost  grayish  white,  with 
a  tinge  of  yellow  beneath,  instead  of  bright  yellow.  Young:  Umber  brown  above, 
and  dingy,  pale  ashy  beneath,  with  a  slight  yellowish  tinge  on  the  abdomen;  wing 
and  tail  much  as  in  the  autumnal  adult.  Autumnal  males  are  much  like  spring 
individuals,  but  the  yellow  beneath  is  softer  and  somewhat  richer,  and  the  olive 
above  overlaid  with  a  reddish  umber  tint." 

Stretch  of 
Length.          ivtng.  Wing.          Tail.         Tarsus.         Bill. 

Male 5.50          9.00  3.00         2.40  .73          .45 

Female 5.20          8.50  2.75         2.20  .71          .42 

Iris  brown;  bill  dark  brown,  the  under  pale  at  base;  legs 
brown;  feet  and  claws  dark  brown. 


568  HISTORY  OF   THE 

This  species,  as  its  name  indicates,  prefers  the  pine  trees,  and 
usually  makes  its  summer  home  in  the  coniferous  growths.  I 
have,  however,  on  several  occasions  met  with  them  during  the 
early  summer  months  in  the  heavily  timbered  bottom  lands,  far 
away  from  evergreen  trees,  and  during  migration  and  the  winter 
months  they  seem  to  be  as  much  at  home  in  the  deciduous  trees 
as  among  the  pines,  often  visiting  the  orchards  and  lowland 
thickets.  I  found  a  few  wintering  in  the  cypress  swamps  in 
eastern  Arkansas,  also  in  Florida,  where  they  are  quite  common, 
and  usually  in  small  flocks.  They  are  very  active  birds,  and, 
in  their  search  for  insect  life,  cling  like  the  creepers  to  the  bark 
of  the  trees,  swing  like  the  Titmouse  from  the  ends  of  the 
boughs,  and  are  also  at  home  on  the  ground. 

Their  song  is  weak,  a  rather  monotonous  trill;  their  ordinary 
call  note  a  "Tsip,"  and  they  occasionally  lisp  a  feeble  "Che- 
chee,  che-chee,  che-chee." 

Their  nests  are  usually  placed  on  the  boughs  of  evergreen 
trees,  all  the  way  from  eight  to  sixty  feet  from  the  ground. 
They  are  composed  of  soft  strippings  from  bark,  stems  of  plants, 
pine  needles,  leaves,  caterpillars'  silk  and  downy  vegetable  mat- 
ter, and  lined  with  hairs  and  feathers.  Eggs  usually  four, 
.  70x.52;  grayish  to  purplish  white,  speckled  and  spotted  with 
umber  and  madder  brown  and  lilac  gray,  thickest  and  some- 
times forming  a  ring  around  the  larger  end;  in  form,  oval. 

Dendroica  palmarum  (GMEL.). 

PALM  WARBLER. 
PLATE  XXXH. 

Migratory  in  the  eastern  part  of  Kansas;  rather  rare  (not  met 
with  in  the  western  part  of  the  State).  Arrive  the  last  of  April 
to  first  of  May;  return  in  September,  and  leave  in  October. 

B.  208.     E.  113.     C.  132.     G.  51,     290.     U.  872. 

HABITAT.  Interior  of  North  America;  casually  east  of  the 
Alleghanies;  north  to  Great  Slave  Lake;  south  to  the  Bahamas 
and  West  Indies;  migrating  through  the  Mississippi  Yalley,  and 
•wintering  in  the  Gulf  States,  from  Texas  into  western  Florida 
and  southward. 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  569 

SP.  CHAR.  "Adult,  in  spring:  Head  (above)  chestnut  red;  rest  of  upper  parts 
brownish  olive  gray;  the  feathers  with  darker  centers,  the  color  brightening  on 
the  rump,  upper  tail  coverts,  and  outer  margins  of  wing  and  tail  feathers,  to 
greenish  yellow.  A  streak  from  nostril  over  the  eye,  and  under  parts  generally 
(including  the  tail  coverts),  bright  yellow;  paler  on  the  body.  A  maxillary  line; 
breast  and  sides  finely  but  rather  obsoletely  streaked  with  reddish  brown.  Cheeks 
brownish  (in  highest  spring  plumage  chestnut,  like  the  head);  the  eyelids  and 
spot  under  the  eye  olive  brown;  lores  dusky.  A  white  spot  on  the  inner  web  of 
the  outer  two  tail  feathers  at  the  end.  Sexes  nearly  alike.  Autumnal  males 
are  more  reddish  above;  under  parts  tinged  with  brown;  the  axillars  yellow. 
This  species  varies  considerably  in  different  stages,  but  can  generally  be  recog- 
nized. Immature  specimens  resemble  those  of  D.  tigrina,  but  differ  in  the 
chestnut  crown,  browner  back,  less  bright  rump,  brighter  yellow  of  under  tail 
coverts,  smaller  blotches  on  tail,  no  white  bands  on  the  wings,  etc.,  as  well  as  in 
the  shape  of  the  bill." 

Stretch  of 
Length.          iving.          Wing.          Tail.        Tarsus.         Bill. 

Male 5.25  8.00          2.50         2.20          .78          .45 

Female...      5.15  7.75          2.40        2.00          .75  .42 

Iris  dark  brown;  bill  dusky,  the  under  sometimes  pale  at 
base;  legs,  feet  and  claws  olive  brown;  bottoms  of  feet  green- 
ish yellow. 

These  "Warblers  are  largely  terrestrial,  and  in  many  respects 
differ  from  most  of  the  family;  and  they  are  the  only  birds  of 
this  genus  that  nest  upon  the  ground.  They  are  social  in  their 
habits,  and  outside  of  their  breeding  grounds  assemble  together 
in  small  flocks,  and  in  their  search  for  food  often  associate  with 
the  Sparrows  and  Myrtle  Warblers.  Like  the  Pipits,  they  keep 
their  tails  vibrating  up  and  down,  especially  as  they  run  about 
on  the  ground  and  hop  from  bush  to  bush;  busy  little  bodies, 
that  are  ever  on  the  move. 

During  the  early  spring,  when  insect  life  is  most  abundant 
among  the  unfolding  leaves  and  buds,  I  have  occasionally  seen 
them  in  the  treetops,  but  their  natural  haunts  are  within  the 
straggling  shrubby  growths  on  grassy  lands,  in  waste  fields, 
orchards,  etc. 

Their  song  is  but  a  feeble  effort,  a  grasshopper  trill,  and  their 
ordinary  call  note  a  low  '  'Chip, ' '  but  when  alarmed  it  is  uttered 
in  a  sharp,  shrill  manner. 

I  have  never  met  with  the  birds  in  their  summer  homes. 
They  are  supposed  to  nest  wholly  north  of  the  United  States, 


570  HISTORY  OF   THE 

but  their  breeding  limits  are  but  little  known.  Mr.  Brewer,  in 
"North  American  Land  Birds,"  gives  the  following  descrip- 
tion of  their  nest  and  eggs  (this  was  before  the  separation  of 
the  eastern  representative,  D.  palmar um  hypochrysea,  but  the 
locality  identifies  the  nest  and  eggs): 

"The  Palm  Warbler  usually  selects  for  the  site  of  its  nest  the 
edge  of  a  s\v;unpy  thicket,  more  or  less  open,  placing  it  invari- 
ably upon  the  ground.  This  is  usually  not  large,  about  three 
and  a  half  inches  in  diameter  and  two  and  a  half  in  depth,  the 
diameter  and  depth  of  the  cavity  each  averaging  only  half  an 
inch  less.  The  walls  are  compact,  and  elaborately  constructed 
of  an  interweaving  of  various  fine  materials,  chiefly  fine  dry 
grass,  slender  strips  of  bark,  stems  of  the  smaller  plants,  hyp- 
num,  and  other  mosses.  Within,  the  nest  is  warmly  and  softly 
lined  with  down  and  feathers. 

"Mr.  Kennicott  met  with  a  nest  of  this  bird  at  Fort  Resolu- 
tion, June  18th.  It  was  on  the  ground,  on  a  hummock  at  the  foot 
of  a  small  spruce,  in  a  swamp.  When  found,  it  contained  five 
young  birds. 

"Their  eggs  are  of  a  rounded  oval  shape,  and  measure. 70  of 
an  inch  in  length  by  .55  in  breadth.  Their  ground  color  is  a 
yellowish  or  creamy  white,  and  their  blotches,  chiefly  about  the 
larger  end,  are  a  blending  of  purple,  lilac  and  reddish  brown." 

Dendroica  discolor  (VIEILL.). 

PRAIRIE  WARBLER. 
PLATE  XXXH. 

Summer  resident  in  eastern  Kansas;  rare.  Arrive  the  last 
of  April  to  first  of  May;  begin  laying  the  last  of  May;  leave 
early  in  September. 

B.  210.     R.  114.     C.  127.     G.  52,     291.     U.  673. 

HABITAT.  Eastern  United  States;  north  to  southern  New  Eng- 
land and  Michigan;  west  into  Nebraska  and  Kansas;  breeds  in 
suitable  localities  throughout  its  United  States  range;  winters 
in  Florida  and  the  West  Indies. 

SP.  CHAR.  "Spring  male:  Above,  uniform  olive  green;  the  interscapular 
region  with  chestnut  red  centers  to  feathers;  under  parts  and  sides  of  the  head, 
including  a  broad  superciliary  line  from  the  nostrils  to  a  little  behind  the  eye. 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  571 

bright  yellow,  brightest  anteriorly.  A  well  defined  narrow  stripe  from  the 
commissure  of  the  mouth  through  the  eye,  and  another  from  the  same  point 
curving  gently  below  it,  also  a  series  of  streaks  on  each  side  of  the  body,  extend- 
ing from  the  throat  to  the  flanks,  black.  Quills  and  tail  feathers  brown,  edged 
with  white;  the  terminal  half  of  the  inner  web  of  the  first  and  second  tail  feath- 
ers white;  two  yellowish  bauds  on  the  wings.  Female:  Similar,  but  duller; 
the  dorsal  streaks  indistinct.  Autumnal  specimens  have  the  plumage  more 
blended,  but  the  markings  not  changed.  A  young  male  in  autumnal  dress  is 
wholly  brownish  olive  green  above,  the  whole  wing  uniform;  the  forehead  ashy, 
the  markings  about  the  head  rather  obsolete;  the  chestnut  spots  on  the  back 
and  the  black  ones  on  the  sides  nearly  concealed." 

Stretch  of 
Length.          iving.         Wing.         Tail.          Tarsus.          Bill. 

Male 4.80  7.00         2.20         2.00          .70          .43 

FemaL'...      4.70  6.80         2.15         1.90          .70          .40 

Iris  brown;  bill,  legs,  feet  and  claws  dark  olive  brown;  bot- 
toms of  feet  dull  greenish  yellow. 

These  small  Warblers  inhabit  the  shrubby  oak  growths  upon 
the  prairies,  waste  fields,  orchards,  and  bushy,  weedy  growths 
bordering  the  woodlands,  seldom  entering  the  thick  woods  or 
visiting  the  shrubbery  about  our  dwellings.  I  have  never  found 
them  abundant  anywhere,  or  in  flocks  beyond  family  groups; 
usually  alone  or  in  pairs.  A  rather  silent  bird,  uttering  now 
and  then  a  "Chip"  or  "Chirr"  note.  They  are  very  active, 
ever  on  the  move,  making  short,  wavy  flights,  and  hopping  about 
among  the  branches  or  bushes  and  weeds  in  search  of  food, 
occasionally  darting  a  short  distance  to  capture  a  passing  insect. 
I  have  never  seen  one  searching  for  food  on  the  ground,  as 
some  writers  say  they  do,  and  I  had  a  very  good  opportunity, 
in  the  winter  of  1885,  to  observe  the  birds  along  the  southwest 
coast  of  Florida,  where  they  seemed  to  be  the  most  common  in 
the  thick,  moist  growths,  in  marked  contrast  with  iheir  habits 
in  their  northern  summer  homes. 

Their  song  is  a  peculiar  musical  trill.  It  commences  low, 
ascends  rapidly,  and  ends  with  a  rising  inflection. 

Their  nests  are  placed  in  upright  forks  of  slender  branches  of 
bushes  and  low  trees,  from  two  to  eight  feet  from  the  ground; 
a  rather  compact  structure,  composed  of  soft  fibrous  strippings 
from  plants,  grasses,  leaves,  a  few  feathers,  etc.,  and  lined  with 
downy  vegetable  matter,  fine  grasses,  rootlets  and  hairs.  Eggs 


572  HISTORY  OF  THE 

three  to  five  —  seldom  five,  usually  four;  white,  thickly  spotted 
with  lilac,  purple  and  umber  to  vandyke  brown;  in  form;  oval. 
A  set  of  four  eggs,  collected  at\Newtonville,  Mass.,  June  22d, 
1879,  from  a  nest  in  upright  forks  of  a  hazel  bush,  are,  in  di- 
mensions: .65x.48,  .65x.50,  .66x.50,  .70x.50. 

GENTTS  SEIURUS  SWAINSON. 

"  Bill  rather  sylvicoline,  compressed,  with  a  distinct  notch;  gonys  ascending; 
rictal  bristles  very  short;  wings  moderate,  about  three-quarters  of  an  inch  longer 
than  the  tail,  first  quill  scarcely  shorter  than  the  second;  tail  slightly  rounded, 
feathers  acuminate;  tarsi  about  as  long  as  the  skull,  considerably  exceeding  the 
middle  toe;  under  tail  coverts  reaching  within  about  half  an  inch  of  the  end  of 
the  tail;  color  above  olivaceous,  beneath  whitish,  thickly  streaked  on  the  breast 
and  sides;  wings  and  tail  immaculate.  Nest  on  the  ground,  often  arched  or 
sheltered  by  position  or  dry  leaves.  Eggs  white,  marked  with  red,  brown  and 
purple. 

"This  genus  is  decidedly  sylvicoline  in  general  appearance,  although  the  spots 
on  the  breast  resemble  somewhat  those  of  the  Thrushes." 

Seiurus  aurocapillus  (LINN.). 

OVEN-BIRD. 
PLATE  XXXIIL 

Summer  resident;  very  common  in  the  eastern  part  of  the 
State.  Arrive  the  middle  to  last  of  April;  begin  laying  about 
the  middle  of  May;  leave  early  in  September. 

B.  186.     R.  115.     C.  135.     G.  53,     292.     U.  674. 

HABITAT.  Eastern  North  America;  north  to  Hudson's  Bay 
Territory  and  Alaska;  west  to  the  base  of  the  Rocky  Mountains; 
breeding  from  southern  Kansas  and  Virginia  (probably  a  little 
south)  north  to  within  the  Arctic  circle;  wintering  in  southern 
Florida,  the  Bahamas,  West  Indies  and  Mexico  to  southern  Cen- 
tral America. 

SP.  CHAR.  "Above,  uniform  olive  green,  with  a  tinge  of  yellow.  Crown 
with  two  narrow  streaks  of  black  from  the  bill,  enclosing  a  median  and  much 
broader  one  of  brownish  orange.  Beneath,  white;  the  breast,  sides  of  the  body 
and  a  maxiliary  line  streaked  with  black.  The  female  and  young  of  the  year 
are  not  appreciably  different." 

Mr.  Ridgway  says:  "Young:  Above,  fulvous  brown,  the  wing  coverts  tipped 
with  lighter  fulvous  or  buffy;  lower  parts  pale  fulvous  or  buffy,  very  narrowly 
streaked  on  breast,  etc.;  with  dusky  stripes  on  top  of  head  very  indistinct  or  ob- 
solete." 

Stretch  of 
Length.          -wing.  Wing.          Tail.         Tarsus.          Bill. 

Male 6.00  9.50          3.00         2.30          .86  .45 

Female..        5.80          9.00         2.80        2.25          .86          .45 


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.       BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  573 

Iris  dark  brown;   bill  —  upper  black,  under  pale  flesh  color, 
with  end  dusky;  legs  flesh  color;  feet  and  claws  light  brown. 

The  following  interesting  description  of   the  habits  of  this 
bird  is  taken  from  "Birds  of  Illinois,"  by  Ridgway: 

"The  Golden-crowned  Thrush,  or  Oven-bird,  is  one  of  the 
most  generally  distributed  and  numerous  birds  of  eastern  North 
America.  It  is  almost  certain  to  be  found  in  any  piece  of  wood- 
land, if  not  too  wet,  and  its  frequently  repeated  song,  which  is 
not  musical,  or  otherwise  particularly  attractive,  but  very  sharp, 
clear,  and  emphatic,  is  often,  particularly  during  noonday  in 
midsummer,  the  only  bird  note  to  be  heard.  It  lives  much  upon 
the  ground,  where  it  may  be  seen  walking  gracefully  over  the 
dead  leaves,  or  upon  an  old  log,  making  occasional  halts,  during 
which  its  body  is  tilted  daintily  up  and  down,  much  in  the  man- 
ner of  the  Water-Thrushes  (S.  motacilla  and  noveboracensis),  but 
more  like  the  Kentucky  Warbler,  often  to  be  seen  in  the  same 
localities.  Its  ordinary  note  is  a  rather  faint,  but  sharp  'Chip,' 
prolonged  into  a  chatter,  when  one  is  chased  by  another.  The 
usual  song  is  very  clear  and  penetrating,  but  not  musical,  and 
is  well  expressed  by  John  Burroughs,  in  'Wake  Robin,'  as 
sounding  like  the  words,  'Teacher,  teacher /  teacher,  teacher, 
TEACHER!' — the  accent  on  the  first  syllable,  and  each  word  ut- 
tered with  increased  force  and  shrillness.  But,  as  Mr.  Bur- 
roughs truly  says,  'He  has  far  rarer  song  which  he  reserves  for 
some  nymph  whom  he  meets  in  the  air.  Mounting  by  easy 
flights  to  the  top  of  the  tallest  tree,  he  launches  into  the  air  with 
a  sort  of  suspended,  hovering  flight,  and  bursts  into  a  perfect 
ecstacy  of  song — clear,  ringing,  copious,  rivaling  the  Goldfinch's 
in  vivacity,  and  the  Linnet's  in  melody.  This  strain  is  one  of 
the  rarest  bits  of  bird  melody  to  be  heard.  Over  the  woods, 
hid  from  view,  the  ecstatic  singer  warbles  his  finest  strains.  In 
the  song,  you  instantly  detect  his  relationship  to  the  Water 
Wagtail  (Seiurus  noveboracensis)  —  erroneously  called  Water- 
Thrush — whose  song  is  likewise  a  sudden  burst,  full  and  ring- 
ing, and  with  a  tone  of  youthful  joyousness  in  it,  as  if  the  bird 
had  just  had  some  unexpected  good  fortune.  For  nearly  two 
years,  this  strain  of  the  pretty  warbler  was  little  more  than  a 


HISTORY  OF  THE 

disembodied  voice  to  me,  and  I  was  puzzled  by  it  as  Thoreau 
was  by  his  mysterious  Night  Warbler,  which,  by  the  way,  I  sus- 
pect was  no  new  bird  at  all,  but  one  he  was  otherwise  familiar 
with.  The  little  bird  himself  seems  disposed  to  keep  the  matter 
secret,  and  improves  every  opportunity  to  repeat  before  you  his 
shrill,  accelerating  lay,  as  if  it  were  quite  enough,  and  all  he  laid 
claim  to.  Still,  I  trust  I  am  betraying  no  confidence  in  making 
the  matter  public  here.  I  think  this  is  preeminently  his  love 
song,  as  I  hear  it  oftenest  about  the  mating  season.  I  have 
caught  half-suppressed  bursts  of  it  from  two  males,  chasing  each 
other  with  fearful  speed  through  the  forest.'  " 

Reader,  if  you  wish  to  hear  this  love  song  in  its  fullest  power, 
visit  the  deep  woods  in  the  early  summer,  as  the  shades  of  night 
deepen,  and  most  of  the  diurnal  birds  have  retired,  for  it  is  then 
that  its  lively,  resonant  voice  falls  upon  the  ear  unbroken,  save  bj- 
the  silvery,  flute-like  song  of  the  Wood  Thrush;  and  if  your  heart 
does  not  thrill  with  pleasure,  it  is  dead  to  harmonious  sounds. 

Their  nests  are  placed  on  the  ground,  generally  a  depression 
among  the  leaves,  and  hidden  under  a  low  bush,  log,  or  over- 
hanging roots;  when  in  an  open  space,  roofed  over;  a  dome-like 
structure,  made  of  leaves,  strippings  from  plants,  and  grasses, 
with  entrance  on  the  side.  Eggs  three  to  six  —  rarely  six,  usu- 
ally four,  .80x.  60;  white,  or  creamy  white,  quite  glossy,  spotted 
as  a  rule  rather  sparingly  over  the  entire  surface,  thickest  and 
confluent  around  the  larger  end,  with  pale  reddish  brown,  lilac 
and  umber;  in  form,  rounded  oval. 

Seiurus  noveboracensis  notabilis  (GKINN.).* 

GRINNELL'S  WATER-THRUSH. 
PLATE  XXXIII. 

Migratory;  rare.  Arrive  the  last  of  April  to  first  of  May  (I 
have  several  times  met  with  the  birds  late  in  May);  return  early 
in  September;  occasionally  remain  until  the  last  of  October. 

B. .     R.  116a.     C.  137.     G.  54,     293.     U.  675a. 

HABITAT.  Western  North  America,  chiefly  in  interior;  east 
into  Mississippi  valley,  straggling  to  Illinois  and  Indiana,  etc. ; 
north  into  the  Arctic  regions.  Found  breeding  in  northern 

•Entered  in  my  "Catalogues  of  the  Birds  of  Kansas"  as  S.  noveboracensis. 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  575 

Alaska;  southern  breeding  limits  unknown;  probably  breed  in 
suitable  localities  from  the  northern  United  States  northward 
throughout  its  range;  south  in  winter  to  Lower  California, 
Mexico  and  Central  America.  (I  have  a  female  in  "The  Goss 
Ornithological  Collection,"  which  I  shot  February  llth,  1883, 
at  San  Jose,  Guatemala.) 

SP.  CHAK.  Above,  dark  grayish  brown,  the  feathers  of  the  pileum  with  in- 
distinctly darker  centers.  Beneath,  yellowish  white,  the  throat  thickly  spotted, 
and  the  breast  and  sides  heavily  streaked,  with  blackish  dusky;  a  superciliary 
stripe  of  pale  fulvous;  a  dusky  stripe  along  upper  edge  of  the  auriculars. 
Lores  orossed  by  a  distinct  streak  of  black.  Center  of  the  abdomen  immacu- 
late; lower  tail  coverts  with  central  streaks  of  grayish  dusky;  lining  of  the 
wing  smoky  gray.  The  plumage  of  the  typical  specimen  of  this  bird  is  in  all 
respects,  so  far  as  I  can  see,  quite  identical  with  that  of  ordinary  darker  plum- 
aged  specimens  of  S.  noveboracensis,  such  as  occur  more  commonly  west  of  the 
Alleghanies,  except  that  the  superciliary  stripe  does  not  extend  so  far  back  and 
the  streaks  on  the  breast  are  broader;  the  former  character  may  be  merely  ap- 
parent, however,  and  owing  to  the  "make-up"  of  the  skin.  (Ridgway.) 

Stretch  of 
Length.          wing.  Wing.         Tail.        Tarsus.          Bill. 

Male 6.15          9.80          3.10         2.15          .82  .50 

Female 5.90  9.40         2.90        2.00          .82  .50 

Iris  dark  brown;  bill  brownish  black,  under  pale  at  base; 
legs,  feet  and  claws  pale  brown. 

These  terrestial  birds  frequent  the  low  woodlands  bordering 
streams  and  ponds.  I  have  never  met  with  them  on  high 
grounds,  nor  far  from  water.  They  move  about  with  a  graceful 
step,  almost  continually  vibrating  their  tails,  like  the  Pipits, 
and  for  this  reason  are  usually  known  as  Wagtails.  They  feed 
chiefly  upon  the  small  forms  of  aquatic  life,  and  often  wade 
about  in  the  water  in  search  of  the  same. 

Their  call  note  is  a  Sparrow-like  "Chip;"  their  song,  quite 
loud,  clear  and  musical.  I  have  never  met  with  the  birds  on 
their  breeding  grounds.  The  following  description  of  their 
nests,  etc.,  is  taken  from  Mr.  Nelson's  "Keport  upon  Natural 
History  Collections  in  Alaska:" 

"At  Fort  Yukon,  Dall  found  a  nest  containing  two  eggs,  in 
a  bushy  spruce,  on  the  first  of  June;  but  he  saw  none  of  the 
birds  at  Nulato,  and  considered  it  uncommon.  My  own  ex- 
perience at  the  Yukon  mouth  proves  the  bird  to  be  one  of  the 


576  HISTORY  OF   THE 

commonest  species  breeding  at  that  place.  Its  favorite  haunts, 
in  the  midst  of  dense  thickets,  shelter  it  from  the  observation  of 
one  not  accustomed  to  its  song,  which,  however,  is  one  of  the 
most  striking  that  reaches  the  ear  of  the  traveler  in  that  region; 
but  the  songster,  perched  on  some  low  branch,  is  quick  to  take 
alarm,  and  skulks  away  beyond  the  sight  of  one  penetrating  its 
haunts. 

4  'At  Fort  Yukon,  Lockhart  shot  a  bird  from  its  nest  on  June 
21st.  This  nest  was  concealed  under  a  small  pile  of  drift  close 
to  the  river  bank,  under  a  large  willow  tree.  Another  nest  ta- 
ken near  by  was  similarly  placed,  and  made  of  moss,  lined  with 
very  fine  grass.  In  the  National  Museum  Collection  is  a  nest 
containing  five  eggs,  from  Peale's  River,  which  is  composed  of 
moss  and  grass,  and  lined  with  mouse  and  rabbit  fur.  There  are 
also  other  eggs  in  the  same  collection,  which  were  obtained  from 
Fort  Yukon  during  the  middle  of  June." 

I  am  indebted  to  Capt.  Chas.  Bendire  for  the  following  di- 
mensions of  the  set  of  eggs  from  Peale's  River:  .72x.  54,  .72x 
.  54,  .  72x.  54,  .  74x.  55,  .  78x.  56.  He  says  that  this  set  and  other 
eggs  of  this  bird  in  the  United  States  National  Museum  are  not 
distinguishable,  in  color  or  form,  from  the  eggs  of  S.  motacilla. 


Seiurus  motacilla  ( 

LOUISIANA  WATER-THRUSH. 
PLATE  XXXIIL 

Summer  resident;  common  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  State. 
Arrive  about  the  middle  of  April;  begin  laying  as  early  as  the 
8th  of  May;  remain  until  late  in  the  fall. 

B.  188.     R.  117.     C.  138.     G.  55,     294.     U.  676. 

HABITAT.  Eastern  United  States;  north  to  southern  New 
England  and  southern  Minnesota;  west  to  the  edge  of  the  Great 
Plains;  breeds  in  suitable  localities  throughout  its  United  States 
range;  winters  in  the  Gulf  States,  West  Indies,  eastern  Mexico, 
into  Central  America. 

SP.  CHAB.  "Bill  longer  than  skull.  Upper  parts  olive  brown,  with  a  shade 
of  greenish.  A  conspicuous  white  superciliary  line  from  the  bill  to  the  nape, 
involving  the  upper  lid,  with  a  brown  one  from  the  bill  through  the  eye,  widen- 
ing behind.  Under  parts  white,  with  a  very  faint  shade  of  pale  buff  behind, 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  577 

especially  on  the  tail  coverts.  A  dusky  maxillary  line;  the  fore  part  of  breast 
and  sides  of  body  with  arrow-shaped  streaks  of  the  same  color.  Chin,  throat, 
belly  and  under  tail  coverts  entirely  immaculate.  Sexes  similar.  Young  not 
seen. 

"Autumnal  specimens  have  a  more  or  less  strong  wash  of  ochraceous  over 
the  flanks  and  crissuin,  and  the  brown  above  rather  darker  and  less  grayish  than 
in  spring  birds." 

Stretch  of 
Length.  wing.          Wing.          Tail.         Tarsus.         Dill. 

Male 6.20          10.00         3.25         2.30          .90  .55 

Female...      6.00  9.75         3.15         2.15          .90  .53 

Iris  dark  brown;  bill  brownish  black  to  dusky;  legs,  feet  and 
claws  flesh  color. 

This  species,  like  Grinn ell's  Water  Thrush,  inhabits  the  low 
bottom,  timbered  lands  bordering  the  edges  of  water,  preferring 
running  streams;  a  shy,  retiring  bird,  that  runs  for  cover  the 
moment  it  sights  an  intruder,  but  is  so  restless  that,  if  you  will 
stand  motionless,  it  will  reappear  in  a  short  time  and  continue 
its  rambles  in  quest  of  food,  chiefly  insect  life,  minute  snails, 
etc.,  and  in  search  for  the  same  will  often  wade  until  its  body 
touches  the  water.  Its  motions  are  peculiar:  a  continued  tilting 
of  the  body  and  jerking  of  the  tail.  Its  flights  are  easy  and 
direct,  but  low,  and  usually  short.  It  is  one  of  our  earliest  and 
sweetest  songsters;  sings  from  the  perch,  with  tremulous  wings 
and  inflated  throat,  a  rich  and  almost  unrivaled  song  of  power 
and  melody.  Its  ordinary  note,  a  sharp  "Chip,"  is  often  heard. 

Their  nests  are  placed  on  the  ground,  under  projecting  roots, 
old  logs  and  fissures  in  rocks,  on  the  banks  of  streams  and  ponds, 
and  near  the  water's  edge.  They  are  composed  of  leaves  and 
mosses,  and  lined  with  fine  grasses,  fibers  and  hairs;  the  foun- 
dation is  wholly  of  leaves,  with  mud  generally  between  the  lay- 
ers to  hold  them  in  place.  Eggs  three  to  six  —  usually  four  or 
five,  ,76x. 59  (they  vary  in  size);  white  to  creamy  white,  spot- 
ted with  varying  shades  of  reddish  brown,  and  shell  stains  of 
lilac  gray,  usually  thickest  about  the  larger  end;  in  form,  oval 
to  rounded  oval. 

GENUS  GEOTHLYPIS  CABANIS. 

'•Bill  sylvlcoline,  rather  depressed,  and  distinctly  notched;  rictal  bristle* 
very  short  or  wanting.  Wings  short,  rounded,  scarcely  longer  than  the  tail; 
the  first  quill  shorter  than  the  fourth.  Tail  long,  much  rounded  or  graduated; 

— 37 


578  HISTORY  OF   THE 

legs  stout;  tarsi  elongated,  as  long  as  the  head;  olive  greeu  above,  belly  yellow; 
tail  feathers  immaculate." 

SUBGENUS  OPORORNIS  BAIRD. 

"Bill  sylvicoline,  rather  compressed;  distinctly  notched  at  tip;  rictal  bristles 
very  much  reduced;  wings  elongated,  pointed,  much  longer  than  tail;  the  first 
quill  nearly  or  quite  the  longest.  Tail  very  slightly  rounded;  tail  feathers  acu- 
minate, pointed;  the  under  coverts  reaching  to  within  less  than  half  an  inch  of 
their  tips.  Tarsi  elongated,  longer  than  the  head;  claws  large,  the  hinder  one 
as  long  as  its  digit,  and  longer  than  the  lateral  toes.  Above,  olive  green;  be- 
neath, yellow;  tail  and  wings  immaculate." 

Geothlypis  formosa  (WILS.). 

KENTUCKY  WARBLER. 
PLATE  XXXIII. 

Summer  resident;  common  in  eastern  Kansas.  Arrive  the 
last  of  April;  begin  laying  about  the  20th  of  May;  leave  the 
last  of  August  to  first  of  September. 

B.  175.     R.  119.     C.  140.     G.  56,     295.     U.  677. 

HABITAT.  Eastern  United  States,  chiefly  west  of  the  Allegha- 
nies;  north  to  southern  New  England  and  southern  Wisconsin; 
west  to  the  edge  of  the  Great  Plains;  south  in  winter  to  the 
West  Indies,  eastern  Mexico  and  southern  Central  America; 
breeds  throughout  its  United  States  range. 

SP.  CHAE.  Entire  lower  parts  pure  gamboge  yellow;  forehead  and  sides  of 
head  black,  with  a  bright  yellow  superciliary  stripe,  involving  hinder  as  well  as 
upper  border  of  eye;  feathers  of  crown  tipped  with  slate  gray.  (Sexes  alike  in 
color.)  Adult:  Above,  plain  bright  olive  green  (except  as  described  above);  be- 
neath, continuous  pure  gamboge  yellow;  in  winter  similar,  but  gray  tips  to 
feathers  on  top  of  head  more  tinged  with  brown,  and  black  on  side  of  head 
somewhat  obscured  by  grayish  brown  tips  to  the  feathers.  Young:  Above,  olive 
brown  (including  top  and  sides  of  head),  the  back  and  scapulars  more  de- 
cidedly brown;  wing  coverts  tipped  with  light  tawny  brown,  wings  otherwise, 
and  tail  as  in  adult;  beneath,  plain  light  dull  olive,  paler  and  more  yellowish 
posteriorly;  no  black  nor  yellow  on  sides  of  head.  (Ridgicay.) 

Stretch  of 
Length.  viing.          Wing.          Tail.        Tarsus.        Bill, 

Male 5.50  8.60         2.70         2.15          .87  .45 

Female...      5.15          8.10        2.50         1.90         .85          .42 

Iris  dark  brown;  bill  dark  brown,  with  under  pale  at  base; 
legs,  feet  and  claws  pale  flesh  color. 

This  large  Warbler  inhabits  the  lowland  thickets,  usually  near 
the  water,  and  prefers  for  its  haunts  the  dense  tmdergrowtha 


BlllDS  OF  KANSAS.  579 

in  the  timber.  A  shy,  retiring  bird,  that  seldom  visits  the 
open  woodlands,  and  being  preeminently  terrestrial,  rarely  ever 
mounts  into  the  upper  branches  of  the  trees,  and  is  only  to 
be  looked  for  in  the  low  bushes  and  on  the  ground;  and  were  it 
not  for  its  sharp  "Tsip,"  and  oft-repeated  loud  song  of  three 
notes,  "Tweedle,  tweedle,  tweedle,"  (that  sounds  much  like 
the  Maryland  Yellow-throat,)  its  presence  would  be  largely  over- 
looked, even  where  very  abundant,  as  it  generally  is  through- 
out its  range  in  the  Mississippi  valley. 

The  birds  are  very  active  and  restless,  running  about  over 
the  ground,  hopping  among  the  bushes,  climbing  the  weed 
stalks,  examining  the  old  moss-covered  logs  and  fallen  trees,  in 
quest  of  insect  life,  occasionally  eating  pokeberries  and  other 
small  berries  in  their  season.  In  habits  they  are  much  like  the 
Oven-bird  and  have  the  same  tilting  motions. 

Their  nests  are  placed  on  the  ground  and  artfully  concealed 
in  the  thick  growths.  The  outside  or  base  is  composed  of  a 
loose  structure  of  leaves,  stems  and  wide  blades  of  grass,  upon 
which  a  more  compact  inner  nest  is  built  of  the  finer  grasses, 
stems  and  rootlets,  and  lined  with  horse  hair.  Eggs,  usually 
four  or  five,  occasionally  six,  .72x.56;  white,  or  creamy  white, 
finely  dotted  with  umber,  reddish  brown  and  pale  lilac,  thickest 
about  the  larger  end;  in  form,  oval. 

SUBGENTJS  GEOTHLYPIS  CABANIS. 

Tail  not  decidedly  shorter  than  wing  (often  longer),  with  less  than  basal  half 
concealed  by  the  coverts;  first  quill  shorter  than  fifth  (often  shorter  than  sixth); 
outstretched  feet  falling  far  short  of  tip  of  tail.  (Ridgway. ) 

Geotblypis  Philadelphia  (WILS.)- 

MOURNING  WARBLER. 
PLATE  XXXIII. 

Migratory;  rare.  Arrive  about  the  middle  of  May;  return 
early  in  September,  and  leave  the  latter  part  of  the  month. 

B.  172.     R.  120.     C.  142.     G.  57,     296.     U.  679. 

HABITAT.  Eastern  North  America;  accidental  to  Greenland; 
west  to  the  Great  Plains;  breeding  in  the  higher  Alleghanies 
and  from  New  England  and  eastern  Dakota  northward;  south 


580  BISTORT  OF  THE 

in  winter  into  southern  Central  America.      (No  record  as  yet  of 
its  occurrence  in  the  West  Indies  or  Mexico.) 

SP.  CHAR.  No  white  on  eyelids,  (except  sometimes  a  slight  indication  in  fe- 
males or  immature  birds.)  Adult  male:  Head,  neck  and  chest  deep  ash  gray,  the 
throat  and  chest  more  or  less  mixed  with  black,  this  often  forming  a  distinct 
patch  posteriorly;  lores  dusky  or  dusky  grayish;  rest  of  lower  parts  pure  gam- 
boge yellow.  Adult  female:  Similar  to  male,  but  chin  and  throat  dull  whitish  or 
brownish  white  (sometimes  tinged  with  yellow);  the  chest  dull  ash  gray  or  gray- 
ish brown  (sometimes  inclining  to  dull  yellowish);  rest  of  head  and  neck  dull 
gray,  brownish  gray  or  olive.  Young,  in  first  autumn:  Similar  to  adult  female, 
but  more  tinged  with  brownish,  the  throat  and  chest  more  suffused  with  yellow- 
ish. (Ridgway.) 

Stretch  of 
Length,        wing.  Wing.  Tail.       Tarsus.       Bill. 

Male 5.50          8.00          2.45         2.20         .82         .43 

Female 5.25          7.75         2.35         1.95         .80        .42 

Iris  dark  brown;  bill  dusky,  with  basal  half  of  under  whitish; 
legs,  feet  and  claws  flesh  color. 

This  species  frequents  the  edges  of  low,  prairie  woodlands, 
bushes  and  weeds  bordering  ponds  and  marshy  places,  seldom 
entering  the  woods  or  tall  thickets.  A  rather  unsuspicious  bird, 
that  will  usually  allow  a  near  approach;  and,  as  a  rule,  rather 
silent,  occasionally  uttering  a  low  "Tsip."  Its  alarm  note  is, 
however,  a  harsh  Wren-like  scold.  I  never  heard  it  except  upon 
one  occasion,  when  I  was  attracted  to  the  bird  by  the  peculiar 
sound,  and  found  it  fluttering  about  with  ruffled  feathers,  in  a 
growth  of  sunflowers  at  the  edge  of  a  slough,  and  soon  discov- 
ered the  cause  —  a  medium-sized  water  snake.  The  bird  is  in 
' '  The  Goss  Ornithological  Collection. ' '  Location,  Neosho  Falls, 
Kansas;  date,  September  12,  1881. 

I  am  not  positive  that  I  ever  heard  its  song.  Mr.  Burroughs 
likens  it  to  that  of  the  Kentucky  Warbler,  and  Mr.  Maynard 
says:  "Its  song  is  much  finer  than  that  of  the  Maryland  Yellow- 
throat,  being  a  low,  clear  warble,  and  is  given  early  in  the  morn- 
ing, while  the  bird  is  perched  in  some  slightly-elevated  situa- 
tion." The  birds  are  very  similar  in  their  food,  habits  and 
actions  to  the  Western  Yellow-throat. 

Very  little  is  known  in  regard  to  their  nesting  habits.  Mr. 
Burroughs,  in  "Wake  Robin,"  describes  a  nest  found  near  the 
headwaters  of  the  Delaware  River,  in  New  York,  in  a  low  part 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  581 

of  the  woods,  where  the  larger  trees  began  to  give  place  to  a 
thick  second  growth  that  covered  an  old  "bark  peeling"  of 
hemlock  wood.  He  says:  "It  was  placed  but  a  few  feet  from 
the  maple  tree,  in  a  bunch  of  ferns,  and  about  six  inches  from 
the  ground.  It  was  quite  a  massive  nest,  composed  entirely  of 
the  stalks  and  leaves  of  dry  grass,  with  an  inner  lining  of  fine, 
dark-brown  roots.  The  eggs,  three  in  number,  were  of  light 
flesh  color,  uniformly  specked  with  fine  brown  specks.  The 
cavity  of  the  nest  was  so  deep  that  the  back  of  the  sitting  bird 
sank  below  the  edge." 

And  Mr.  Ridgway,  in  his  "Manual,"  says:  "Nest  near  the 
ground,  in  clumps  of  weeds,  often  in  open  places  in  mountains. 
Eggs  .71x. 53;  white,  or  buffy  white,  speckled  on  larger  end 
with  dark  brown  and  lilac  gray,  often  mixed  with  a  few  fine 
black  'pen  lines,'  and  sometimes  touched  with  rusty  stains. 
(  Much  like  the  eggs  of  G.  triclias. ) ' ' 

Geothlypis  trichas  occidentalis  BKEWST. 

WESTERN  YELLOW-THROAT. 
PLATE  XXXIII. 

Summer  resident;  abundant.  Arrive  from  the  middle  to  last 
of  April;  begin  laying  about  the  20th  of  May;  leave  during  the 
month  of  September. 

B. .     R.  .     C. .     G. ,     297.     U.  681a. 

HABITAT.  Western  United  States;  east  to  the  Mississippi  val- 
ley; north  to  the  British  possessions;  (Manitoba.  Setori);  south 
in  winter  from  the  southern  United  States,  through  Central  and 
western  Mexico,  to  Guatemala;  breeding  throughout  its  United 
States  range. 

SP.  CHAR,  of  G.  trichas.  Adult  male:  With  black  mask,  bordered  behind  by 
ashy  or  white.  Adult  female:  Without  any  black,  ashy  or  white  about  head, 
the  whole  top  and  sides  of  head  being  grayish  brown  or  olive,  often  tinged  with 
reddish  brown  on  crown;  yellow  of  lower  parts  paler,  and  usually  more  re- 
stricted than  in  male;  nearly  the  whole  lower  surface  sometimes  dull  yellowish 
white.  Adult  male,  in  winter:  Same  as  in  summer,  but  more  or  less  washed 
with  brown  above,  especially  on  top  of  head,  and  the  black  of  mask  somewhat 
obscured  by  slight  brownish  or  light-colored  tips  to  feathers,  and  light  grayish 
or  whitish  border,  more  or  less  concealed  by  brown  tips.  Young  male,  in  firxt 
winter:  Similar  to  adult,  but  mask  much  less  distinct,  often  merely  indicated. 
Young:  Plain  olive  above;  pale  olive  yellowish  beneath.  Lower  parts  not  en- 


582  HISTORY  OF  THE 

tirely  yellow;  the  anal  region,  at  least,  buffy  whitish,  and  flanks  either  dull 
buffy  whitish  or  brownish,  distinctly  different  from  color  of  belly;  wing  less 
than  2.40;  smaller  and  duller  in  color;  the  whole  belly  and  sides  buffy  whitish, 
the  bright  yellow  being  confined  to  chin,  throat,  chest,  breast  and  under  tail  cov- 
erts; black  mask  bordered  posteriorly  by  a  band  (usually  narrow)  of  light  ashy 
gray.  (Rid '{/way.} 

This  subspecies,  G.  triehas  occidentalism  differs  from  the  above  description  in 
being  larger  and  brighter  colored,  the  lower  parts  entirely  bright  yellow,  except 
anal  region  and  flanks;  black  mask  bordered  posteriorly  by  a  band  (usually 
broad)  of  white  or  grayish  white;  yellow  of  throat,  etc.,  richer,  and  olive  green 
of  posterior  upper  parts  more  yellowish.  (Ridgway.) 

Stretch  of 
Length.        wing.         Wing.          Tail.       Tarsia.       Bill. 

Male 5.30         7.10        2.30        2.30        .80        .45 

Female 4.90        6.75        2.15        2.15         .78        .42 

Iris  brown;  bill  dusky,  under  usually  pale  at  base;  legs,  feet 
and  claws  pale  brown  to  flesh  color. 

These  pretty  birds  are  quite  common  throughout  their  range. 
They  frequent  the  low,  weedy  thickets  and  brier  patches,  pre- 
ferring the  small  growths  fringing  the  shallow  streams,  or  bor- 
dering prairie  sloughs.  They  are  not  naturally  timid  or  shy, 
but  a  restless,  active  bird,  ever  upon  the  move,  hopping  about 
in  the  bushes,  climbing  the  weed  stalks,  and  searching  among 
the  leaves  and  upon  the  ground  for  insect  life  (chiefly  leaf  eat- 
ers), stopping  now  and  then  to  take  a  peep  at  an  intruder,  at 
such  times  often  uttering  a  rather  harsh,  scolding  note,  very 
different  from  its  ordinary  "Chup." 

The  males  during  the  breeding  season  cheer  their  mates  with 
a  pretty  song,  "Whichitee,  whichitee,  whichitee,"  and  in  the 
early  part  of  the  time,  when  full  of  love  and  vigor,  occasionally 
pour  forth  their  song  in  the  air,  rising  a  short  distance  above 
the  growths,  and  dropping  back  with  dangling  legs  and  a  pecu- 
liar jerky  motion  of  the  wings  and  tail. 

Their  nests  are  usually  placed  on  the  ground,  but  I  have 
found  them  in  bushes,  two  or  three  feet  from  the  ground.  They 
are  composed  outside  loosely  of  leaves  and  grasses;  inside,  of 
wire-like  stems  from  plants  and  rootlets  nicely  interwoven  to- 
gether. Eggs  four  or  five  (occasionally  six),  .68x.  50.  They  vary 
greatly  in  size  and  distribution  of  the  markings;  the  ground  color 
is  clear  white  to  creamy  white,  spotted  and  sometimes  blotched 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  583 

with  umber,  reddish  to  very  dark  brown  and  obscure  lilac,  thick- 
est around  the  larger  end;  in  form,  oval. 

GEN-US  ICTERIA  VIEILT.OT. 

"Bill  broad  at  base,  but  contracting  rapidly  and  becoming  attenuated  when 
viewed  from  above;  high  at  the  base  (higher  than  broad  opposite  the  nostrils); 
the  culmen  and  commissure  much  curved  from  the  base;  the  goiiys  straight. 
Upper  jaw  deeper  than  the  lower;  bill  without  notch  or  rictal  bristles.  Nostrils 
circular,  edged  above  with  membrane,  the  feathers  close  to  their  borders.  Wings 
shorter  than  tail,  considerably  rounded;  first  quill  rather  shorter  than  the  sixth. 
Tail  moderately  graduated;  feathers  rounded  but  narrow.  Middle  toe,  without 
claw,  about  two-thirds  the  length  of  tarsus,  which  has  the  scutella  fused  exter- 
nally in  part  into  one  plate." 

Icteria  virens  (LINN.). 

YELLOW-BREASTED  CHAT. 
PLATE  XXXHI. 

Summer  resident;  abundant  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  State. 
Arrive  the  last  of  April  to  first  of  May;  begin  laying  about  the 
middle  of  May;  leave  the  last  of  August  to  first  of  September. 

B.  176.     K.  123.     C.  144.     G.  59,     298.     U.  683. 

HABITAT.  Eastern  United  States;  north  to  southern  New  Eng- 
land, Ontario,  Iowa  (Minnesota?);  west  to  the  edge  of  the  plains; 
breeding  throughout  its  United  States  range;  south  in  winter 
through  eastern  Mexico  to  Guatemala. 

SP.  CHAR.  Third  and  fourth  quills  longest;  second  and  fifth  little  shorter; 
first  nearly  equal  to  the  sixth;  tail  graduated;  upper  parts  uniform  olive  green; 
under  parts,  including  the  inside  of  wing,  gamboge  yellow  as  far  as  nearly  half 
way  from  the  point  of  the  bill  to  the  tip  of  the  tail;  rest  of  under  parts  white, 
tinged  with  brown  on  the  sides;  the  outer  side  of  the  tibia  plumbeous;  a  slight 
tinge  of  orange  across  the  breast.  Forehead  and  sides  of  the  head  ash,  the  lores 
and  region  below  the  eye  blackish;  a  white  stripe  from  the  nostrils  over  the  eye 
and  involving  the  upper  eyelid;  a  patch  on  the  lower  lid,  and  a  short  stripe 
from  the  side  of  the  lower  mandible,  and  running  to  a  point  opposite  the  hinder 
border  of  the  eye,  white.  Female  like  the  male,  but  smaller;  the  markings  in- 
distinct; the  lower  mandible  not  pure  black.  Both  sexes  in  winter  apparently 
have  the  base  of  lower  mandible  light  colored,  the  olive  more  brown,  the  sides 
and  crissum  with  a  strong  ochraceous  tinge.  First  plumage:  Kemiges,  rectrices, 
etc.,  as  in  the  adult.  Head,  superiorly  and  laterally,  uniform  grayish  olive,  with 
a  barely  appreciable  whitish  supraloral  line  and  orbital  ring  and  without  black 
markings.  Whole  throat  pale  ash  gray  (almost  white  to  the  chin),  stained  later- 
ally and  anteriorly  with  yellow;  entire  breast  gamboge  yellow,  obscured  with 
olivaceous  gray  across  the  jugulum  (probably  entirely  gray  at  first,  the  yellow 
feathers  being  probably  the  beginning  of  the  first  moult);  abdomen  white;  flanks 
and  crissum  pale  buff.  (Ridgicay.) 


584  HISTORY  OF   THE 

Stretch  of 
Length.  wing.          Wing.          Tail.         Tarsus.         Bill. 

Male 7.35         10.00          3.20         3.20         1.00          .53 

Female...      7.10  9.70          3.10         3.10         1.00          .53 

Iris  brown;  bill  black;  sometimes  the  under  is  pale  bluish  at 
base;  legs  and  feet  dark  blue;  claws  horn  blue. 

These  peculiar  birds  inhabit  the  tangled  thickets  along  the 
prairie  streams,  and  dense  low  undergrowths  in  the  open  woods. 
They  subsist  chiefly  upon  beetles  and  other  forms  of  insects, 
and  berries  in  their  season.  During  the  fall  and  winter  months 
they  are  shy  and  silent,  but,  in  the  early  part  of  the  breeding- 
season,  very  noisy  and  eccentric  in  their  actions.  They  are 
happily  described  by  Audubon,  as  follows: 

"As  in  other  migratory  species,  the  males  precede  the  females 
several  days.  As  soon  as  they  have  arrived,  they  give  free  vent 
to  their  song  at  all  hours  of  the  day,  renewing  it  at  night  when 
the  weather  is  calm  and  the  moon  shines  brightly,  seeming  in- 
tent on  attracting  the  females  by  repeating  in  many-varied  tones 
the  ardency  of  their  passion.  Sometimes  the  sounds  are  scarcely 
louder  than  a  whisper;  now  they  acquire  strength;  deep  guttural 
notes  roll  in  slow  succession,  as  if  produced  by  the  emotion  of 
surprise;  then  others,  clear  and  sprightly,  glide  after  each  other, 
until  suddenly,  as  if  the  bird  had  become  confused,  the  voice 
becomes  a  hollow  bass.  The  performer  all  the  while  looks  as 
if  he  were  in  the  humor  of  scolding,  and  moves  from  twig  to 
twig  among  the  thickets  with  so  much  activity,  and  in  so  many 
directions,  that  the  notes  reach  the  ear,  as  it  were,  from  opposite 
places  at  the  same  moment.  Now  the  bird  mounts  in  the  air, 
in  various  attitudes,  with  its  legs  and  feet  hanging,  while  it  con- 
tinues its  song  and  jerks  its  body  with  great  vehemence,  per- 
forming the  strangest  and  most  whimsical  gesticulations;  the 
next  moment  it  returns  to  the  bush.  If  you  imitate  its  song,  it 
follows  your  steps  with  caution,  and  responds  to  each  of  your 
calls,  now  and  then  peeping  at  you  for  a  moment,  the  next  quite 
out  of  sight.  Should  you  have  a  dog  which  will  enter  its  briery 
retreat,  it  will  skip  about  him,  scold  him,  and  frequently  perch  or 
rise  on  wing  above  the  thicket,  so  that  you  may  easily  shoot  it. 

"The  arrival  of  the  females  is  marked  bv  the  redoubled  exer- 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  535 

tions  of  the  males,  who  now  sing  as  if  delirious  with  the  pleasur- 
able sensations  they  experience.  Before  ten  days  have  elapsed, 
the  pair  begin  to  construct  their  nest,  which  is  placed  in  any 
sort  of  bush  or  brier,  seldom  more  than  six  feet  from  the  ground, 
and  frequently  not  above  two  or  three.  It  is  large,  and  com- 
posed externally  of  dry  leaves,  small  sticks,  strips  of  vine  bark 
and  grasses,  the  interior  being  formed  of  fibrous  roots  and  horse 
hair." 

Eggs  three  to  five  (normally  four),  .89x.67;  glossy  or  pink- 
ish white,  minutely  spotted  and  sometimes  blotched  with  different 
shades  of  reddish  brown  and  lilac  gray,  thickest  and  often  form- 
ing a  wreath  around  the  larger  end.  They  vary  greatly  in  form, 
size,  and  in  the  amount  of  markings. 

Icteria  virens  longicauda  (LAWR.). 

LONG-TAILED  CHAT. 

Summer  resident  in  the  western  part  of  the  State;  not  uncom- 
mon. Arrive  early  in  May;  begin  laying  about  the  20th  of  May; 
leave  in  August. 

B.  177.     R.  123a.     C.  145.     G. ,     299.     U.  683a. 

HABITAT.  Western  United  States;  east  to  the  eastern  edge 
of  the  Great  Plains;  south  into  Mexico;  breeding  throughout 
its  United  States  range. 

SP.  CHAR.  "Above,  olive  gray;  the  white  malar  stripe,  wings  and  tail  longer 
than  I.  virens;  in  other  respects  similar." 

Stretch  of 
Length.          -wing.          Wing.          Tail.        Tarsus.         Bill. 

Male 7.50          10.10         3.25         3.50         1.00          .55 

Female...      7.25  9.85         3.15         3.30         1.00          .55 

Iris  brown;  bill  and  claws  black;  legs  and  feet  dark  olive 
brown. 

This  western  form  of  the  Yellow-breasted  Chat  is  precisely 
similar  in  habits  and  actions.  In  my  "Revised  Catalogue  of  the 
Birds  of  Kansas,"  I  stated  that  their  notes  and  song  were  slightly 
different.  In  this  I  think  I  was  mistaken. 

The  voice  of  the  Chat  is  varied  and  peculiar,  and  its  tone 
and  accent  depend  largely  upon  the  vigor  of  the  bird. 

Their  nesting  places,  nests  and  eggs  are  also  correspondingly 
alike. 


586  HISTORY  OF  THE 

GENUS  SYLVANIA  NUTTALL. 

"Bill  broad,  depressed;  the  lateral  outlines  a  little  concave;  the  bristles 
reaching  not  quite  half  way  from  nostrils  to  tip.  Culmen  and  commissure 
nearly  straight  to  near  the  tip.  Nostrils  oval,  with  membrane  above.  Wings 
pointed,  rather  longer  than  the  nearly  even  but  slightly  rounded  tail;  first  quill 
shorter  than  the  fourth,  much  longer  than  the  fifth;  the  second  and  third  quills 
longest.  Tarsi  rather  lengthened,  scutellar  divisions  rather  indistinct;  the 
middle  toe,  without  claw,  about  three-fifths  the  tarsus. 

"This  genus  is  distinguished  from  Setophaga  mainly  by  stouter  feet  and 
longer  toes,  shorter  and  more  even  tail,  narrower  bill,  etc.  The  species  are  de- 
cidedly rnuscicapine  in  general  appearance,  as  shown  by  the  compressed  bill 
with  bristly  rictus.  The  type  (8.  mitrata)  is  very  similar  in  character  of  bill  to 
Dendroica  castanea,  but  the  wings  are  much  shorter;  the  tail  longer  and  more 
graduated;  the  legs  and  hind  toe  longer,  and  the  first  primary  shorter  than  the 
fourth  (.15  of  an  inch  less  than  the  longest),  not  almost  equal  to  the  longest. 
The  species  are  plain  olive  plumbeous  above,  and  yellow  beneath." 

Sylvania  mitrata  (GMEL.). 

HOODED  WARBLER. 
PLATE  XXXIII. 

Summer  resident  in  eastern  Kansas.  I  have  never  met  with 
the  birds  in  the  middle  or  western  part  of  the  State.  Arrive 
the  last  of  April;  begin  laying  the  last  of  May;  leave  during 
the  month  of  September. 

B.  211.     K.  124.     C.  146.     G.  60,     300.     U.  684. 

HABITAT.  Eastern  United  States;  north  to  Connecticut,  .New 
York,  Iowa,  etc. ;  west  to  eastern  Nebraska  and  Texas;  south  in 
winter  to  the  West  Indies,  eastern  Mexico  and  southern  Central 
America.  Probably  breeds  throughout  its  United  States  range. 

SP.  CHAR.  Wing  without  any  markings.  Upper  parts  olive  green.  Inner 
webs  of  outer  tail  feathers  with  white  patches.  Adult  male:  Forehead  and  ear 
coverts  gamboge  yellow;  rest  of  head  and  neck,  including  chest,  uniform  deep 
black;  rest  of  lower  parts  pure  gamboge  yellow.  Adult  female:  Similar  to  the 
male,  but  with  black  of  head  usually  much  less  distinct,  sometimes  wholly  ab- 
sent, that  of  upper  portions  being  replaced  by  olive  green,  that  of  the  throat, 
etc.,  by  gamboge  yellow.  Young,  in  first  autumn:  Similar  to  adult  female, 
without  black  on  head.  (Ridgway.) 

Stretch  of 
Length.  wing.          Wing.          Tail.         Tarsus.         Bill. 

Male 5.25  8.25          2.65         2.35          .77  .40 

Female...      5.00  7.90          2.50        2.30          .76  .38 

Iris  brown;  bill  black;  legs  and  feet  pale  flesh  color;  claws 
light  bluish  white. 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  587 

These  beautiful  flycatching  Warblers  frequent  the  thickets  and 
rank,  weedy  growths  fringing  the  streams,  the  undergrowths  in 
open  woods,  and  swampy  grounds  in  the  canebrakes  and  rushes. 
They  seldom  visit  the  habitations  of  man,  preferring  the  unfre- 
quented and  secluded  places.  They  live  almost  wholly  in  the 
bushes  and  lower  branches  of  the  trees,  occasionally  visiting  the 
upper  branches,  especially  when  the  trees  are  budding  and  in 
blossom.  A  lively,  graceful  bird,  that  has  somewhat  the  habits 
of  the  Redstart  in  spreading  and  closing  the  tail,  but  is  less  ner- 
vous and  flitty.  Upon  the  wing,  they  glide  swiftly  and  easily, 
and  are  expert  flycatchers  —  in  fact,  subsist  chiefly  upon  insects 
caught  in  the  air;  failing  to  catch  at  the  first  dash,  instead  of  re- 
turning to  their  perch,  like  most  of  the  family,  they  follow  the 
insect  in  its  windings  until  captured. 

During  the  early  breeding  season,  the  males  enliven  the  woods 
with  their  familiar  song.  Mr.  Langille,  in  "Our  Birds  in  their 
Haunts,"  says  that  the  birds  have  two  distinct  songs,  which  he 
thus  describes:  "'Cheree,  cheree,  cheree,  chi-di-ee'  —  the  first 
three  notes  with  a  loud,  bell-like  ring,  and  the  rest  in  very  much 
accelerated  time,  and  with  the  falling  inflection."  This  one  I 
have  often  heard,  the  following  never:  "A  strange,  whistling 
melody,  'Whee-ree,  whee-ree-eeh,'  with  a  marked  emphasis  on 
the  second  syllable,  and  a  still  more  marked  one  on  the  last. 
Part  of  the  time  this  utterance  was  somewhat  varied,  a  few  notes 
being  sometimes  added,  and  again  a  few  dropped."  Their  call, 
or  alarm  note,  "Tship,"  is  clear  and  sharp. 

Their  nests  are  built  in  low  bushes,  on  bottom  and  marshy 
lands.  They  are  composed  of  leaves,  strippings  from  plants 
and  vines,  grasses,  interwoven  with  a  cotton-like  substance,  and 
occasionally  spider  webs,  and  lined  with  fine,  hair-like  stems. 
Eggs  three  to  five  (usually  four),  .  70x.52;  white  or  pale  yellow- 
ish white,  speckled  or  spotted  chiefly  around  the  larger  end  with 
reddish  brown  and  pale  lilac,  with  occasionally  blackish  specks; 
in  form,  oval  to  rounded  oval.  (They  vary  in  size  and  in 
amount  of  markings.) 


588  HISTORY  OF  THE 

Sylvania  pusilla  (WILS.). 

WILSON'S  WARBLER. 
PLATE  XXXIII. 

Migratory;  common.  Arrive  the  last  of  April  to  the  first  of 
May;  begin  to  return  the  last  of  August;  leave  in  September. 

B.  213.     R.  125.     C.  147.     G.  61,     301.     U.  685. 

HABITAT.  Eastern  and  northern  North  America;  north  to 
Hudson's  Bay  Territory  and  Alaska;  west  to  and  including  the 
Rocky  Mountains  (replaced  on  the  Pacific  coast  north  to  south- 
ern Alaska  by  S.  pusilla  pileolata) ;  breeding  from  the  northern 
United  States,  and  in  the  higher  Rocky  Mountains  south,  north- 
ward to  the  Arctic  coast;  south  in  winter,  through  eastern  Mex- 
ico, into  southern  Central  America. 

SP.  CHAR.  "Forehead,  line  over  and  around  the  eye,  and  under  parts  gener- 
ally, bright  yellow.  Upper  parts  olive  green;  a  square  patch  on  the  crown  lus- 
trous black.  Sides  of  body  and  cheeks  tinged  with  olive.  No  white  on  wings 
or  tail.  Female  similar,  the  black  of  the  crown  replaced  by  olive  green." 

Young:  In  first  autumn,  without  the  black  on  crown;  other- 
wise similar. 

Stretch  of 
Length.         -wing.          Wing.         Tail.         Tarsus.        Bill. 

Male 5.00  7.00          2.25        2.15         .70  .35 

Female...      4.80  6.75          2.15         2.10          .70  .33 

Iris  dark  brown;  bill  —  upper  dusky,  under  pale;  legs,  feet 
and  claws  pale  brown;  bottoms  of  feet  greenish  yellow. 

This  little  black-capped  beauty  frequents  the  thickets  and 
undergrowths  in  open  woods,  preferring  for  its  haunts  the  wil- 
lows and  small  cottonwoods  fringing  the  streams,  where  it  hops 
restlessly  about  among  the  branches,  not  in  the  prying,  peeping 
manner  of  the  worm-eating  Warblers,  but  rather  upon  the  look- 
out for  winged  insects,  which  it  catches  largely  upon  the  wing, 
darting  off  to  snap  a  beetle  from  a  leaf  or  to  chase  a  fly;  a 
pretty,  graceful  bird,  that  in  its  movements  hops  and  glides 
about  with  scarcely  any  of  the  usual  fussy,  jerky  motions  of  its 
genus.  In  their  northward  flights,  the  males  enliven  the  air  with 
their  short,  soft,  pleasing  song,  which  Nuttall  says  resembles 
u'Tsh-'tsh-'tsh-'tshea;"  to  my  ear  it  sounds  more  like  "Zee- 
zee-zee-zee-e. "  But  it  is  impossible  to  convey  in  words  or  notes 
the  life-like,  thrilling  melody  of  song.  I  care  not  how  low  or 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  589 

humble  it  may  be,  it  has  a  soothing,  soul-stirring,  indescribable 
charm.  On  their  return  they  are  silent,  barring  their  feeble  call 
note,  "Tsip." 

I  have  met  with  the  birds,  in  the  early  summer  months,  in  the 
high  mountains  of  Colorado,  where  they  occasionally  breed,  but 
failed  to  find  their  nests.  They  are  placed  in  a  depression  in 
the  ground,  usually  beneath  a  bush,  and  are  composed  almost 
wholly  of  leaves  and  grasses,  and  lined  with  the  finer  grasses 
and  hairs.  Eggs  four  or  five,  .  60x.48;  white,  or  creamy  white, 
speckled  with  reddish  brown  and  pale  lavender,  thickest  about 
the  larger  end;  in  form,  oval. 

Sylvania  canadensis  (LINN.). 

CANADIAN  WARBLER. 
PLATE  XXXIII. 

Migratory  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  State;  rare.  Arrive  the 
last  of  April  to  first  of  May;  begin  to  return  in  August;  leave 
in  September. 

B.  214,     215.     R.  127.     C.  149.     G.  62,     302.     U.  686. 

HABITAT.  Eastern  North  America;  north  to  Newfoundland, 
southern  Labrador  and  Lake  Winnipeg;  west  to  Minnesota, 
eastern  Nebraska  and  Texas;  breeding  from  southern  New  Eng- 
land, Wisconsin,  etc.,  northward;  south  in  winter,  through  east- 
ern Mexico  and  Central  America,  into  northern  South  America. 

SP.  CHAR.  "Upper  parts  bluish  ash;  a  ring  round  the  eye,  with  a  line  run- 
ning to  the  nostrils,  and  the  whole  under  part  (except  the  tail  coverts,  which  are 
white),  bright  yeilow.  Centers  of  the  feathers  in  the  anterior  half  of  the  crown, 
the  cheeks,  continuous  with  a  line  on  the  side  of  the  neck  to  the  breast,  and  a 
series  of  spots  across  the  fore  part  of  the  breast,  black.  Tail  feathers  unspotted. 
Female  similar,  with  the  black  of  the  head  and  breast  less  distinct;  in  the  young 
obsolete." 

Stretch  of 
Length.  wing.          Wing.         Tail.         Tarsus.          Bill. 

Male 5.50  8.00         2.55         2.35          .75  .40 

Female...      5.25          7.65          2.40        2.20          .73  .38 

Iris  dark  brown;  bill  dusky,  pale  beneath;  legs  and  feet 
greenish  flesh  color;  claws  pale  brown. 

This  species  is  quite  common  east  of  the  Mississippi  River. 
Rather  retiring,  solitary  birds,  that  frequent  the  undergrowths 
in  the  deep,  low  woodlands,  preferring  for  their  haunts  the 


590  HISTORY  OF  THE 

tamarack  swamps  in  the  valleys,  and  the  moist,  springy  lands 
upon  the  hills  and  mountain  sides.  In  other  respects  they  do 
not  seem  to  differ  in  habits  or  actions  from  their  flycatching 
cousin,  S.pusilla. 

In  the  early  breeding  season  the  males  pour  forth  their  short, 
peculiar,  pleasing  song,  as  they  flit  from  bush  to  bush;  and  in 
their  hurried  northward  flights  we  catch  snatches  of  their  sim- 
ple chant;  but  they  are  silent  on  their  return,  save  an  occasional 
"Tsip."  Mr.  Brewster,  in  "Notes  from  Observation  on  the 
Birds  of  Winchendon,  Massachusetts,"  gives  the  following  mi- 
nute description  of  their  nest  and  its  location: 

"Throughout  the  spruce  swamps,  the  Canadian  Warbler  was 
everywhere  abundant.  A  brood  of  young,  barely  able  to  fly, 
were  met  with  June  25th,  1887,  and  the  next  day  Mr.  Purdie 
took  a  set  of  eggs  rather  far  advanced  in  incubation.  The  nest 
was  in  the  face  of  a  low,  sphagnum-covered  mound,  about  eigh- 
teen inches  above  its  base.  In  the  soft  mould  behind  the  outer 
covering  of  sphagnum,  the  birds  had  excavated  a  cavity  about 
the  size  of  one's  fist.  In  the  bottom  of  this  cavity  was  the 
nest,  a  loosely  formed,  but  nevertheless  neat  structure,  com- 
posed outwardly  of  dry  leaves,  and  lined  with  pine  needles, 
black  rootlets,  and  a  little  horse  hair.  The  bird  entered  by  a 
small  round  hole,  the  bottom  of  which  was  about  on  a  level 
with  the  top  of  the  nest.  All  the  nests  (a  dozen  or  more)  of 
this  species  which  I  have  examined  were  built  like  the  one  just 
described,  although  the  height  above  the  ground  has  varied,  one 
which  I  took  at  Lake  Umbagog,  in  1879,  being  higher  than  my 
head,  in  a  patch  of  moss  that  covered  the  face  of  a  perpendicu- 
lar cliff.  I  have  yet  to  see  a  nest  placed  on  the  ground  and 
open  at  the  top,  as  most  of  the  book  descriptions  indicate. ' ' 

Eggs  three  to  five,  .68x.51;  white,  or  buffy  white,  speckled 
or  spotted,  chiefly  about  the  larger  end,  with  reddish  brown  and 
lilac  gray;  in  form,  oval. 

GENUS  SETOPHAGA  SWAINSON. 

"Bill  much  depressed,  the  lateral  outlines  straight  towards  tip.  Bristles 
reach  half  way  from  nostril  to  tip.  Culmen  almost  straight  to  near  the  tip; 
commissure  very  slightly  curved,  Nostrils  oval,  with  membrane  above  them. 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  591 

Wings  rather  longer  than  tail,  pointed;  second,  third  and  fourth  quills  nearly 
equal;  first  intermediate  between  fourth  and  fifth.  Tail  rather  long,  rather 
rounded;  the  feathers  broad,  and  widening  at  ends,  the  outer  web  narrow. 
Tarsi  with  scuttellar  divisions  indistinct  externally.  Legs  slender;  toes  short, 
inner  cleft  nearly  to  base  of  first  joint,  outer  with  first  joint  adherent;  middle 
toe  without  claw,  not  quite  half  the  tarsus." 

Setophaga  ruticilla  (LINN.). 

AMERICAN  REDSTART. 
PLATE  XXXIII. 

Summer  resident;  common  in  suitable  localities;  abundant  in 
migration.  Arrive  the  last  of  April  to  first  of  May;  begin  lay- 
ing the  last  of  May;  leave  in  September. 

B.  217.     R.  128.     C.  152.     G.  63,     303.     U.  687. 

HABITAT.  Eastern  North  America;  north  to  Hudson's  Bay 
and  Fort  Simpson;  west  to  and  including  the  Rocky  Mount- 
ains; breeding  from  the  Gulf  States  northward.  Winters  in  the 
West  Indies  and  southern  Mexico,  southward  to  northern  South 
America. 

SP.  CHAR.  Belly  white;  basal  portion  of  secondaries  and  quills,  and  basal 
half  (or  more)  of  tail  feathers  (except  middle),  light  salmon  red  or  orange  red 
in  adult  male,  yellow  in  female  and  young  male;  sexes  very  unlike  in  coloration. 
Adult  male:  Uniform  glossy  black,  relieved  by  light  red  basal  portion  of  second- 
aries, quills  and  tail  feathers,  and  sides  of  breast  with  a  patch  of  the  same  (vary- 
ing from  rich  orange  red  to  salmon  pink  and  orange  yellow);  belly  and  lower 
tail  coverts  white,  the  latter  usually  with  blackish  central  spots.  Adult  female: 
Pattern  of  coloration  as  in  male,  but  black  replaced  above  by  grayish  olive,  and 
on  throat,  etc.,  by  grayish  white;  wing  and  tail  markings,  and  patches  on  sides 
of  breast,  yellow.  Young  male:  Similar  to  adult  female,  but  browner  above,  the 
colored  areas  usually  inclining  more  to  orange  or  salmon  color;  after  first  winter, 
the  plumage  interspersed  with  glossy  black  feathers.  (Bidgway.) 

Stretch  of 
Length.          wing.  Wing.  Tail.         Tursus.        Bill. 

Male 5.25          7.70          2.45          2.45         .65          .40 

Female...     5.10          7.50         2.35         2.30         .65          .40 

Iris  brown;  bill  and  claws  black;  legs  and  feet  dark  brown. 

This  sprightly,  handsome  species,  a  sort  of  connecting  link 
between  the  Warblers  and  Flycatchers,  frequents  the  parks, 
groves  and  deep  woods,  preferring  the  latter  for  its  summer 
home.  It  lives  largely  in  the  treetops,  and  flits  restlessly  about 
with  outspread  tail  and  open  wings,  making  all  the  display  pos- 
sible of  its  jetty  black  and  rich  orange  plumage;  darting  here 


592  IIIS TORY  OF    THE 

and  there  to  catch  a  passing  fly  or  gnat,  or  pick  an  insect  from 
the  bark  or  leaves,  snapping  its  bill  at  every  capture;  busy,  ner- 
vous bodies,  that  cannot  be  content  at  rest. 

They  are  not  naturally  shy  or  timid,  and  hop  and  fly  about 
regardless  of  an  intruder,  uttering  occasionally  a  sharp  "Chip." 
Their  song,  heard  at  short  intervals  in  the  early  breeding  season, 
and  occasionally  toward  its  close,  is  also  uttered  without  a  pause 
in  their  movements,  and  often  in  hurried  snatches.  A  varied 
song,  quite  loud  and  shrill,  or  soft  and  pleasing,  as  the  spirit 
mov(es  them.  At  times  it  sounds  much  like  that  of  the  Yellow 
Warbler,  but  not  so  loud  and  musical. 

Their  nests  are  built  in  small  trees,  usually  six  to  ten  feet 
from  the  ground,  (but  I  have  found  their  nests  all  the  way  from 
three  to  thirty  feet  from  the  ground,)  usually  placed  within  and 
woven  around  three  or  more  small,  upright  branches;  composed 
of  stems,  rootlets,  strippings  from  plants,  and  a  soft,  fibrous, 
cottony  substance,  which  is  worked  in  and  covers  the  outside; 
the  inside  is  lined  with  fine  stems,  hairs,  and  occasionally  a  few 
feathers;  a  neat,  compact  structure.  Eggs  three  to  five  (usually 
four),  .  65x.  50;  cream  to  greenish  white,  dotted  with  fine  specks 
of  pale  yellowish  to  reddish  brown  and  lilac,  thickest  and  run- 
ning together  around  the  larger  end;  in  form,  oval. 

FAMILY  MOTACILLIDJE.     WAGTAILS. 

"Bill  slender,  conical,  nearly  as  high  as  wide  at  base,  with  slight  notch  at 
tip;  the  culmen  slightly  concave  above  the  anterior  extremity  of  the  nostrils; 
short  bristles  at  gape,  which,  however,  do  not  extend  forward  to  nostrils.  Loral 
feathers  soft  and  dense,  but  with  bristly  points;  nasal  groove  filled  with  naked 
membrane,  with  the  elongated  nostrils  in  lower  edge;  the  frontal  feathers  com- 
ing up  to  the  aperture,  but  not  directed  forward  nor  overhanging  it.  Wings 
lengthened  and  sharp  pointed;  the  primaries  nine  (without  spurious  first),  of 
which  the  first  three  to  five  (considerably  longer  than  the  succeeding)  form  the 
tip;  the  exterior  secondaries  generally  much  emarginated  at  the  ends;  the  inner 
secondaries  (so-called  tertials)  nearly  equal  to  the  longest  primaries.  The  tail 
rather  narrow,  emarginate.  Tarsi  lengthened,  scutellate  anteriorly  only;  the 
hind  claw  usually  very  long,  acute,  and  but  slightly  curved  (except  in  Motacilld). 
Inner  toe  cleft  almost  to  the  very  base;  outer  adherent  for  basal  joint  only." 

GENUS  ANTHUS  BECHSTEIN. 

"Bill  slender,  much  attenuated,  and  distinctly  notched.  A  few  short  bristles 
at  the  base.  Cultnen  concave  at  the  base.  Tarsi  quite  distinctly  scutellate; 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  593 

longer  than  the  middle  toe;  inner  lateral  toe  the  longer.  Hind  toe  rather 
shorter  than  the  tarsus,  but  longer  than  the  middle  toe,  owing  to  the  long,  at- 
tenuated and  moderately  curved  hind  claw,  which  is  considerably  more  than 
half  the  total  length  of  the  toe.  Tail  rather  long,  emarginate.  Wing  very  long; 
considerably  longer  than  the  lengthened  tail,  reaching  to  its  middle.  The  first 
primary  nearly  equal  to  the  longest.  The  tertials  almost  as  long  as  the  pri- 
maries." 

SUBOENUS  ANTHUS. 

Tarsus  longer  than  hind  toe  with  claw.  Inner  web  of  outer  tail  feather 
chiefly  dusky.  Eggs  pale  olive,  olive  whitish,  or  pale  chocolate  brown,  thickly 
freckled  with  brown  (sometimes  nearly  uniform  chocolate  brown).  (Ridgway.) 

Anthus  pensylvanicus   (LATH.). 

AMERICAN  PIPIT. 
PLATE  XXXni. 

Migratory;  common.  Arrive  early  in  April;  a  few  remain 
until  the  first  of  May;  the  bulk  return  and  leave  in  October;  a 
few  occasionally  remain  until  late  in  November. 

B.  165.     R.  71.     C.  89.     G.  30,     304.     U.  697. 

HABITAT.  The  whole  of  North  America;  breeding  from  Lab- 
rador, and  above  timber  line  in  the  mountains  of  Colorado, 
north  to  the  Arctic  coast;  winters  from  the  Gulf  States  south- 
ward through  Mexico  to  Guatemala. 

SP.  CHAB.  Back,  scapulars  and  top  of  head  plain  brownish  gray  or  brown- 
ish, or  with  very  indistinct  darker  streaks.  Adult,  in  summer:  Above,  brown- 
ish gray  or  grayish  brown,  the  feathers  of  top  of  head  and  back  showing  more 
or  less  distinct  darker  centers,  most  obvious  on  back;  wings  and  tail  dusky, 
with  light  brownish  gray  edgings,  the  middle  and  greater  coverts  tipped  with 
the  same;  superciliary  stripe  and  lower  parts  light  cinnamon  buff,  paler  on  chin 
and  throat,  the  chest  (sometimes  sides  also)  more  or  less  streaked  with  dusky. 
Winter  plumage:  Above,  decidedly  more  brown  than  in  summer;  beneath,  much 
duller  buffy  (without  any  cinnamon  tint),  the  streaks  on  breast  usually  broader. 
Young:  Above,  dull  brownish  gray;  beneath,  dull  brownish  white,  the  chest 
spotted  or  broadly  streaked  with  blackish.  (Ridgway.) 

Stretch  of 
Length.         -wing.  Wing.         Tail.         Tarsus.         Bill. 

Male 6.70          10.90         3.45         2.70          .87  .49 

Female...      6.50         10.70        3.35        2.60         .87          .48 

Iris  dark  brown;  bill  —  upper  dark  brown,  end  of  under  brown, 
rest  straw  color;  legs  brown;  feet  dark  brown,  with  bottoms- 
greenish  yellow;  claws  black. 

-38 


HISTORY  OF  THE 

With  the  habits  and  actions  of  these  terrestrial  birds  away 
from  their  breeding  grounds,  I  am  very  familiar,  having  met 
with  them  often  upon  both  coasts  as  well  as  inland;  but  I  do 
not  think  I  can  add  anything  of  interest  to  the  following  from 
Doctor  Brewer's  description  in  "North  American  Land  Birds:  " 

"At  different  seasons  of  the  year  the  American  Pipit  is  found 
throughout  the  continent,  and  abundant  for  the  time  in  the  sev- 
eral parts  of  the  country,  chiefly  frequenting  the  least  cultivated 
portions,  and  apparently  preferring  the  sterile  and  least  attract- 
ive regions.  It  is  one  of  the  most  extensively  distributed  of  all 
our  North  American  birds,  being  found  in  immense  numbers 
over  the  whole  length  and  breadth  of  North  America.  Gambel 
met  them  in  large  numbers  in  New  Mexico  and  California; 
Richardson  found  them  on  the  plains  of  the  Saskatchewan;  it  is 
abundant  in  the  Arctic  regions  from  May  to  October,  and  is 
equally  common  on  the  coast  of  Labrador;  Mr.  Dall  found  it 
universal  from  British  Columbia  north.  It  is  also  found  in 
Florida,  Cape  St.  Lucas,  Mexico,  and  Central  America.  Acci- 
dental specimens  have  occurred  in  Europe. 

"This  Lark  is  a  bird  of  easy  and  beautiful  flight,  passing  and 
repassing  through  the  air  with  graceful  evolutions,  and  when 
moving  to  new  localities,  sweeping  over  the  place  several  times 
before  alighting.  It  also  moves  rapidly  on  the  ground  and  after 
the  manner  of  the  true  Larks,  jerking  the  tail  like  our  Water- 
Thrushes  and  the  European  Wagtails. 

"When  feeding  on  the  open  ground  in  the  interior,  their 
food  is  chiefly  insects  and  small  seeds.  On  the  banks  of  rivers 
and  on  the  seashore  they  are  fond  of  running  along  the  edge  of 
the  water,  searching  among  the  drift  for  insects,  small  shells  and 
crustaceans. ' ' 

In  regard  to  its  breeding  habits  Mr.  Audubon  says: 

"I  found  it  breeding  very  abundantly  on  the  coast  of  Labra- 
dor, on  the  moss-covered  rocks,  as  well  as  in  the  deep  valleys,  but 
never  at  any  very  great  distance  from  the  sea.  The  nests  were 
usually  placed  at  the  foot  of  a  wall  of  the  rocks,  buried  in  the 
dark  mould,  and  beautifully  formed  of  fine  bent  grass,  arranged 
in  a  circular  manner,  without  any  hair  or  other  lining.  Both 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  595 

birds  incubate,  sitting  so  closely  that  on  several  occasions  I 
almost  put  my  foot  upon  them  before  they  flew.  The  first  that 
I  found  was  on  the  29th  of  June,  when  the  thermometer  ranged 
from  51°  to  54°.  The  eggs  were  six  in  number,  five-eighths  of 
an  inch  long,  six  and  a  quarter  twelfths  in  breadth,  being  rather 
elongated,  though  rounded  at  both  ends;  their  ground  color,  of  a 
deep  reddish  chestnut  or  reddish  brown,  considerably  darkened 
by  numerous  dots  of  a  deeper  reddish  brown  and  lines  of  various 
sizes,  especially  toward  the  large  end. 

"During  the  breeding  time  the  male  often  rises  on  wing  to 
the  height  of  eight  or  ten  yards,  and  emits  a  few  clear  and  mel- 
low notes,  but  returns  to  its  consort  or  alights  on  the  rock  with 
a  suddenness  in  keeping  with  the  short  duration  of  its  song, 
which  is  rarely  heard  after  the  eggs  are  hatched." 

And  Mr.  Oliver  Davie  gives  the  following  description  of  their 
nests  and  eggs: 

"From  four  to  six  dark,  chocolate  colored  eggs  are  laid,  the 
surface  of  which  is  marked  or  overlaid  with  numerous  specks 
and  streaks  of  grayish  brown.  A  set  of  five  eggs  in  Mr.  Norris's 
cabinet  were  taken  July  3,  1888,  on  Mount  Audubon,  Snowy 
Range,  Rocky  Mountains,  Colorado,  at  an  elevation  of  11,000 
feet.  The  nest  was  well  concealed,  being  at  the  side  of,  and 
partly  under,  a  large  stone.  It  was  composed  wholly  of  grasses. 
The  eggs  are  grayish  white,  but  so  thickly  are  they  covered  with 
specks  of  hair  brown,  that  they  appear  to  be  almost  of  a  uni- 
form tint  of  brown.  At  the  larger  end  these  specks  are  heavier, 
producing  the  appearance  of  darker  color.  The  five  eggs  meas- 
ure, .79x.58,  .78x.58,  .Six. 58,  .Six. 58,  .80x.55,  respect- 
ively. The  average  size  is  .78x.58." 

SUBGENUS  NEOCORYS  SCLATEB. 

"Bill  half  as  long  as  head;  the  culmen  concave  at  the  base,  slightly  decurved 
at  the  tip.  Rictus  without  bristles.  Legs  stout;  tarsi  distinctly  scutellate,  longer 
than  the  middle  toe.  Hind  toe  very  long,  equal  to  the  tarsus,  much  longer  than 
the  middle  toe;  its  claws  but  slightly  curved,  and  about  half  the  total  length. 
Inner  lateral  toe  rather  longer  than  outer.  Wings  much  longer  than  tarsi;  first 
quill  longest.  Tertials  considerably  longer  than  secondaries.  Tail  rather  short; 
emarginate." 


596  HISTORY  OF  THE 

Anthus  spragueii  (AUD.). 

SPRAGUE'S  PIPIT. 
PLATE  XXXIII. 

Migratory;  rather  rare  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  State;  quite 
common  in  the  middle  and  western  portions.  I  have  a  pair  in 
"The  Goss  Ornithological  Collection,"  which  I  shot  October 
20th,  1879,  out  of  a  small  flock  on  the  high  prairie  in  Anderson 
county,  and  I  have  occasionally  seen  the  birds  at  Neosho  Falls, 
in  both  the  spring  and  fall  of  the  year,  usually  in  small  flocks, 
in  company  with  the  Horned  Larks.  Arrive  early  in  April,  and 
often  remain  in  the  western  part  of  the  State  as  late  as  the  20th 
of  May,  and  in  their  northward  flights  occasionally  sing  as  early 
as  the  15th  of  the  month.  They  begin  to  return  early  in  Octo- 
ber, a  few  remaining  late  into  November.  Doctor  Watson  thinks 
it  an  occasional  summer  resident. 

B.  166.     R.  73.     C.  90.     G.  31,     305.     U.  700. 

HABITAT.  Interior  plains  of  North  America;  east  to  western 
Manitoba  (/Setori),  and  eastern  Kansas;  breeding  from  central 
Dakota,  Minnesota  (?),  northward  to  the  Saskatchewan  district; 
south  in  winter  to  southern  Mexico. 

SP.  CHAB.  Adult,  in  summer:  Above,  broadly  streaked  with  pale  grayish  buff 
and  dusky;  wings  dusky,  with  pale  grayish-buffy  edgings;  two  outer  tail  feath- 
ers chiefly  white  (the  outermost  sometimes  entirely  white);  beneath,  dull  buffy 
white,  more  buffy  across  chest,  where  narrowly  streaked  with  dusky;  legs  and 
feet  very  light  colored.  Winter  plumage:  Much  more  decidedly  buffy,  both  above 
and  below,  with  dark  streaks  on  chest  broader  and  less  sharply  defined.  Young: 
Above,  brownish  buff,  broadly  streaked  with  black,  the  feathers  of  back  and 
scapulars  narrowly  margined  terminally  with  buffy  or  whitish;  chin,  throat  and 
sides  of  neck  whitish,  the  last,  and  also  lower  throat,  streaked  with  dusky;  rest 
of  lower  parts  light  buff,  growing  gradually  paler  posteriorly,  the  chest  and  sides 
of  breast  streaked  with  black.  (Hidgicay.) 

Stretch  of 
Length.  wing.  Wing.          Tail.        Tarsus.         Bill. 

Male 6.50          10.90         3.30        2.50          .88  .48 

Female...      6.20         10.50        3.15        2.30         .88          .48 

Iris  dark  brown;  bill  brown,  with  basal  two-thirds  of  under 
straw  color;  legs,  feet  and  claws  flesh  color. 

These  bleached  birds  of  the  plains  are  much  more  common 
throughout  their  range  (except  upon  their  breeding  grounds)  than 
they  are  generally  reported  to  be.  They  usually  associate  to- 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  597 

gctlier  in  small  flocks,  and  often  with  the  Horned  Larks  and 
Longspurs,  and  occasionally  with  the  Savanna  Sparrows.  To 
the  casual  observer,  all  small,  plain  birds  are  "chippies,"  but 
as  this  species  frequents  the  roadsides  and  bare  spots  upon  the 
prairies,  it  is  strange  that  they  are  so  often  overlooked,  and  so 
little  known  by  the  bird  lovers.  I  can  only  account  for  it  in 
this  manner:  The  birds  are  shy  and  timid,  and  have  the  habit 
of  squatting  motionless  at  the  sight  of  an  intruder,  and  they  so 
closely  resemble  their  surroundings  it  is  no  easy  matter  to  find 
them,  even  when  "marked  down."  When  in  company  with  the 
Horned  Larks  and  Longspurs,  they  drop  to  the  ground  before 
the  latter  (which  attract  attention  by  running  about;  become 
alarmed;  then,  as  the  birds  of  this  class  all,  as  of  one  accord, 
take  wing  together,  and  fly  much  alike,  they  escape  notice. 

They  feed  largely  upon  the  seeds  from  weeds  and  grasses; 
also,  insects  in  their  season.  In  their  search  for  the  same,  they 
run  nimbly  over  the  ground,  and  sweep  over  the  same  in  circling, 
undulating  flights,  often  abruptly  rising  and  falling  in  their 
course,  continually  uttering,  as  they  fly,  a  peculiar,  lisping  note. 

I  am  unacquainted  with  their  habits  upon  their  breeding 
grounds,  and  therefore  take  pleasure  in  quoting  from  Dr.  Cones' 
description,  in  "Birds  of  the  Northwest:" 

"But  these  common  traits  have  nothing  to  do  with  the  won- 
derful soaring  action,  and  the  inimitable,  matchless  song  of 
the  birds  during  the  breediiag  season;  it  is  no  wonder  Audubon 
grew  enthusiastic  in  describing  it.  Rising  from  the  nest  or 
from  its  grassy  bed,  this  plain  looking  little  bird,  clad  in  the 
simplest  colors,  and  making  but  a  speck  in  the  boundless  ex- 
panse, mounts  straight  up,  on  tremulous  wings,  till  lost  to  view 
in  the  blue  ether,  and  then  sends  back  to  earth  a  song  of  glad. 
ness  that  seems  to  come  from  the  sky  itself,  to  cheer  the  weary, 
give  hope  to  the  disheartened,  and  turn  the  most  indifferent, 
for  the  moment,  at  least,  from  sordid  thoughts.  No  other  bird 
music  in  our  land  compares  with  the  strains  of  this  songster; 
there  is  something  not  of  earth  in  the  melody,  coming  from  above, 
yet  from  no  visible  source.  The  notes  are  simply  indescribable; 
but  once  heard  they  can  never  be  forgotten.  Their  volume 


598  HISTORY  OF   THE 

and  penetration  are  truly  wonderful;  they  are  neither  loud  nor 
strong,  yet  the  whole  air  seems  filled  with  the  tender  strains, 
and  delightful  melody  continues  long  unbroken.  The  song  is 
only  heard  for  a  brief  period  in  the  summer,  ceasing  when  the 
inspiration  of  the  love  season  is  over,  and  it  is  only  uttered  when 
the  birds  are  soaring. 

"It  is  not  a  little  singular  that  the  Skylark  (Sprague's  Pipit) 
should  have  so  long  continued  to  be  rare  in  collections,  since  it 
is  very  abundant  in  the  extensive  region  which  it  inhabits.  In 
August,  after  all  the  broods  are  on  wing,  and  through  Septem. 
ber,  I  have  seen  it  in  considerable  flocks:  and  often,  when  riding 
along  the  prairie  road,  numbers  would  fly  up  on  my  approach, 
from  the  ruts  ahead,  where  they  were  feeding,  to  settle  again  at 
a  little  distance  farther  on.  These  wheel  tracks,  where  the 
grass  was  worn  away,  seemed  to  be  their  favorite  resorts,  where 
they  could  run  with  the  greatest  ease,  and  perhaps  gather  food 
less  easily  discovered  in  the  thick  grass.  They  tripped  along 
the  tracks  with  swift  and  dainty  steps,  never  hopping,  and  con- 
tinually vibrated  the  tail,  just  like  our  common  Titlark  (Amer- 
ican Pipit).  They  are  usually  associated  at  such  times  with 
numbers  of  Chestnut-collared  Longspurs,  which  seemed  to  fancy 
the  same  places,  and  with  a  few  of  Baird's  Sparrows.  These 
were  the  only  circumstances  under  which  the  Larks  could  be 
procured  without  the  great  quickness  and  dexterity  required  to 
take  them  on  the  wing,  for  the  moment  they  alight  in  the  grass 
of  the  prairie,  be  it  scanty  or  only  a  few  inches  high,  they  are 
lost  to  view,  their  speckled  gray  colors  blending  completely  with 
the  herbage. 

"On  making  a  camp  at  Turtle  Mountain,  a  pair  of  Larks  rose 
from  the  spot  where  my  tent  was  pitched,  and  circled  about  in 
such  evident  painful  agitation,  that  I  knew  they  had  a  nest 
somewhere  near  by.  I  watched  them  for  a  long  while,  but  they 
would  not  re-alight  to  give  me  any  clue  to  its  whereabouts;  and 
though  I  made  careful  search  for  the  nest  at  intervals  for  several 
days,  during  which  time  I  frequently  saw  the  same  pair,  I  was 
unsuccessful.  No  nests  are  harder  to  find  than  those  of  prairie 
birds,  for  there  is  nothing  to  guide  one,  and  they  are  not  often 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS. 

discovered,  except  by  accident,  such  as  stumbling  on  one  and 
scaring  off  the  parent.  But  at  length,  a -few  days  afterwards, 
in  finally  reviewing  a  particulary  thorough  search,  a  little  bird 
just  able  to  flutter  a  few  feet  was  seen  and  caught,  and  in  a  few 
moments  the  rest  of  the  family,  sitting  a  few  feet  apart,  were 
also  secured  —  four  in  all.  They  had  just  left  the  nest,  and  yet 
I  could  not  find  it,  though  a  perfectly  bare  depression  of  the 
ground,  covered  with  droppings,  just  where  the  birds  were,  may 
have  been  their  temporary  resting  place.  My  friend,  Mr.  Allen, 
was  more  fortunate  on  the  Yellowstone  expedition  which  he  ac- 
companied the  same  season,  and  he  obligingly  gives  me  the 
following  account: 

"  'The  only  nest  we  found  was  placed  on  the  ground,  and 
neatly  formed  of  dry,  fine  grass.  It  was  thinly  arched  over 
with  the  same  material,  and  being  built  in  a  tuft  of  rank  grass, 
was  most  thoroughly  concealed.  The  bird  would  seem  to  be 
a  close  sitter,  as  in  this  case  the  female  remained  on  the  nest 
till  I  actually  stepped  over  it,  she  brushing  against  my  feet  as 
she  went  off.  The  eggs  were  five  in  number,  rather  long  and 
pointed,  measuring  about  .90x.60  inches,  of  a  grayish  white 
color,  thickly  and  minutely  flecked  with  darker,  giving  them  a 
decidedly  purplish  tint.'  "  . 

FAMILY  TROGLODTYID^.     WRENS,  THRASHERS,  ETC. 

Tarsus  longer  than  middle  toe  with  claw,  or  else  the  bill  elongated,  not  de- 
pressed, narrower  at  base  than  length  of  gonys;  bill  not  hooked  at  tip;  tail  feath- 
ers normal;  nasal  feathers  erect  or  inclined  backward;  bill  linear,  but  often 
curved,  the  culmen  always  more  or  less  so;  first  primary  well  developed,  extend- 
ing beyond  tips  of  coverts.  (Ridgway.) 

SUBFAMILY  MIMINJE.     THRASHERS. 

Rictal  bristles  well  developed;  inner  toe  entirely  free  at  base  from  middle 
toe;  wing  3.50,  or  more.  (Ridgicay.) 

GENUS  MIMUS  BOIE. 

"Bill  not  much  more  than  half  the  length  of  the  head;  gently  decurvedfrom 
the  base,  notched  at  tip;  commissure  curved.  Gouys  straight,  or  slightly  con- 
cave. Rictal  bristles  quite  well  developed.  Wings  rather  shorter  than  tail. 
First  primary  about  equal  to  or  rather  more  than  half  the  second;  third,  fourth 
and  fifth  quills  nearly  equal,  sixth  scarcely  shorter.  Tail  considerably  gradu- 


600  HISTORY  OF   T11K 

ated;  the  feathers  stiff,  rather  narrow,  especially  the  outer  webs:  lateral  feathers 
about  three-quarters  of  an  inch  the  shorter  in  the  type.  Tarsi  longer  than 
middle  toe  and  claw  by  rather  less  than  an  additional  claw;  tarsi  conspicuously 
and  strongly  scutellate;  broad  plates  seven." 

Mimus  polyglottos  (Lixx.). 

MOCKINGBIRD. 
PLATE  XXXIV. 

Summer  resident;  quite  common.  Arrive  the  middle  of  April 
to  first  of  May;  begin  laying  about  the  20th  of  May.  A  hardy 
bird,  that  often  remains  until  late  in  the  fall. 

B.  253,     253«.     R.  11.     C.  15.     G.  7,     306.     U.  703. 

HABITAT.  United  States;  north  to  Massachusetts,  southern 
Iowa,  southern  Wyoming,  etc. ;  rare  north  of  latitude  40°;  breeds 
throughout  its  range;  resident  from  about  latitude  36°  south- 
ward into  southern  Mexico. 

SP.  CHAK.  "Third  and  fourth  quills  longest;  second  about  equal  to  eighth; 
the  first  half,  or  more  than  half,  the  second.  Tail  considerably  graduated. 
Above,  ashy  brown,  the  feathers  very  obsoletely  darker  centrally  and  towards 
the  light  plumbeous  downy  basal  portion  (scarcely  appreciable,  except  when  the 
feathers  are  lifted).  The  under  parts  are  white,  with  a  faint  brownish  tinge 
{except  on  the  chin),  and  with  a  shade  of  ash  across  the  breast.  There  is  a  pale 
superciliary  stripe,  but  the  lores  are  dusky.  The  wings  and  tail  are  dark  brown, 
nearly  black,  except  the  lesser  wing  coverts,  which  are  like  the  back;  the  middle 
and  greater  tipped  with  white,  forming  two  bands;  the  basal  portion  of  the  pri- 
maries white;  most  extended  on  the  inner  primaries.  The  outer  tail  feather  is 
white,  sometimes  a  little  mottled;  the  second  is  mostly  white,  except  on  the 
outer  web  and  toward  the  base;  the  third  with  a  white  spot  on  the  end;  the  rest, 
except  the  middle,  very  slightly  or  not  at  all  tipped  with  white.  Young:  Similar, 
but  distinctly  spotted  with  dusky  on  the  breast,  and  obsoletely  on  the  back." 

Stretch  of 
Length.  wing.  Wing.  Tail.        Tarsus.          Bill. 

Male 10.50         14.40         4.65         5.20         1.25          .70 

Female...       9.50        14.00        4.50        4.80        1.20         .68 

Iris  light  brown;  bill  black,  with  forks  of  under  yellowish; 
legs,  feet  and  claws  black;  the  back  of  tarsi  usually  yellowish. 

This  unrivaled  songster,  so  much  praised  as  a  cage  bird,  pre- 
fers for  its  haunts  the  scattering,  shrubby  trees  upon  the  prairies 
or  open  lands,  and  shade  trees  about  our  dwellings;  a  familiar 
bird,  that  seeks  rather  than  avoids  the  habitations  of  man.  A 
great  favorite,  welcomed  not  only  on  account  of  its  song  but  for 
its  watchful  care  over  its  selected  home,  where  it  notes  with  a 


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BIRDS  OF  KANSAS,  601 

keen  eye  the  Hawk  when  but  a  speck  in  the  sky,  the  snake  that 
ventures  to  crawl  from  its  hiding  place,  or  any  of  its  prowling 
enemies,  giving  the  alarm  at  their  near  approach  (a  warning 
heeded  by  the  poultry  as  well  as  by  its  mate),  and  boldly  attacks 
and  drives  them  away. 

The  mated  pairs  are  strongly  attached  to  each  other,  and  are 
unremitting  in  their  attentions  and  care  for  their  young.  They 
subsist  largely  upon  the  various  kinds  of  earth  worms  and  insect 
life,  and  berries  in  their  season.  They  are  very  fond  of  the 
latter  (grapes  and  raspberries  the  favorites),  but  the  good  they 
do  greatly  overbalances  the  harm.  Their  flight  is  low,  slightly 
undulating,  and  not  very  well  sustained. 

Their  song,  rich  in  melody  and  power,  has  no  equal,  save  in 
that  of  the  Nightingale;  and  it  is  said  by  good  judges,  that  have 
heard  them  both,  that  its  native  or  natural  song  is  far  superior 
in  compass  and  thrilling  bursts  of  melody,  and,  were  it  not  for 
its  sudden  breaks  as  an  imitator,  mimicking  in  the  midst  of  his 
song  the  garrulous  notes  of  the  Jay,  the  quack  of  a  Duck,  or  the 
soft  notes  of  our  little  songsters,  regardless  of  harmony,  they 
would  stand  unrivaled.  Perched  upon  a  tall  dead  limb,  or  the 
housetop,  he  pours  forth  his  song,  not  only  throughout  the  day 
but  on  bright  moonlight  nights,  and  at  times  is  so  inflated  with 
love  and  vigor  that  he  rises  as  he  sings,  and  drops  back  to  his 
perch,  with  tremulous  wings  and  spreading  tail,  a  proud  bird! 
a  picture  of  happiness  and  content. 

Their  nests  are  placed  in  small  trees,  thickets,  bushes,  hedges, 
and  in  various  locations,  but  rarely  over  ten  feet  from  the 
ground.  The  outside  is  loosely  constructed  of  small  twigs, 
weeds,  etc.,  and  lined  usually  with  fine  rootlets,  sometimes  with 
hairs  or  other  suitable  material  at  hand.  Eggs  four  or  five, 
.98x.74;  light  greenish  blue  to  a  dull  buffy  color,  spotted  and 
blotched  with  yellowish  to  very  dark  reddish  brown  and  purple, 
thickest  about  the  larger  end;  in  form,  oval. 

GENUS  GALEOSCOPTES  CABANIS. 

"Bill  shorter  than  the  head,  rather  broad  at  base.  Rictal  bristles  moder- 
ately developed,  reaching  to  the  nostrils.  Wiugs  a  little  shorter  than  the  tail, 
rounded,  secondaries  well  developed;  fourth  and  fifth  quills  longest;  third  and 


602  HISTORY  OF   THE 

sixth  little  shorter;  first  and  ninth  about  equal,  and  about  the  length  of  second- 
aries; first  quill  more  than  half  the  second,  and  about  half  the  third.  Tail 
graduated;  lateral  feather  about  .70  shorter  than  the  middle.  Tarsi  longer  than 
middle  toe  and  claw  by  about  an  additional  half  claw;  scutellate  anteriorly, 
more  or  less  distinctly  in  different  specimens;  scutella  about  seven.  The  con- 
spicuous naked  membraneous  border  round  the  eye  of  some  Thrushes,  with  bare 
space  behind  it,  not  appreciable." 

Galeoscoptes  carolinensis  (LINN.). 

CATBIRD. 
PLATE  XXXIV. 

Summer  resident;  abundant  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  State; 
not  uncommon  in  the  western  portion.  Begin  laying  about  the 
middle  of  May;  the  bulk  leave  about  the  last  of  September^ 
a  few  remaining  late  in  November. 

B.  254.     K.  12.     C.  16.     G.  8,     807.     U.  704. 

HABITAT.  Eastern  North  America;  north  in  the  interior  to 
about  latitude  54°;  west  to  the  western  base  of  the  Rocky 
Mountains;  breeding  throughout  its  United  States  range  and 
northward;  wintering  from  the  Indian  Territory  and  the  Caro- 
•linas  southward,  through  eastern  Mexico,  to  southern  Central 
America. 

SP.  CHAR.  Adult:  Uniform  plumbeous  slate,  paler  beneath;  top  of  head  and 
tail  black;  lower  tail  coverts  chestnut;  bill  and  feet  black;  iris  brown.  Young: 
Similar  to  the  adult,  but  black  cap  fainter  and  less  sharply  defined;  lower  parts 
very  faintly  mottled  transversely  with  darker,  and  lower  tail  coverts  dull  light 
rusty.  (Ridgway.) 

Stretch  of 
Length.          wing.          Wing.          Tail.         Tarsus.        Bill. 

Male 8.80         11.50         3.65         3.80         1.10         .70 

Female 8.25        11.00        8.45        3.50        1.05        .68 

Iris  dark  brown;  bill,  legs,  feet  and  claws  black;  legs  and 
feet  sometimes  brownish  black. 

Miss  Florence  A.  Merriam,  in  "Birds  through  an  Opera 
Glass,"  describes  the  habits  and  actions  of  this  eccentric  and 
well-known  bird,  in  so  life-like  and  happy  a  manner,  that  I  take 
pleasure  in  copying  the  same: 

"High  trees  have  an  unsocial  aspect,  and  so,  as  Lowell  says, 
'The  Catbird  croons  in  the  lilac  bush,'  in  the  alders,  in  a  prickly 
ash  copse,  a  barberry  bush,  or  by  the  side  of  the  garden.  In 
Northampton,  one  of  his  favorite  haunts  is  an  old  orchard,  that 
slopes  down  to  the  edge  of  Mill  River.  Here,  he  is  welcomed 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  603 

every  year  by  his  college  girl  friends;  and  in  the  open  seclusion 
of  an  apple  tree,  proceeds  to  build  his  nest,  and  raise  his  little 
family,  singing  through  it  all  with  keen  enjoyment  of  the  warm 
sunshine  and  its  own  company. 

"To  the  trio  the  Catbird  is  at  once  the  most  interesting  and 
most  exasperating  of  birds.  Like  some  people,  he  seems  to 
give  up  his  time  to  the  pleasure  of  hearing  himself  talk.  A  first 
cousin  of  the  Mockingbird  —  whom  he  resembles  in  person  much 
more  than  in  voice — perhaps  the  relationship  accounts  for  his 
overweening  confidence  in  his  vocal  powers.  As  a  matter  of 
fact  his  jerky  utterance  is  so  harsh  that  it  has  been  aptly  termed 
asthmatic. 

' '  The  Catbird  is  unmistakably  a  Bohemian.  He  is  exquisitely 
formed,  and  has  a  beautiful  slate  gray  coat,  set  off  by  his  black 
head  and  tail.  By  nature  he  is  peculiarly  graceful,  and,  when 
he  chooses,  can  pass  for  the  most  polished  of  the  Philistine  aris- 
tocracy. But  he  cares  nothing  for  all  this.  With  lazy  self- 
indulgence,  he  sits  by  the  hour  with  relaxed  muscles,  and 
listless,  drooping  wings  and  tail.  If  he  were  a  man,  you  feel 
confident  that  he  would  sit  in  shirt  sleeves  at  home  and  go  on 
the  street  without  a  collar. 

''And  his  occupation?  His  cousin  is  an  artist,  but  he — is 
he  a  wag  as  well  as  a  caricaturist,  or  is  he  in  sober  earnest  when 
he  tries  to  mimic  the  inimitable  Wilson's  Thrush?  If  a  wag, 
he  is  a  success,  for  he  deceives  the  unguarded  into  believing  him 
a  Kobin,  a  cat,  and  'a  bird  new  to  science.'  How  he  must 
chuckle  over  the  enthusiasm  which  hails  his  various  notes,  and 
the  bewilderment  and  chagrin  that  come  to  the  diligent  ob- 
server who  finally  catches  a  glimpse  of  the  garrulous  mimic ! 

"The  Catbird  builds  his  nest  as  he  does  everything  else. 
The  loose  mass  of  coarse  twigs,  patched  up  with  leaves,  pieces 
of  newspaper,  or  anything  he  happens  to  fancy,  looks  as  if  it 
would  hardly  bear  his  weight.  He  lines  it,  however,  with  fine 
bits  of  brown  and  black  roots,  and  when  the  beautiful  dark 
bluish  green  eggs  are  laid  in  it,  you  feel  sure  that  such  an  artist- 
looking  bird  must  enjoy  the  contrasting  colors." 

Eggs  three  to  five,  usually  four,  .  94x.69;  in  form,  oval. 


604:  HISTORY  OF  TIIE 

GENUS  HARPORHYNCHUS  CABAXIS. 

"Bill  from  forehead  as  long  as,  or  much  longer  than,  the  head,  becoming 
more  and  more  decurved  in  both  jaws  as  lengthened.  No  indication  of  a  notch. 
Rictus  with  the  bristles  extending  beyond  the  nostrils.  Tarsus  long  and  stout, 
appreciably  exceeding  the  middle  toe  and  claw,  strongly  scutellate  anteriorly. 
Wings  Considerably  shorter  than  tail,  much  rounded;  the  first  quill  more  than 
half  the  second;  fourth  or  fifth  longest.  Tail  large,  much  graduated;  the  feath- 
ers firm." 

SUBGENUS  METHRIOPTERUS  REICHENBACH. 

Tarsus  longer  than  exposed  culmen;  gouys  much  shorter  than  middle  toe 
without  claw.  Tail  exceeding  wing  by  not  more  than  length  of  tarsus.  Lower 
parts  more  or  less  distinctly  spotted  or  streaked  (these  markings  sometimes  ob- 
solete in  H.  bendirei  and  H.  palmeri).  (Ridyway.) 

Harporhynchus  rufus  (LINK.). 

BROWN  THRASHER. 
PLATE  XXXIV. 

Summer  resident;  abundant  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  State; 
not  uncommon  in  the  western  portion.  Arrive  the  last  of  March 
to  middle  of  April;  begin  laying  early  in  May.  The  bulk  leave 
in  September  and  October,  a  few  remaining  until  late  in  the  fall. 

B.  261,  261a.  R.  13.  C.  17.  G.  9,  308.  U.  705. 
HABITAT.  Eastern  United  States;  north  to  southern  Maine, 
Ontario  and  Manitoba;  west  to  the  Rocky  Mountains;  south 
through  the  Gulf  States  (replaced  in  western  Texas  by  IL  longi- 
rostris}.  Breeds  throughout  its  range.  Winters  from  the  Gulf 
coast  north  into  the  Indian  Territory  and  eastward,  to  about 
latitude  37°. 

SP.  CHAR.  "Exposed  portion  of  the  bill  shorter  than  the  head.  Outline  of 
lower  mandible  straight.  Above,  light  cinnamon  red;  beneath,  pale  rufous 
white,  with  longitudinal  streaks  of  dark  brown,  excepting  on  chin,  throat,  mid- 
dle of  the  belly  and  under  tail  coverts.  These  spots  anteriorly  are  reddish 
brown  in  their  terminal  portion.  The  inner  surface  of  the  wing  and  the  inner 
edges  of  the  primaries  are  cinnamon;  the  concealed  portion  of  the  quills  other- 
wise is  dark  brown.  The  median  and  greater  wing  coverts  become  blackish 
brown  towards  the  end,  followed  by  white,  producing  two  conspicuous  bands. 
The  tail  feathers  are  all  rufous,  the  external  ones  obscurely  tipped  with  whitish; 
the  shafts  of  the  same  color  with  the  veins." 

Stretch  of 
Length.         wing.  Wing.          Tail.        Tarsus.         Bill. 

Male 11.50          13.75         4.25         5.40          1.35          1.05 

Female..    .    10.70         13.35         4.10         4.65         1.30         1.00 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  605 

Iris  yellow;  bill  black,  with  under  whitish  at  base;  legs  and 
feet  grayish  brown;  tarsi  in  front  reddish  brown;  claws  light 
brown. 

These  large,  handsome  songsters  prefer  for  their  haunts  the 
underbrush  bordering  the  woodlands,  tangled  thickets  of  bushes 
and  briers,  and  the  hedges  upon  the  prairies,  and,  while  not  shy 
or  timid  birds,  as  a  rule  select  their  homes  rather  remote  from 
our  dwellings.  The  male  arrives  in  advance,  and,  as  soon  as 
he  has  selected  a  breeding  place,  mounts  the  topmost  branches 
of  the  trees  and  pours  forth  his  loudest  song  at  short  intervals, 
fearing  if  he  remains  silent  the  hen  bird  may  pass  him  by  un- 
noticed. Upon  her  arrival,  he  sings  from  the  lower  branches 
and  bushes  beneath,  and  devotes  a  large  share  of  his  time  to 
love  making,  driving  away  intruders,  and  in  assisting  in  nest 
building.  As  soon  as  the  nest  is  completed  and  his  mate  begins 
to  lay,  he  again  sings  from  the  treetops  to  cheer  her,  taking  his 
turn,  however,  in  sitting  upon  the  eggs;  but  as  soon  as  the 
little  ones  are  hatched  his  song  ceases  almost  entirely,  and  he 
probably  devotes  his  time  to  watching  over  and  assisting  in 
caring  for  the  wants  of  the  young. 

They  feed  and  rear  their  young  upon  earth  worms,  spiders, 
grasshoppers,  beetles,  wasps,  etc.,  and  berries  in  their  season. 
They  are  quite  rasorial  in  their  habits,  and  in  their  search  for 
food  often  hop  over  the  ground  and  scratch  among  the  leaves. 
They  have  a  peculiar  habit  of  beating  the  insects  upon  the 
ground  or  perch,  knocking  and  thrashing  them  about  until  dead 
(and  in  removing  the  wings  and  legs  of  the  larger  ones  before 
swallowing  them).  It  is  for  this  reason  they  are  called  Thrashers. 
They  flit  and  hop  about  in  the  bushes,  with  expanded  tails,  in  a 
graceful,  easy  manner,  but,  on  account  of  the  shortness  of  their 
rounded  wings,  their  flights  are  low  and  heavy.  The  old  birds 
do  not  take  kindly  to  confinement,  but  the  young  when  reared 
from  the  nest  become  very  tame,  and  when  well  cared  for  sing 
with  full  power  and  melody  their  charming  wild-wood  song, 
which,  for  length,  compass,  variety  and  musical  flow,  ranks  next 
to  the  song  of  the  Mockingbird.  Their  call  and  alarm  notes 
vary:  a  "Chup,"  hissing  sounds,  at  times  harsh,  scolding  notes. 


606  HISTORY  OF  THE 

Their  nests  are  placed  in  low  bushes,  vines,  hedges,  and  occa- 
sionally upon  the  ground;  a  coarse,  bulky  structure,  the  outside 
usually  composed  of  sticks,  rootlets  and  stems  of  weeds;  within 
this  an  inner  nest  of  leaves  and  strippings  from  plants,  lined 
with  fine  rootlets  and  horse  hair.  Eggs  three  to  five  (usually 
four),  l.OGx. 80;  creamy  white  to  pale  greenish,  thickly  dotted 
with  yellowish  to  reddish  brown,  confluent  around  the  larger 
end;  in  form,  oval  to  rounded  oval. 

SUBFAMILY  TKOGLODYTIN^E.   WRENS. 

"Rictal  bristles  wanting;  the  loral  feathers  with  bristly  points;  the  frontal 
feathers  generally  not  reaching  to  nostrils.  Nostrils  varied,  exposed  or  not  cov- 
ered by  feathers,  and  generally  overhung  by  a  scale-like  membrane.  Bill  usu- 
ally without  notch  (except  in  some  middle  American  genera).  Wings  much 
rounded,  about  equal  to  tail,  which  is  graduated.  Primaries  ten,  the  first  gener- 
ally about  half  the  second.  Basal  joint  of  middle  toe  usually  united  to  half  the 
basal  joint  of  inner,  and  the  whole  of  that  of  the  outer,  or  more.  Lateral  toes 
about  equal,  or  the  outer  a  little  the  longer.  Tarsi  scutellate." 

GENUS  SALPINCTES  CABANIS. 

"Bill  as  long  as  head;  all  the  outlines  nearly  straight  to  the  tip,  then  de- 
curved;  nostrils  oval.  Feet  weak;  tarsi  decidedly  longer  than  the  middle  toe; 
outer  lateral  toe  much  longer,  reaching  to  the  base  of  the  middle  claw,  and 
equal  to  the  hinder.  Wings  about  one-fifth  longer  than  the  tail;  the  exposed 
portion  of  the  first  primary  about  half  that  of  the  second,  and  two-fifths  that  of 
the  fourth  and  fifth.  Tail  feathers  very  broad,  plain,  nearly  even  or  slightly 
rounded;  the  lateral  moderately  graduated." 

Salpinctes  obsoletus  (SAT). 

ROCK  WREN. 
PLATE  XXXIV. 

Summer  resident  in  the  middle  and  western  part  of  the  State; 
common  in  suitable  localities.  Arrive  early  in  April;  begin 
laying  the  first  of  May;  leave  in  the  months  of  September  and 
October. 

B.  264.     R.  58.     C.  65.     G.  22,     309.     U.  715. 

HABITAT.  The  arid  regions  of  the  western  United  States; 
north  occasionally  into  British  Columbia;  east  into  western 
Iowa,  middle  Kansas  and  Texas;  southward  through  Mexico  to 
Guatemala  and  the  Gulf  of  Fonseca;  breeds  largely  throughout 
its  range. 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  607 

SP.  CHAR.  "Plumage  very  soft  aud  lax.  Bill  about  as  long  as  the  head. 
Upper  parts  brownish  gray,  each  feather  with  a  central  line  and  (except  on  the 
head)  transverse  bars  of  dusky,  and  a  small  dark  brownish  spot  at  the  end  (seen 
also  on  the  tips  of  the  secondaries).  Hump,  sides  of  the  body,  and  posterior 
part  of  the  belly  and  under  tail  coverts,  dull  cinnamon,  darker  above.  .Rest 
of  under  parts  dirty  white;  feathers  of  throat  aud  breast  with  dusky  central 
streaks.  Lower  tail  coverts  banded  broadly  with  black.  Inner  tail  feathers 
like  the  back,  the  others  with  a  broad  black  bar  near  the  end;  the  tips  cinna- 
mon; the  outer  on  each  side  alternately  banded  with  this  color  and  black.  A 
dull  white  line  above  aud  behind  the  eye.  Young  not  marked  or  banded  be- 
neath." 

Stretch  of 
Length.          wing.  Wing.          Tail.         Tarsus.         Bill. 

Male 6.00  9.35          2.80         2.25          .80  .70 

Female...      5.60  8.60          2.50         2.00          .78  .65 

Iris  brown;  bill  dusky,  under  pale  at  base;  legs,  feet  and 
•claws  blackish. 

The  natural  home  of  this  bleached  species  is  within  the  canons 
and  on  the  rocky  hillsides  of  the  sterile  plains,  or  bare  spots 
and  rocky  cliffs  of  the  fertile  regions.  In  their  selection  of  a 
home,  they  do  not  appear  to  seek  or  shun  the  presence  of  man, 
for  I  have  found  them  in  wild,  barren  regions,  and  about  the 
adobe  houses  in  the  Mexican  villages  and  the  log  cabins  north- 
ward. They  are  the  most  abundant  in  the  desolate,  rocky 
places,  because  such  localities  are  better  adapted  to  their  mode 
of  life,  rather  than  for  a  love  of  seclusion,  as  is  generally  sup- 
posed. During  the  breeding  season  they  are  very  shy  and  ever 
upon  the  alert,  but  at  other  times  less  regardless  of  an  intruder. 
Restless,  active  birds,  hopping  and  fluttering  from  place  to 
place,  creeping  into  the  fissures  in  the  rocks,  chinks  in  the  adobe 
buildings,  etc.,  in  search  of  insects;  scarcely  still  for  a  moment, 
for  when  standing,  they  tilt  their  bodies  and  jerk  and  spread  their 
tails  in  a  nervous,  fidgety  manner. 

The  male,  perched  upon  a  rock  or  elevated  position,  pours 
forth,  with  head  thrown  back  and  inflated  throat,  his  loud,  rapid, 
whirring,  musical  song,  so  pleasing  to  the  ear  —  especially  in 
their  wild,  secluded  retreats,  as  the  sound  breaks  the  silence  and 
rings  and  echoes  in  the  canons.  Their  ordinary  notes  are  rather 
harsh  and  varied. 

Their  nests  are  placed  in  various  situations  —  chinks  in  log 
cabins,  holes  in  adobe  buildings,  but  usually  on  the  ground, 


60S  HISTORY  OF  THE 

under  flat  rocks,  or  in  crevices  in  rocky  ledges.  Eggs  four  to 
nine,  .76x.60;  crystal  white,  sparingly  speckled  with  reddish 
brown,  chiefly  aggregating  at  and  forming  a  wreath  around  the 
larger  end;  in  form,  oval. 

GENUS  THRYOTHORUS  VIEILLOT. 

"Bill  compressed,  rather  slender;  height  about  one-fourth  the  length  above. 
Culmen  and  commissure  gently  curved  throughout;  gonys  straight;  tip  very  ob- 
soletely  notched.  Nostrils  in  the  lower  edge  of  anterior  extremity  of  the  nasal 
groove,  narrowly  elliptical,  overhung  by  a  stiff,  scale-like  roof  of  the  thickened 
membrane  of  the  upper  part  of  the  nasal  groove,  the  crescentic  edge  rounded; 
the  septum  of  nostrils  imperforate;  the  posterior  part  of  the  nasal  cavity  with  a 
short  septum  projecting  into  it  parallel  with  the  central,  not  perpendicular,  as 
in  Microc&rculus.  Wings  and  tail  about  equal,  the  latter  moderately  rounded; 
the  first  primary  more  than  half  the  second,  about  half  the  longest.  Tarsi  rather 
short,  scarcely  exceeding  middle  toe;  anterior  scutella  distinct,  rest  of  each  side 
of  tarsi  in  a  continuous  plate.  Lateral  toes  equal." 

SUBGENUS  THRYOTHORUS. 

Feathers  of  rump  with  very  distinct,  concealed  white  spots;  tail  feathers 
rusty  brownish,  narrowly  barred  for  entire  length  with  dusky  and  lighter  rusty. 
(Ridgway.) 

Tb.ryotb.orus  ludovicianus  (LATH.). 

CAROLINA  WREN. 
PLATE  XXXIV. 

Kesident;  abundant  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  State;  rare  in 
the  western  portion.  Begin  laying  early  in  April. 

B.  265.     R.  60.     C.  68.     G.  23,     310.     U.  718. 

HABITAT.  Eastern  United  States,  except  southern  Florida 
(where  it  is  replaced  by  T.  ludovicianus  miamensis)',  north  to 
southern  New  England  and  southern  Nebraska;  west  to  the 
Great  Plains;  south  into  northeastern  Mexico;  breeds  through- 
out its  range,  and  a  resident,  except  in  its  extreme  northern 
limits. 

SP.  CHAB.  "Exposed  portion  of  the  bill  shorter  than  the  head.  Above, 
reddish  brown,  most  vivid  on  the  rump.  A  whitish  streak  over  the  eye,  bor- 
dered above  with  dark  brown.  Throat  whitish;  rest  of  under  parts  pale  yel- 
low rusty,  darkest  toward  the  under  tail  coverts,  which  are  conspicuously 
barred  with  black.  Exposed  surface  of  the  wings  and  tail  ( including  the  upper 
coverts)  barred  throughout  with  brown,  the  outer  edges  of  tail  feathers  and, 
quills  showing  series  of  alternating  whitish  and  dusky  spots." 

Stretch  of 
Length.          wing.          Wing.          Tail.        Tarsus.        Bill. 

Male 5.70  7.80          2.40          2.20          .80          .65 

Female.  .        5.30  7.40          2.25          2.00          .78          .60 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  609 

Iris  hazel;  bill  —  upper  bluish  black,  under  pale  or  dull  whit- 
ish; legs  flesh  color;  feet  light  brown;  claws  brown. 

These  birds  are  quite  common  throughout  their  range.  They 
are  occasionally  found  in  the  groves  and  shrubbery  around  our 
prairie  homes,  and  throughout  the  woodlands,  but  their  favorite 
resorts  are  within  the  deep  woods  bordering  the  streams,  upon 
the  bottom  lands,  where  the  undergrowth  is  thick,  or  about  old 
logs,  fallen  trees  and  brush  heaps.  Active,  wild,  timid  birds, 
ever  upon  the  lookout,  and  ready  at  the  first  alarm  to  dive  into 
a  hiding  place,  but  too  restless  to  remain  concealed;  scarcely 
ever  at  rest,  hopping  about  the  low  branches,  creeping  over  the 
limbs,  the  sides  of  slightly  leaning  trees,  decaying  logs,  and  into 
every  hollow,  nook  or  cavity,  in  search  of  the  insect  life  upon 
which  they  feed;  uttering  at  short  intervals  a  sort  of  self-satisfied 
twitter,  their  usual  call  note,  "Chirr-chirr,"  at  times  in  a  loud 
scolding  manner. 

The  males  begin  to  sing  early  in  February,  and  are  occasion- 
ally heard  in  autumn.  The  woods  ring  with  their  loud  and  often 
prolonged  whistling,  musical,  "Willu-way!  willu-way!  willu- 
way!"  They  have  other  odd  and  varied  notes,  all  uttered  in 
an  expressive,  energetic  manner.  Mr.  Nuttall  and  several  other 
writers  say  that  these  birds  mimic  others;  they  may  do  so,  but 
I  have  known  them  for  years,  and  never  heard  them  utter  any 
sounds  outside  of  their  own  varied  notes. 

Their  flights  are  short,  direct,  and  near  the  ground,  and  are 
sustained  by  rapid  fluttering  of  their  short,  rounded  wings.  The 
parents  are  very  attentive  to  their  young,  guarding  and  rearing 
them  with  the  greatest  care. 

Their  nests  are  placed  in  cavities  in  old  logs,  rocks  and  out- 
buildings. They  are  loosely  constructed  of  bits  of  twigs,  grasses, 
leaves,  etc.,  and  lined  with  hair  and  a  few  feathers.  They  are 
quite  bulky,  usually  filling  the  space,  but,  when  it  is  too  high  to 
fill,  partially  roof  the  nest  over,  entering  a  hole  left  at  the  side. 
Eggs  three  to  seven  (usually  four  to  five),  .75x.58;  white  to 
pale,  creamy,  pinkish  white,  spotted  rather  evenly  over  the  sur- 
face with  reddish  brown  and  lilac,  but  sometimes  thickest  and 
forming  confluent  band  around  larger  end;  in  form,  rounded  oval. 

-39 


610  HISTORY  OF   THE 

SUBGENUS  TIIRYOMANES  SCLATER. 

Tail  feathers  (excepting  middle  pair)  chiefly  plain  blackish,  the  outer  feath- 
ers spotted  and  barred  at  tip  with  light  grayish  and  dull  whitish;  middle  pair 
of  tail  feathers  grayish  brown  or  brownish  gray,  barred  or  transversely  spotted 
with  black  or  dusky.  (Ridgway.) 

Thryothorus  bewickii  (Aur>.). 

BEWICK'S  WREN. 

Summer  resident;  very  rare.  Arrive  about  the  first  of  April; 
begin  laying  early  in  May;  leave  about  the  last  of  October. 

B.  267.     R.  61.     C.  71.     G.  24,     811.     U.  719. 

HABITAT.  Eastern  United  States;  north  to  New  Jersey  and 
Minnesota;  west  to  the  edge  of  the  Great  Plains  and  eastern 
Texas;  breeding  throughout  its  range;  winters  in  the  Southern 
States. 

SP.  CHAR.  "Above,  dark  rufous  brown;  rump  and  middle  tail  feathers  some- 
times a  little  paler,  and  very  slightly  tinged  with  gray,  and  (together  with  the  ex- 
posed surface  of  secondaries)  distinctly  barred  with  dusky.  Beneath,  soiled 
plumbeous  whitish;  flanks  brown;  crissum  banded;  ground  color  of  quills  and 
tail  feathers  brownish  black." 

Stretch  of 
Length.         wing.          Wing.          Tail.         Tarsus.        Bill. 

Male 5.40        ,7.15         2.25        2.35          .70  .53 

Female...      5.10  6.90          2.10        2.15          .68          .52 

Iris  brown;  bill  black,  with  under  pale  bluish  at  base;  legs, 
feet  and  claws  dark  brown. 

These  familiar  birds  are  of  rare  occurrence  in  their  extreme 
western  range,  but  very  common  east  of  the  Mississippi  River 
to  the  Alleghanies;  rare  and  local  eastward.  They  frequent  the 
thickets  and  clumps  of  bushes  on  the  prairies,  fields  and  hill- 
sides, but  in  the  settled  portions  of  the  country  prefer  for  their 
homes  the  shrubbery  about  the  dwelling  houses  and  outbuild- 
ings. Mr.  Kidgway,  in  "Birds  of  Illinois,"  happily  says: 

"No  bird  more  deserves  the  protection  of  man  than  Bewick's 
Wren.  He  does  not  need  man's  encouragement,  for  he  comes 
of  his  own  accord  and  installs  himself  as  a  member  of  the  com- 
munity wherever  it  suits  his  taste.  He  is  found  about  the  cow 
shed  and  barn  along  with  the  Pewee  and  Barn  Swallow;  he  in- 
vestigates the  pig  sty,  then  explores  the  garden  fence,  and  finally 
mounts  to  the  roof  and  pours  forth  one  of  the  sweetest  songs 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  611 

that  ever  was  heard.  Not  a  voluble  gabble,  like  the  House 
Wren's  merry  roundelay,  but  a  fine,  clear,  bold  song,  uttered  as 
the  singer  sits  with  head  thrown  back  and  long  tail  pendent  — 
a  song  which  may  be  heard  a  quarter  of  a  mile  or  more,  and  in 
comparison  with  which  the  faint  chant  of  the  Song  Sparrow 
sinks  into  insignificance.  The  ordinary  note  is  a  low,  soft 
'Plit,'  (occasionally  a  rather  harsh,  scolding  note,)  uttered  as 
the  bird  hops  about,  its  long  tail  carried  erect  or  even  leaning 
forward,  and  jerked  to  one  side  at  short  intervals.  In  its  move- 
ments it  is  altogether  more  deliberate  than  either  T.  ludovicianus 
or  T.  aedon,  but  nothing  can  excel  it  in  quickness  when  it  is 
pursued." 

Their  nests  are  built  in  deserted  Woodpecker  holes,  hollow 
logs,  nooks  in  buildings,  or  any  cavity  they  may  fancy.  They 
are  loosely  constructed  of  sticks,  rootlets,  stems,  spiders'  webs, 
grasses,  etc. ,  and  lined  with  fur,  or  most  any  soft  substance,  and 
a  few  downy  feathers;  quite  bulky,  usually  filling  the  space,  but 
I  think  in  no  case  roofed  over.  Eggs  usually  seven  to  nine  — 
as  high  as  eleven  have  been  taken  —  .66x.50;  white,  speckled 
with  light  and  dark  shades  of  reddish  brown  and  purple  shell 
stains,  thickest  around  the  larger  end;  in  form,  oval. 

Thryothorus  bewickii  bairdi  (SALV.  &  GODM.). 

BAIRD'S  WREN. 

PLATE  XXXIV. 

Resident  in  southern  Kansas;    common  in  the  middle  and 
southwestern  portion.      Begin  laying  early  in  May. 
B. .     R.  61&.     C.  72.     G. ,     312.     U.  719&. 

HABITAT.  From  middle  Kansas,  Colorado  and  Utah  south, 
through  western  Texas,  New  Mexico  and  Arizona,  into  Mexico. 
Breeds  throughout  its  range. 

SP.  CHAR.  "Above,  ashy  brown;  rump  and  middle  tail  feathers  brownish 
ash,  the  former  nearly  pure  ash;  without  appreciable  bars;  bars  on  secondaries 
obsolete.  Beneath,  including  inside  of  wing,  pure  white,  with  little  or  no  brown- 
ish on  the  sides.  Crissum  banded;  ground  color  of  the  quills  and  tail  feathers 
grayish  brown." 

Stretch  of 
Length.        -wing.  Wing.  Tail.          Tarsus.         Bill. 

Male 5.60        7.50         2.30          2.50          .70          .55 

Female  . .    .   5.20        7.15         2.15          2.30          .68          .53 


612  HISTORY  OF   THE 

Iris  brown;  bill  black,  with  under  pale  blue  at  base;  legs, 
feet  and  claws  dark  brown. 

This  bleached  race  of  the  plains  is  similar  in  habits  and  ac- 
tions to  Bewick's  Wren,  and  its  song,  call  notes,  manner  of 
nesting  and  eggs  are  not  noticeably  different.  A  set  of  five  eggs, 
taken  at  Corpus  Christi,  Texas,  May  9th,  1882,  are,  in  dimen- 
sions: .62x.49,  .63x.49,  .63x.50,  .63x.50,  .63x.50. 

GENUS  TROGLODYTES  VIEILT.OT. 

"Bill  only  gently  curved  at  the  tip.  Outstretched  feet,  reaching  nearly  to  or 
beyond  the  end  of  the  tail.  Back  without  streaks.  No  distinct  superciliary 
stripe." 

SUBGENUS  TROGLODYTES. 
Tail  more  than  three-fourths  as  long  as  wing.  (Ridgway.) 

Troglodytes  aedon  aztecus  BAIKD. 

WESTERN  HOUSE  WREN. 
PLATE  XXXIV. 

Summer  resident;  common.  Arrive  in  April;  begin  laying 
about  the  middle  of  May.  Leave  in  September. 

B.  271.     R.  63a.     C.  75.     G.  26,     313.     U.  7215. 

HABITAT.  Western  United  States,  except  Pacific  coast;  east 
to  Illinois;  south  into  Mexico  to  Vera  Cruz;  breeds  throughout 
its  United  States  range,  and  probably  southward. 

This  variety  of  T.  aedon  was  entered  in  my  "Catalogues  of 
the  Birds  of  Kansas"  as  T.  aedon  parkmanii,  as  at  that  time  its 
habitat  was  supposed  to  embrace  the  western  United  States  east 
to  or  near  the  Mississippi  River.  Since  then,  the  A.  O.  U.  Com- 
mittee, in  reviewing  the  material  before  them,  have  decided  that 
the  birds  on  the  Pacific  coast  differ  enough  in  color,  etc.,  to  form 
another  subspecies,  and,  as  the  name  T.  parkmanii  was  given  by 
Audubon  to  a  bird  procured  on  the  Columbia  River,  the  new 
form  properly  retains  the  name,  and  our  bird  becomes  T.  aedon 
aztecus. 

SP.  CHAK.  of  T.  aedon.  "Tail  and  wings  about  equal.  Bill  shorter  than 
head.  Above,  reddish  brown,  darker  towards  the  head,  brighter  on  the  rump. 
The  feathers  everywhere,  except  on  the  head  and  neck,  barred  with  dusky;  ob- 
scurely so  on  the  back,  and  still  less  on  the  rump.  All  the  tail  feathers  barred 
from  the  base;  the  contrast  more  vivid  on  the  exterior  one.  Beneath,  pale  f nl- 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  613 

vous  white,  tinged  with  light  brownish  across  the  breast;  the  posterior  parts 
rather  dark  brown,  obscurely  banded.  Under  tail  coverts  whitish,  with  dusky 
bars.  An  indistinct  line  over  the  eye,  eyelids  and  loral  region  whitish.  Cheeks 
brown,  streaked  with  whitish." 

This  subspecies  differs  from  the  above  description,  in  being 
somewhat  paler  and  grayer,  with  less  rufous  on  rump  and  tail, 
more  noticeable  upon  the  plains  (as  would  naturally  be  expected), 
but  it  shades  so  gradually  back  into  the  color  of  the  eastern 
bird  the  dividing  line  cannot  well  be  determined. 

With  all  deference  to  the  committee,  it  is  my  opinion  that 
the  differences  are  too  inconstant  to  warrant  the  separation  of 
either  form,  and  that  T.  aedon  should  be  the  recognized  bird 
from  coast  to  coast. 

Stretch  of 
Length.  wing.  Wing.         Tail.         Tarsus.          Bill. 

Male 5.00  6.75          2.15         2.05          .67  .51 

Female...       4.70  6.40          2.00         1.90          .65  .49 

Iris  brown;  bill  —  upper  dusky,  under  pale;  legs  and  feet 
brown;  claws  dark  brown. 

These  interesting,  familiar  little  birds  are  very  common,  or 
rather  locally  so,  throughout  their  range  —  abundant  in  some 
localities,  and,  perhaps  in  the  near  vicinity,  rare,  or  not  to  be 
found.  They  frequent  the  open,  shrubby  hills  and  mountain 
sides,  and  scanty  growths  bordering  the  streams  upon  the  plains 
and  unsettled  portions  of  the  country;  but,  within  the  settle- 
ments, prefer  for  their  haunts  the  orchards,  gardens  or  shrubbery 
about  the  dwelling  houses  and  outbuildings.  Pugnacious  little 
fellows,  that  boldly  attack  the  larger  birds,  and,  by  scolding  and 
harassing,  drive  the  house  cat  and  other  prowling  enemies  away; 
and,  regardless  of  property  rights,  take  possession  of  the  Blue- 
bird and  Martin  houses,  and  are  often  able  to  retain  possession. 

They  are  industrious  insect  hunters,  searching  in  the  bushes, 
vines,  woodpile,  etc.,  and  creeping  and  peeping  into  every  nook 
and  cranny  for  the  same.  They  move  about  with  tail  erect,  in 
a  quick,  nervous  manner. 

Their  song,  heard  almost  incessantly  during  the  early  breed- 
ing season,  is  poured  forth  from  a  perch,  in  a  vigorous  manner, 
with  swollen  throat,  head  thrown  back,  depressed  tail  and  trem- 
ulous wings,  a  picture  of  happiness  and  content.  A  sprightly, 


HISTORY  OF  THE 

pleasing,  warbling,  flippant  and  voluble  song,  but,  to  my  ear, 
not  remarkably  musical.  Outside  from  their  song  and  interest- 
ing ways,  they  are  valuable  in  the  destruction  of  injurious  insect 
life,  and  are  in  no  way  harmful;  and,  for  these  reasons,  suitable 
boxes  are  or  should  be  placed  in  the  porches,  and  nailed  to  the 
outbuildings,  for  their  reception. 

Their  nests  are  placed  in  holes  in  trees,  logs  and  stumps,  and 
about  dwelling  houses,  in  boxes,  etc.,  entering  outhouses  through 
crevices  and  knotholes — in  fact,  most  anywhere  (I  once  found 
a  nest  in  the  skull  of  a  buffalo);  loosely  constructed  of  sticks, 
weeds,  etc.,  filling  the  cavities,  leaving  a  small  opening  for  en- 
trance; within  the  rubbish  they  construct  an  inner  nest,  com- 
posed of  finer  material,  lining  the  same  with  feathers,  fur,  and 
most  any  soft,  warm  substance.  Eggs  seven  to  nine,  .  64x.49; 
ground  color  white  to  pinkish  white,  but  so  thickly  dotted  with 
specks  of  reddish  brown  and  a  few  purple  markings  that  the 
white  is  concealed;  in  form,  oval. 

STJBGENTJS  ANORTHURA  RENNIE. 

Tail  less  than  three-fourths  as  long  as  wing.  Nest  of  moss,  etc.,  lined  with 
soft  feathers,  built  in  crevices  of  dead  logs  or  stumps,  in  thick,  coniferous  woods. 
Eggs  five  to  seven;  white  or  creamy  white,  finely  but  rather  sparingly  speckled 
with  reddish  brown;  sometimes  nearly  immaculate.  (Ridgway.) 

Troglodytes  hiemalis  VIEIIX. 

WINTER  WREN. 
PLATE  XXXIV. 

Winter  sojourner;  rather  rare.  Leave  in  March;  begin  to 
return  in  October. 

B.  273.     R.  65.     C.  76.     G.  27,     314.     U.  722. 

HABITAT.  Eastern  North  America;  west  to  the  Rocky  Mount- 
ains; breeding  from  the  northern  United  States  northward; 
wintering  from  about  its  southern  breeding  limits  southward  to 
or  near  the  Gulf  coast. 

SP.  CHAR.  Above,  deep  brown,  duller  anteriorly,  brighter  (a  burnt  umber 
tint)  on  rump  and  upper  tail  coverts,  the  wings  and  tail  (often  rump  and  back 
also)  narrowly  barred  with  dusky;  outer  webs  of  quills  spotted  with  dusky  ami 
pale  brownish  or  brownish  white;  superciliary  stripe  and  lower  parts  pale  Isa- 
bella brownish,  varying  to  dull  light  tawny,  the  belly,  flanks  and  under  tail  cov- 
erts distinctly  barred  with  blackish  and  whitish.  Chin,  throat,  chest  and  breast 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  615 

pale  dull  Isabella  color,  sometimes  inclining  to  dull  brownish  white  anteriorly; 
upper  parts  more  rusty  brown.   (Hid ff way.) 

Stretch  of 
Length.  wing.  Wing.          Tail.         Tarsus.         Bill. 

Male 3.90  6.05  1.80         1.25  .70          .43 

Female...       3.75  5.80          1.70         1.15  .68         .40 

Iris  dark  brown;  bill  dusky,  with  under  pale  at  base;  legs, 
feet  and  claws  light  brown. 

These  chubby  little  birds  are  to  be  looked  for  in  the  deep 
woods,  among  the  upturned  roots  of  fallen  trees,  old  moss  cov- 
ered logs  and  decaying  debris.  Active,  pert  little  fellows,  that 
with  tails  more  than  erect  flit  from  place  to  place,  and  in  their 
search  for  insect  life,  peep  into  the  crevices  in  the  bark,  and 
under  the  fallen  leaves,  and  (like  mice)  creep  into  cavities,  hol- 
low logs  and  every  conceivable  dark,  secluded  nook,  uttering 
now  and  then  their  "Chirr"  note.  They  never  mount  into  the 
treetops,  and  seldom  above  the  low  bushes,  keeping,  as  a  rule, 
on  or  near  the  ground. 

In  the  summer  of  1880,  I  found  the  birds  quite  common  in 
the  thick  growths  of  stunted  spruce  trees  and  tangled  bushes 
on  Byron  Isle,  one  of  the  Magdalen  group,  in  the  Gulf  of  St. 
Lawrence;  and  there  had  the  pleasure  of  listening  to  their  rich, 
voluble  song,  which  far  surpasses  any  of  the  family  in  power 
and  melody.  It  rang  out  so  clear  and  resonant  I  could  not  be- 
lieve it  came  from  the  throat  of  so  small  a  bird,  until  I  at  last 
caught  sight  of  one  singing  from  a  fallen  tree.  I  say  at  last,  for 
it  was  a  long,  long  time  before  I  could  catch  more  than  a  passing 
glimpse,  as  they  slyly  flitted  around  me  in  their  almost  impene- 
trable, secluded  retreats.  I  also  searched  for  their  nests  but 
failed  to  find  one,  but  just  before  I  left  the  island,  saw  several 
young  birds  nearly  full  grown.  Doctor  Brewer,  in  "North 
American  Land  Birds,"  gives  the  following  description  of  their 
nests  and  eggs: 

"Mr.  Audubon  met  with  its  nest  in  a  thick  forest  in  Penn- 
sylvania. He  followed  a  pair  of  these  birds  until  they  disap- 
peared in  the  hollow  of  a  protuberance  covered  with  moss  and 
lichens,  resembling  the  excresences  often  seen  on  forest  trees. 
The  aperture  was  perfectly  rounded  and  quite  smooth.  He  put 


016  II 18 TORT  OF   THE 

his  finger  in  and  felt  the  pecking  of  the  bird's  bill  and  heard  its 
querulous  cry.  He  was  obliged  to  remove  the  parent  bird  in 
order  to  see  the  eggs,  which  were  six  in  number.  The  parent 
birds  made  a  great  clamor  as  he  was  examining  them.  The 
nest  was  seven  inches  in  length  and  four  and  a  half  in  breadth. 
Its  walls  were  composed  of  mosses  and  lichens,  and  were  nearly 
two  inches  in  thickness.  The  cavity  was  very  warmly  lined 
with  the  fur  of  the  American  hare  and  a  few  soft  feathers. 
Another  nest,  found  on  the  Mohawk,  in  New  York,  was  similar, 
but  smaller,  and  built  against  the  side  of  a  rock  near  its  bottom. 

"Mr.  William  F.  Hall  met  with  the  nest  and  eggs  of  this  bird 
at  Camp  Sebois,  in  the  central  eastern  portion  of  Maine.  It  was 
built  in  an  unoccupied  log  hut,  among  the  fir  leaves  and  mosses 
in  a  crevice  between  the  logs.  It  was  large  and  bulky,  com- 
posed externally  of  mosses,  and  lined  with  the  fur  of  the  hedge 
hogs  and  the  feathers  of  the  Spruce  Partridge  and  other  birds. 
It  was  in  the  shape  of  a  pouch,  and  the  entrance  was  neatly 
framed  with  fine  pine  sticks.  The  eggs  were  six  in  number, 
and  somewhat  resembled  those  of  the  Parus  atricapillus.  The 
female  was  seen  and  fully  identified. 

"In  this  nest,  which  measured  five  and  three-quarters  inches 
by  five  in  breadth,  the  size,  solidity  and  strength,  in  view  of  the 
diminutive  proportions  of  its  tiny  architect,  are  quite  remarkable. 
The  walls  are  two  inches  in  thickness  and  very  strongly  im- 
pacted and  woven.  The  cavity  was  an  inch  and  a  quarter  wide 
and  four  inches  deep.  Its  hemlock  framework  had  been  made 
of  green  materials,  and  their  strong  and  agreeable  odor  per- 
vaded the  structure.  The  eggs  measured  .65x.48  of  an  inch, 
and  were  spotted  with  a  bright  reddish  brown  and  a  few  pale 
markings  of  purplish  slate,  on  a  pure  white  ground.  Compared 
with  the  eggs  of  the  European  Wren,  their  eggs  are  larger,  less 
oval  in  shape,  and  the  spots  much  more  marked  in  their  charac- 
ter and  distinctness." 

GENUS  CISTOTHORUS  CABANIS. 

"Bill  about  as  long  as  the  head,  or  much  shorter,  much  compressed,  not 
notched,  gently  decurved  from  the  middle;  the  gouys  slightly  concave  or  straight. 
Toes  reaching  to  the  end  of  the  tail;  tarsus  longer  than  middle  toe;  hind  toe 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  617 

longer  than  the  lateral,  shorter  than  the  middle;  lateral  toes  about  equal;  hind 
toe  longer  than  or  equal  to  its  digit.  Wings  rather  longer  than  tail,  all  the 
feathers  of  which  are  much  graduated;  the  lateral  only  two-thirds  the  middle. 
The  feathers  narrow.  Back  black,  conspicuously  streaked  with  white." 

SUBGEXUS  CISTOTHORUS. 

"  Bill  short,  stout;  its  depth  equal  to  one-half  its  length  from  the  nostril; 
gonys  straight,  or  even  convex,  ascending.  Crown  streaked;  no  distinct  super- 
ciliary stripe." 

Cistothorus  stellaris  (LICHT.). 

SHORT-BILLED  MARSH  WREN. 
PLATE  XXXIV. 

Summer  resident;  rare.  Arrive  the  last  of  April  to  first  of 
May;  begin  laying  the  last  of  May  to  first  of  June;  leave  for 
the  south  the  last  of  October  to  middle  of  November. 

B.  269.     R.  68.     C.  81.     G.  29,     315.     U.  724. 

HABITAT.  Eastern  United  States  and  more  southern  British 
possessions;  west  to  the  Great  Plains.  Breeds  occasionally 
throughout  its  range,  but  chiefly  north  of  latitude  41°.  Win- 
ters in  Gulf  States,  and  probably  a  little  southward. 

SP.  CHAR.  "Bill  very  short,  scarcely  half  the  length  of  the  head.  Wing 
and  tail  about  equal.  Hinder  part  of  the  crown,  and  the  scapular  and  iuterscap- 
ular  region  of  the  back  and  rump,  almost  black,  streaked  with  white.  Tail 
dusky,  the  feathers  barred  throughout  with  brown  (the  color  grayish  on  the 
under  surface).  Beneath,  white;  the  sides,  upper  parts  of  breast  and  under 
tail  coverts  reddish  brown.  Upper  parts,  with  the  exception  mentioned,  red- 
dish brown.  The  flanks  and  under  tail  coverts  are  sometimes  of  a  dull  buffy 
ochraceous  hue." 

Stretch  of 
Length.          wing.  Wing.          Tail.       Tarsus.        Bill. 

Male 4.50  5.80  1.85         1.70         .62          .40 

Female...      4.25  5.50          1.70        1.60         .62          .38 

Iris  dark  brown;  bill  —  upper  dusky,  under  pale  at  base;  legs, 
feet  and  claws  brown;  bottoms  of  feet  dull  yellowish. 

I  am  very  familar  with  the  habits  of  this  species,  especially 
upon  their  breeding  grounds  in  Wisconsin;  but  feel  that  I  can 
not  add  anything  of  interest  to  the  following  pleasing  and  accu- 
rate description,  taken  from  Mr.  Nehrling's  interestingly  written 
work  on  "North  American  Birds,"  (now  being  published  in 
parts): 

"The  Short-billed  Marsh  Wren  is  found  in  great  numbers  in 
some  localities  in  Wisconsin  and  Illinois,  and  thence  eastward  to 


618  HISTORY  OF  THE 

the  Atlantic  coast  Westward,  it  ranges  to  the  Great  Plains, 
and  north  to  Manitoba,  wintering  in  great  numbers  in  the  Gulf 
States  and  southward.  In  the  Koshkonong  and  Horicon 
marshes,  and  on  the  swampy  borders  of  the  Menomenee  and 
Rock  Rivers,  in  Wisconsin,  this  Wren  is  very  common;  but,  as  it 
is  a  shy  bird,  and  difficult  to  approach,  comparatively  few  per- 
sons are  acquainted  with  it.  It  always  loves  to  take  up  its 
abode  in  the  seclusion  of  the  swamps  and  marshes,  where  it  i& 
found  usually  in  pairs,  and  not  in  colonies,  like  the  long-billed 
species.  In  marsh  places,  partly  covered  with  a  growth  of 
scrubby  willows,  in  swamps,  where  the  beautiful  Red-winged 
Blackbird  and  Gallinules  are  its  neighbors,  and  in  low,  grassy 
meadows,  adorned  with  gorgeous  Canada  and  meadow  lilies, 
where  the  tinkling,  mellow  strains  of  the  Bobolink  float  down 
from  above,  I  have  met  with  this  nimble  little  Wren  frequently. 
Here,  also,  in  the  balmy  month  of  June,  its  song  —  if  song  it  can 
be  called  —  may  be  heard.  The  notes  are  very  lively,  and 
quaint,  consisting  of  a  number  of  soft  and  melodious  sounds, 
blended  frequently  with  harsh,  wiry  tones.  Being  very  assidu- 
ous, the  little  songster  makes  up  in  quantity  of  song  what  it 
lacks  in  quality.  But  could  we  expect  anything  different  from 
a  bird  which  inhabits  localities  where  the  bullfrog  incessantly 
sends  forth  its  discordant  croaks  throughout  the  entire  spring- 
time; where  the  cricket's  croon  is  the  farewell  of  summer,  as  the 
trill  of  the  toad  is  the  prelude  to  spring?  The  strain  is  very 
similar  to  that  of  the  Long-billed  species,  but  not  so  loud,  and 
more  varied.  Both  birds  are  very  diligent  songsters,  delivering 
their  melodies  usually  from  the  top  of  a  tuft  of  reeds,  or  bull- 
rushes.  When  the  bird  is  approached  too  near,  the  song  closes 
with  a  harsh  and  scolding  utterance;  then  the  singer  glides 
down  in  the  tangled  masses  of  reeds,  where  it  disappears  with 
celerity,  and  considerable  exertion  is  required  to  drive  him  from 
the  dense  vegetation. 

"Evidently  our  bird  is  far  more  numerous  than  is  generally 
supposed,  but  its  living  in  secluded  localities  and  its  modest 
color  causes  it  to  be  overlooked  by  most  people.  Only  the  true 
friend  of  nature,  who  is  accustomed  to  ramble  about  through 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  (519 

forest  and  meadow,  through  marshes  and  swamps,  knows  where 
to  find  it.  I  observed  this  Wren  during  the  entire  year  in 
marshy  places  near  the  Gulf  coast  of  Texas,  and  Mr.  Maynard 
found  it  all  along  the  eastern  side  of  Indian  River,  Fla.,  espe- 
cially in  savannas  covered  with  short  grass,  which  grows  so 
thickly  that  it  becomes  matted  together. 

"The  nest  is  always  placed  in  a  tussock  of  reeds  or  coarse 
grass,  the  tops  of  which  are  'ingeniously  interwoven  into  a  coarse 
and  strong  covering,  spherical  in  shape  and  closed  on  every 
side,  except  one  small  aperture  left  for  an  entrance.  The  strong, 
wiry  grass  of  the  tussock  is  also  interwoven  with  finer  materials, 
making  the  whole  impervious  to  the  weather.'  This  globe-like 
structure  is  lined  with  finer  grasses,  and  sometimes  with  soft 
vegetable  down,  but  no  mud  is  used  in  the  construction.  Occa- 
sionally we  may  find  the  nest  in  a  grassy  meadow,  where  it  is 
usually  placed  low  down  in  a  tussock  of  grass  instead  of  hang- 
ing in  the  tops  of  swaying  sedges.  The  eggs  are  entirely  dif- 
ferent from  those  of  the  Long-billed  species,  being  pure  white, 
unmarked.  They  number  from  six  to  eight;  measure  about  .64 
x. 50  inch." 

SUBGENUS  TELMATODYTES  CABANIS. 

Bill  as  long  as  head,  the  culmen  equal  to  or  longer  than  the  middle  toe  with- 
out claw;  hind  claw  longer  than  the  toe;  lower  parts  pure  white  medially.  Eggs 
pale  chocolate  brown  or  deeper  chocolate,  sometimes  nearly  uniform,  but  usually 
finely  sprinkled  with  a  deeper  shade  of  the  ground  color  (the  latter  sometimes 
light  Isabella  color).  (Ridgicay.) 

Cistithorus  palustris  (WILS.). 

LONG-BILLED  MARSH  WREN. 
PLATE  XXXIV. 

Summer  resident;  not  common.  Arrive  the  last  of  April  to 
first  of  May;  begin  laying  the  last  of  May;  leave  in  October. 

B.  268.     R.  67,     67a.     C.  79,     80.     G.  28,     316.     U.  725. 

HABITAT.  Temperate  eastern  North  America;  accidental  in 
Greenland;  west  to  the  Rocky  Mountains  (replaced  westward 
by  C.  palustris  paludicola);  breeds  throughout  its  range;  win- 
ters in  the  Gulf  States,  and  probably  south  into  eastern  Mexico. 

SP.  CHAK.  "  Bill  about  as  long  as  head.  Tail  and  wing  nearly  equal.  Up- 
per parts  of  a  dull,  reddish  brown,  except  on  the  crown,  interscapular  region, 


620  HISTORY  OF  TUP: 

outer  surface  of  tertials,  and  tail  feathers,  which  are  almost  black;  the  first  with 
a  median  patch  like  the  ground  color;  the  second  with  short  streaks  of  white, 
extending  round  on  the  sides  of  the  neck;  the  third  indented  with  brown;  the 
fourth  barred  with  whitish,  decreasing  in  amount  from  the  outer  feather,  which 
is  marked  from  the  base  to  the  fifth,  where  it  is  confined  to  the  tips;  the  two 
middle  feathers  above  like  the  back,  and  barred  throughout  with  dusky.  Be- 
neath, rather  pure  white,  the  sides  and  under  tail  coverts  of  a  lighter  shade  of 
brown  than  the  back;  a  white  streak  over  the  eye." 

Stretch  of 
Length.  wing.          Wing.  Tail.         Tarsus.         Bill. 

Male 5.20  6.65          2.00         1.75          .77  .55 

Female...      5.00  6.50          1.95         1.70          .75  .52 

Iris  dark  brown;  bill  dusky,  under  pale  at  base;  legs  pale 
brown;  feet  and  claws  brown. 

This  species  makes  its  home  in  the  rank  growths  of  wild  rice, 
reeds,  cat  tails  and  rushes  bordering  ponds  and  sloughs;  differ- 
ing in  this  respect  from  its  cousin,  the  Short-billed,  that  prefers 
the  marshes  and  moist  meadow  lands.  In  the  early  settlement 
of  Wisconsin,  I  had  a  good  opportunity  to  observe  the  habits  of 
these  birds  on  the  bogs  and  in  the  wild  rice  and  rushes,  etc., 
growing  in  the  lower  half  of  Pewaukee  Lake,  a  favorite  resort 
and  breeding  place  at  that  time  for  the  water  fowls  and  birds 
that  frequent  such  places.  Brother  and  I  knew  their  haunts 
well,  but  few  escaping  our  notice  as  we  silently  paddled  our 
light  log  canoe  through  the  thick  growths  and  openings,  haul- 
ing it  over  the  bogs  and  where  the  water  was  too  shallow  to  float 
us.  Happy  days !  As  we  approached  the  breeding  grounds  of 
these  eccentric  birds,  they  never  failed  to  interest;  singing, 
scolding  and  chattering  around  us  in  their  hidden  retreats,  and 
when  we  stopped  to  listen  or  rest,  the  inquisitive,  saucy  little 
fellows  would  often  come  close  and  peep  at  us,  hanging  side- 
ways to  the  stalks  and  in  every  conceivable  position,  with  tails 
at  times  almost  resting  on  their  backs.  If  we  remained  motion- 
less, they  would  soon,  regardless  of  our  presence,  commence 
climbing  up  and  down  the  stems  in  search  of  the  insects  and 
small  forms  of  aquatic  life  that  abound  in  such  places,  creeping 
nimbly  to  the  water's  edge,  swaying  head  downward  in  the 
slender  tops,  or  flitting  about,  too  nervous  and  restless  to  be 
still,  hidden  one  moment,  in  sight  the  next,  but  disappearing 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  621 

like  a  flash  at  the  first  motion,  and,  as  we  moved  on,  would 
skulk,  hide,  sing  and  chatter  around  us  as  at  first. 

Their  song  commences  with  a  rather  harsh,  creaking  note,  and 
ends  in  a  rattling  twitter.  It  is  full  of  energy,  but  not  musical. 
Their  flights  are  short  and  fluttering,  but  when  crossing  an 
opening,  quick  and  direct.  On  account  of  their  haunts,  they 
are  local  in  their  distribution,  and  more  abundant  than  they 
are  generally  reported  to  be. 

Their  nests  are  sometimes  built  in  a  low,  swampy  bush,  where 
hidden  in  the  grasses,  but  usually  in  the  growing  wild  rice, 
reeds  and  coarse  grasses;  they  are  rather  compactly  constructed 
of  leaves  from  the  grasses,  ingeniously  woven  in  and  around 
the  standing  stalks;  occasionally  bits  of  moss  or  other  soft  sub- 
stances are  worked  in;  a  globular  nest,  about  five  inches  in  di- 
ameter, with  a  small  round  hole  on  the  side  for  entrance,  and 
lined  with  feathers  and  soft,  cotton-like  substances  from  plants. 
For  some  unaccountable  reason  the  birds  build  many  nests  that 
at  the  close  of  the  season  show  no  signs  of  having  been  occupied. 
Eggs  five  to  nine,  .  65x.46;  ground  color  ashy  brown,  but  so 
thickly  sprinkled  with  chocolate  brown  that  some  specimens  ap- 
pear uniform;  in  form,  oval. 

FAMILY  CERTHIID^l.   CREEPERS. 

"Primaries  ten;  first  very  short;  less  than  half  the  second.  Tail  long, 
wedge  shaped,  the  feathers  stiffened  and  acute.  Bill  slender,  much  compressed, 
and  curved.  Outer  lateral  toe  much  longest;  hind  toe  exceeding  both  the  mid- 
dle toe  and  the  tarsus,  which  is  scutellate  anteriorly,  and  very  short.  Entire 
basal  joint  of  middle  toe  united  to  the  lateral." 


GENUS  CERTHIA 
"  Plumage  soft  and  loose.  Bill  as  long  as  head,  not  notched,  compressed 
all  its  lateral  outlines  decurved.  Nostrils  not  overhung  by  feathers,  linear, 
with  an  incumbent  thickened  scale,  as  in  Troglodytes.  No  rictal  bristles,  and 
the  loral  and  frontal  feathers  smooth,  without  bristly  shafts.  Tarsus  scutellate 
anteriorly,  shorter  than  middle  toe,  which  again  is  shorter  than  hind  toe.  All 
claws  very  long,  much  curved  and  compressed;  outer  lateral  toe  much  the 
longer;  basal  joint  of  middle  toe  entirely  adherent  to  adjacent  ones.  Wings 
rather  pointed,  about  equal  to  the  tail,  the  feathers  of  which  are  much  pointed, 
with  stiffened  shafts.  Primaries  ten;  nrst  less  than  half  the  second." 


622  HISTORY  OF   THE 

Certhia  familiaris  americana  (BOXAP.). 

BROWN  CREEPER. 
PLATE  XXXIV. 

Winter  sojourner;  common  in  the  eastern  portion  of  the  State; 
rare  westward.  Leave  the  last  of  March  to  first  of  April;  begin 
to  return  in  October. 

B.  275.     R.  55.     C.  62.     G.  21,     317.     U.  726. 

HABITAT.  Temperate  eastern  North  America;  west  to  the 
Great  Plains  (represented  westward  in  the  Rocky  Mountain  re- 
gion by  C.  familiaris  montana,  and  on  the  Pacific  side  by  C. 
familiaris  occidentalis);  breeds  from  the  northern  United  States 
northward;  winters  southward  into  the  Gulf  States. 

SP.  CHAR.  "Bill  about  the  length  of  the  head.  Above,  dark  brown,  with  a 
slightly  rufous  shade,  each  feather  streaked  centrally,  but  not  abruptly,  with 
whitish;  rump  rusty.  Beneath,  almost  silky  white;  the  under  tail  coverts  with 
a  faint  rusty  tinge.  A  white  streak  over  the  eye;  the  ear  coverts  streaked  with 
whitish.  Tail  feathers  brown  centrally,  the  edges  paler  yellowish  brown. 
Wings  with  a  transverse  bar  of  pale  reddish  white  across  both  webs.  Young: 
Resembling  the  adult,  but  streaks  above  indistinct,  and  the  feathers  there  tipped 
indistinctly  with  blackish;  the  rufous  restricted  to  the  upper  tail  coverts.  Breast 
and  jugulum  with  very  minute  blackish  wavings  of  indistinct  bars." 

Stretch  of 
Length.         wing.  Wing.          Tail.       Tarsus.         Bill. 

Male 5.60         7.85         2.55        2.60        .58         .62 

Female 5.25         7.50         2.40        2.35        .55          .60 

Iris  brown;  bill  dark  brown,  with  base  of  under  flesh  color; 
legs  and  feet  reddish  brown;  claws  a  shade  darker. 

The  natural  haunts  of  these  peculiar  birds  are  within  the  deep 
woods,  but  during  migration  are  occasionally  met  with  in  our 
shade  trees,  orchards,  scattering  trees  upon  the  prairies  and  that 
fringe  the  streams  far  out  upon  the  plains.  They  are  not  soci- 
able birds,  so  far  as  relates  to  their  own  kin,  and  lead  a  rather 
isolated,  solitary  life,  except  during  the  mated  season,  and  then 
are  only  in  pairs;  but  they  are  often  found  associating  with  the 
Nuthatches  and  Titmice;  not,  I  think,  from  choice,  but  because 
the  insect  life  is  the  most  abundant.  In  their  search  for  the 
eggs  and  larva  and  small  forms  of  life  hidden  in  the  interstices 
of  the  bark,  they  climb  the  trees  in  a  jerky  manner,  and  usually 
spiral-like;  sometimes  but  a  short  distance,  at  others  nearly  to 
the  top,  flying  in  either  case  and  alighting  at  the  foot  of  another 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  623 

tree,  and  creep  upwards  as  before,  repeating  the  performance, 
as  they  cannot  creep  downward  like  the  Nuthatches.  Their 
feet  and  sharp  claws  are  admirably  adapted  to  climbing,  and 
their  stiff  tails  keep  them  erect  as  they  ascend. 

They  are  not  wild,  but  rather  shy,  and  manage  to  keep  on  the 
opposite  side  of  the  trees  from  the  intruder.  Their  presence 
would  seldom  be  noticed  were  it  not  for  their  oft-repeated,  feeble, 
but  sharp,  creaky  "Cree-cree-cree-cree,"  and  occasional  soft,  lisp- 
ing "Chip." 

I  am  unacquainted  with  their  breeding  habits,  and  therefore 
take  pleasure  in  quoting  the  following  description  of  their  song 
and  nests,  from  Mr.  Wm.  Brewster's  observations  during  the 
months  of  May  and  June,  in  the  timbered  regions  of  Lake  Um- 
bagog,  in  Western  Maine: 

"He  is  a  frequent,  but  scarcely  a  persistent  singer, 
and  his  voice,  though  one  of  the  sweetest  that  ever  rises  in  the 
depth  of  the  northern  forests,  is  never  a  very  conspicuous  sound 
in  the  woodlands  where  he  makes  his  home.  This  is  due  to  the 
fact  that  his  song  is  short,  and  by  no  means  powerful,  but  its 
tones  are  so  exquisitely  pure  and  tender,  that  I  have  never  heard 
it  without  a  desire  to  linger  in  the  vicinity  until  it  has  been  many 
times  repeated.  It  consists  of  a  bar  of  four  notes  —  the  first  of 
moderate  pitch,  the  second  lower  and  less  emphatic,  the  third 
rising  again,  and  the  last  abruptly  falling,  but  dying  away  in  an 
indescribably  plaintive  cadence,  like  the  soft  sigh  of  the  wind 
among  the  pine  boughs.  I  can  compare  it  to  no  other  bird  voice 
that  I  have  ever  heard.  In  the  pitch  and  succession  of  the  notes 
it  somewhat  resembles  the  song  of  the  Carolina  Titmouse  (Parus 
carolinensis),  but  the  tone  is  infinitely  purer  and  sweeter.  Like 
the  wonderful  melody  of  the  Winter  Wren,  it  is  in  perfect  keep- 
ing with  the  mysterious  gloom  of  the  woods;  a  wild,  clear  voice, 
that  one  feels  would  lose  its  greatest  charm  if  exposed  to  cheer- 
ful light  and  commonplace  surroundings. 

"Among  the  other  voices,  I  shortly  detected  the  sweet,  wild 
song  of  the  Brown  Creeper,  and,  looking  more  carefully,  spied 
a  pair  of  these  industrious  little  gleaners  winding  their  way  up 
the  trunk  of  a  neighboring  tree.  Although  I  watched  them 


624  HISTORY  OF  THE 

closely,  the  female  soon  after,  in  some  way,  eluded  my  sight,  and 
mysteriously  disappeared,  but  the  male  remained  in  the  immedi- 
ate vicinity,  singing  at  frequent  intervals.  Being  convinced  that 
they  must  have  a  nest  somewhere  near,  I  instituted  a  careful 
search  among  the  dead  trees  that  stood  around,  and  at  length 
detected  a  scale  of  loose  bark,  within  which  was  crammed  a 
suspicious-looking  mass  of  twigs  and  other  rubbish.  A  vigor- 
ous rapping  upon  the  base  of  the  trunk  producing  no  effect,  I 
climbed  to  the  spot,  and  was  about  to  tear  off  the  bark  when 
the  frightened  Creeper  darted  out  within  a  few  inches  of  my 
face,  and  the  next  moment  I  looked  in  upon  the  eggs. 

"The  tree  selected  was  a  tall  dead  fir,  that  stood  in  the  shal- 
low water  just  outside  the  edge  of  the  living  forest,  but  sur- 
rounded by  numbers  of  its  equally  unfortunate  companions. 
Originally  killed  by  inundation,  its  branches  had  long  ago  yielded 
to  the  fury  of  the  winter  storms,  and  the  various  destroying 
agents  of  time  had  stripped  off  the  greater  part  of  the  bark,  until 
only  a  few  persistent  scales  remained  to  chequer  the  otherwise 
smooth,  mast-like  stem.  One  of  these,  in  process  of  detachment, 
had  started  away  from  the  trunk  below,  while  its  upper  edges 
still  retained  a  comparatively  firm  hold,  and  within  the  space 
thus  formed  the  cunning  little  architect  had  constructed  her  nest. 
The  whole  width  of  the  opening  had  first  been  filled  with  a  mass 
of  tough  but  slender  twigs  (many  of  them  at  least  six  inches  in 
length),  and  upon  this  foundation  the  nest  proper  had  been  con- 
structed. It  was  mainly  composed  of  the  fine  inner  bark  of 
various  trees,  with  an  admixture  of  a  little  Usnea  moss  and  a 
number  of  spider's  cocoons.  The  whole  mass  was  firmly  but 
rather  loosely  put  together,  the  different  particles  retaining  their 
proper  position  more  from  the  adhesion  of  their  rough  surfaces 
than  by  reason  of  any  special  arrangement  or  interweaving. 
The  general  shape  of  the  structure  necessarily  conformed  nearly 
with  that  of  the  space  within  which  it  was  placed,  but  a  remark- 
able feature  was  presented  by  the  disposition  of  the  lateral  ex- 
tremities. These  were  carried  upward  to  a  height  of  several 
inches  above  the  middle  of  the  nest,  ending  in  long,  narrow 
points  or  horns,  which  gave  to  the  whole  somewhat  the  shape 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  625 

of  a  well-filled  crescent.  In  the  center  of  lowest  part  of  the 
sag  thus  formed  was  the  depression  for  the  reception  of  the 
eggs  —  an  exceedingly  neat,  cup-shaped  hollow,  bordered  by 
stripes  of  soft,  flesh-colored  bark  and  lined  with  feathers  from 
Ducks  and  other  wild  birds.  The  whole  was  fastened  to  the 
concave  inner  surface  of  the  bark  scale  rather  than  to  the  tree 
itself,  so  that  when  the  former  was  detached  it  readily  came  off 
with  it.  I  afterwards  found  two  old  nests,  which  were  perhaps 
originally  built  by  this  same  pair  of  birds,  as  they  were  placed 
on  a  tree  that  stood  close  at  hand.  They  were  under  a  single, 
enormous  piece  of  bark,  but  at  its  opposite  lateral  extremities. 
One  of  them,  a  nearly  shapeless  mass  of  rubbish,  was  scarcely 
recognizable,  but  the  other  still  retained  its  original  shape  and 
finish,  and  contained  an  unhatched  egg,  the  contents  of  which 
had  long  since  dried  away.  Probably  they  represented  the 
,  homes  successively  occupied  during  the  two  preceding  seasons, 
and  it  is  hence  likely  that  this  species,  like  so  many  others,  re- 
turns year  after  year  to  breed  in  nearly  the  same  spot." 

Eggs  five  to  nine,  .  60x.  48;  white  to  creamy  white,  speckled 
and  spotted  with  reddish  brown,  chiefly  about  the  larger  end; 
in  form,  oval. 

FAMILY  PABJDJE,     NUTHATCHES  AND  TITS. 

"Bill  generally  short,  conical,  not  notched  or  decurved  at  tip.  Culmen 
broad  and  rounded,  not  sharply  ridged  at  base.  Nostrils  rounded,  basal,  and 
concealed  by  dense  bristles  or  bristly  feathers.  Loral  feathers  rough  and  bristly, 
directed  forwards.  Tarsi  distinctly  scutellate;  basal  joints  of  anterior  toes  ab- 
breviated, that  of  middle  toe  united  about  equally  for  three-fourths  its  length  ta 
the  lateral;  in  Parince  forming  a  kind  of  palm  for  grasping;  outer  lateral  toe 
decidedly  longer  than  the  inner.  Primaries  ten,  the  first  much  shorter  than 
the  second.  Tail  feathers  with  soft  tips.  Nest  in  holes  in  trees;  eggs  white, 
spotted  with  reddish." 

SUBFAMILY  SITTINJE.     NUTHATCHES. 

"Body  depressed.  Bill  about  equal  to  or  longer  than  the  head.  Wings 
much  pointed,  much  longer  than  nearly  even  tail;  tarsus  shorter  than  the  mid- 
dlle  toe  and  claw,  which  are  about  equal  to  the  hinder.  Plumage  more  com- 
pact." 

GENUS  SITTA  LINN.EUS. 

"Bill  subulate,  acutely  pointed,  compressed,  about  as  long  as  the  head;  cnl_ 

men  and  commissure  nearly  straight;  gonys  convex  and  ascending;  nostrils 
—40 


<326  HISTORY  OF  THE 

covered  by  a  tuft  of  bristles  directed  forward.  Tarsi  stout,  scutellate,  about 
equal  to  the  middle  toe,  much  shorter  than  the  hinder,  the  claw  of  which  is  half 
the  total  length.  Outer  lateral  toe  much  longer  than  inner,  and  nearly  equal 
to  the  middle.  Tail  very  short,  broad,  and  nearly  even ;  the  feathers  soft  and 
truncate.  Wings  reaching  nearly  to  the  end  of  the  tail ;  long  and  acute,  the 
first  primary  one-third  of  (or  less)  the  third,  or  longest." 

Sitta  carolinensis  LATH. 

WHITE-BREASTED  NUTHATCH. 
PLATE  XXXIV. 

Resident;  very  common  in  suitable  localities  in  the  eastern 
part  of  the  State;  not  uncommon  westward.  Begin  laying  about 
the  last  of  April. 

B.  277.     R.  51.     C.  57.     G.  19,     318.     U.  727. 

HABITAT.  Eastern  United  States  and  southern  British  Prov- 
inces; resident  west  to  the  Rocky  Mountains.  (Replaced  west- 
ward by  S.  carolinensis  aculeata.) 

SP.  CHAR.  "Above,  ashy  blue;  top  of  head  and  neck  black;  under  parts  and 
sides  of  head  to  a  short  distance  above  the  eye  white;  under  tail  coverts  and 
tibial  feathers  brown;  concealed  primaries  white;  bill  stout.  Female  with  black 
of  head  glossed  with  ashy." 

Stretch  of 
Length.         wing.          Wing,         Tail.        Tarsus.          Bill. 

Male 5.90          10.80         3.60         2.00         .73  .78 

Female 5.60       -10.50        8.50        1.90        .71          .75 

Iris  dark  brown;  bill  black,  with  basal  two-thirds  of  under  blu- 
ish; legs  and  feet  slaty  $  sometimes  olive  brown;  claws  blackish. 

These  singular  birds  are  quite  common  in  the  woodlands 
throughout  their  range.  They  often  visit  the  orchards  and 
shade  trees  about  our  dwellings,  especially  during  the  winter 
months,  but  prefer  the  deep  woods  for  their  summer  home. 
Outside  of  the  breeding  season,  are  occasionally  to  be  met  with 
in  small  flocks  and  in  company  with  the  Chickadees,  but  as  a 
rule  are  rather  solitary,  and  when  found  in  company  more  of  an 
accident  than  from  choice,  differing  in  this  respect  from  others 
of  the  genus.  They  readily  attract  attention  by  their  peculiar, 
ringing,  nasal  "  Chank-chank, "  and  odd  habit  of  creeping  about 
on  the  bodies  of  trees,  head  downward  as  well  as  upward;  this 
they  are  enabled  to  do  on  account  of  the  formation  of  their 
feet  and  claws.  The  latter  are  curved  and  sharp,  and  the  hind 
toe  long,  reaching  back  on  a  level  with  the  front  ones  far  enough 
to  balance  the  body,  and  is  formed  to  cling  to  the  bark  like  an 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  627 

anchor,  making  their  course  up  and  down  the  trees  as  safe  and 
easy  as  a  horizontal  one,  and  wholly  does  away  with  the  use  of  the 
tail,  so  essential  to  the  Creepers  and  Woodpeckers  in  sustaining 
an  upright  position.  They  are  active,  busy  bodies,  creeping  up 
and  down  the  trees,  peeping  and  prying  into  every  crack  and 
crevice  in  the  bark,  in  their  search  for  insect  life.  In  the  winter 
months,  when  the  eggs,  larva  and  other  forms  fail  to  supply 
their  wants,  they  feed  upon  the  meat  of  thin-shelled  nuts  — 
I  say  thin  shelled,  for  their  bills  are  not  formed  to  easily  pene- 
trate the  thick-shelled  ones.  They  have  the  habit  of  storing 
the  nuts  away  for  future  use,  hiding  them  in  the  holes  and  in- 
terstices in  the  bark,  hammering  and  pressing  them  securely  in 
place;  their  bills  not  being  chisel  shaped,  they  cannot  drill  holes 
for  their  reception,  as  many  "Woodpeckers  do.  (All  the  Titmouse 
family  at  times  eat  the  meat  of  nuts,  though  naturally  insectivo- 
rous. I  know  this  from  keeping  them  in  confinement;  the  pe- 
can nut  is  their  favorite.)  They  occasionally  visit  fallen  trees, 
and  I  have  seen  them  upon  the  ground,  but  their  home  is  on  the 
upper  bodies  and  branches  of  trees. 

During  the  breeding  season  the  birds  are  very  attentive  lovers. 
The  male  feeds  his  mate  while  she  is  sitting,  and  warbles  his 
feeble,  twittering,  "Twea"  notes  (hardly  musical  enough  to  be 
called  a  song)  to  please  her,  and,  when  the  little  ones  are  hatched, 
faithfully  assists  in  caring  for  their  wants. 

Their  nests  are  built  in  decaying  places  in  trees,  the  entrance 
usually  a  knot  hole.  The  rotten  wood  is  removed  to  suit,  and 
lined  chiefly  with  rabbits'  fur;  in  some  cases  a  few  fine  grass 
leaves  and  downy  feathers.  Eggs  four  to  nine  (rarely  nine, 
usually  five  or  six),  .76x.56;  they  vary  greatly  in  size;  rosy 
white,  thickly  speckled  and  spotted  with  reddish  brown  and 
lilac,  thickest  about  the  larger  end;  in  form,  oval. 

Sitta  canadensis  LINN. 

EED-BREASTED  NUTHATCH. 
PLATE  XXXIV. 

Winter  sojourner;  rare.  Begin  to  arrive  from  the  north  in 
October;  return  in  April. 

B.  279.     R.  52.     C.  59.     G.  20,     319.     U.  728. 


628  HISTORY  OF   THE 

HABITAT.  The  whole  of  wooded  temperate  North  America; 
south  in  winter  to  the  southern  border  of  the  United  States; 
breeding  from  the  northern  United  States  and  southern  Colo- 
rado, in  the  Kocky  Mountains,  northward.  (Largely  a  resident 
within  its  breeding  limits.) 

SP.  CHAR.  Male  adult:  Upper  parts  leaden  blue  (brighter  than  in  8.  car- 
olinenm),  the  central  tail  feathers  the  same;  wings  fuscous,  with  slight  ashy 
edgings,  and  concealed  white  bases  of  the  primaries.  Entire  under  parts  rusty 
brown;  very  variable  in  shade,  from  rich  fulvous  to  brownish  white,  usually 
tpalest  on  the  throat,  deepest  on  the  sides  and  crissum;  tail  feathers,  except  the 
middle  pair,  black,  the  lateral  marked  with  white.  Whole  top  and  sides  of  head 
and  neck  glossy  black,  that  of  the  side  appearing  as  a  broad  bar  through  the 
eye  from  bill  to  side  of  neck,  cut  off  from  that  of  the  crown  by  a  long,  white 
superciliary  stripe,  which  meets  its  fellow  across  the  forehead.  Bill  dark  plumbe- 
ous, paler  below.  Feet  plumbeous  brown.  Female:  Crown  like  the  back;  lat- 
eral stripe  on  the  head  merely  blackish.  The  under  parts  average  paler  than 
those  of  the  male,  but  there  is  no  constancy  about  this.  Young  birds  resemble 
the  female.  (Coues.) 

Stretch  of 
Length.         -wing.          Wing.          Tail.         Tarsus.        Bill. 

Male 4.60  8.40          2.65         1.50          .60  .60 

Female...      4.30  8.20          2.55         1.35          .60  .55 

Iris  dark  brown;  bill  slaty  black,  with  base  of  under  bluish; 
legs,  feet  and  claws  brown.  (My  notes  of  a  specimen  shot  in 
May  show  legs  and  feet  dull  greenish  yellow;  claws  light 
brown.) 

These  birds,  in  their  general  habits  and  actions,  are  similar  to 
the  White-breasted,  but  usually  move  about  from  tree  to  tree  in 
small,  straggling  flocks,  uttering,  and  often  repeating,  a  rather 
sharp,  wiry  note.  They  are  quite  common  within  their  north- 
ern range,  but  rather  rare  southward.  Mr.  H.  W.  Henshaw 
gives  the  following  description  of  their  nesting  habits,  nests  and 
eggs: 

"In  the  pine  woods  near  Fort  Garland,  southern  Colorado, 
I  found  it  breeding  in  June,  and,  though  less  abundant  than 
either  the  Pigmy  or  Slender-billed  varieties,  it  was  still  by  no 
means  rare.  Its  habits,  while  differing  in  no  notable  degree 
from  those  of  its  allies,  are  possessed  of  even  more  of  the  energy 
and  restless  activity  which  belong  to  the  whole  tribe;  and  at 
this,  the  nesting  season,  the  males  especially  were  busy  from 
morning  till  night,  roving  about  among  the  pines  and  aspens, 


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BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  629 

engaged  in  hunting  not  only  on  their  own  account,  but  also  for 
their  mates  engaged  in  the  cares  of  incubation.  In  these  duties, 
however,  both  sexes  take  part,  and  the  females  were  occasion- 
ally found  abroad  while  their  place  on  the  nest  was  filled  by 
the  males.  The  single  nest  examined  was  found  in  a  small  pine 
stub,  a  few  feet  from  the  ground.  The  hole  was  excavated  in 
the  rotten  wood  to  the  depth  of  five  inches,  no  especial  care 
having  been  taken  to  render  this  smooth  and  symmetrical,  and 
was  thoroughly  lined  at  bottom  with  fine  shreds  of  pine  bark. 
The  eggs,  five  in  number,  were  far  advanced  toward  hatching; 
color  grayish  white,  thinly  spotted  with  reddish  dots,  confluent 
at  the  larger  end." 

Eggs  four  to  eight  (usually  five  or  six),  . 60x.  50;  in  form, 
oval  to  rounded  oval. 

SUBFAMILY  PARING.     TITMICE. 

"Body  compressed.  Bill  shorter  than  head.  Wings  rounded,  equal  to  or 
shorter  than  the  rounded  tail.  Second  quill  as  short  as  the  tenth.  Tarsus 
longer  than  the  middle  toe  and  claw,  which  are  about  equal  to  the  hinder;  soles 
of  toes  widened  into  a  palm.  Plumage  rather  soft  and  lax." 

GENUS  PARUS  LINN^US. 

Bill  with  either  the  culmen  or  gonys  ( sometimes  both )  decidedly  convex; 
nostrils  wholly  concealed;  plumage  very  lax.  Tail  not  conspicuously  longer 
than  wing,  rounded.  (Ridgway.) 

SUBGENUS  LOPHOPHANES  KAUP. 

"Crown  with  a  conspicuous  crest.  Bill  conical;  both  upper  and  lower  out- 
lines convex.  Wings  graduated;  first  quill  very  short.  Tail  moderately  long 
and  rounded.  Nests  in  hollow  trees;  eggs  white,  with  fine  red  dottiugs." 

Parus  bicolor  Lixx. 

TUFTED  TITMOUSE. 
PLATE  XXXV. 

Resident;  abundant  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  State;  rare  in 

the  western  portion.      Begin  laying  about  the  middle  of  April. 

» 

B.  285.     R.  36.     C.  40.     G.  16,     320.     U.  731. 

HABITAT.  Eastern  United  States;  north  to  New  Jersey  and 
southern  Nebraska  (straggling  to  southern  New  England,  etc.); 
south  to  the  Gulf  coast,  including  Florida  (replaced  in  western 
Texas  by  P.  atricristatus) ;  resident  throughout  its  range. 


630  HISTORY  OF  THE 

SP.  CHAR.  "Above,  ashy ;  a  black  frontal  baud.  Beneath,  dull  whitish ; 
sides  brownish  chestuut,  of  more  or  less  intensity.  Feathers  of  the  crown 
elongated  into  a  flattened  crest,  which  extends  back  as  far  as  the  occiput.  Bill 
conical;  lower  edge  of  upper  mandible  nearly  straight  at  the  base.  Fourth  and 
fifth  quills  equal;  third  a  little  shorter  than  seventh;  second  rather  shorter  than 
the  secondaries.  Tail  nearly  even,  the  outer  about  .20  of  an  inch  shorter  than 
the  longest.  Upper  parts  ash  color,  with  a  tinge  of  olivaceous.  Forehead  dark 
sooty  brown.  The  feathers  of  the  upper  part  of  the  head  and  crest  obscurely 
streaked  with  lighter  brown.  Under  parts  of  head  and  body,  sides  of  head, 
including  auriculars,  and  a  narrow  space  above  the  eye,  dirty,  yellowish  white, 
tinged  with  brown;  purest  on  the  side  of  the  head,  the  white  very  distinct  in 
the  loral  region,  and  including  the  tuft  of  bristly  feathers  over  the  nostrils,  ex- 
cepting the  tips  of  those  in  contact  with  the  bill,  which  are  blackish.  The  side* 
of  the  body  and  the  under  tail  coverts  are  tinged  with  yellowish  brown.  The 
quills  and  tail  feathers  are  edged  with  the  color  of  the  back,  without  any  whit- 
ish." 

Stretch  of 
Length,          wing:  lying:  Tail.         Tarsus.         Bill. 

Male 6.50          10.00         3.20         3.00          .80          .47     ' 

Female...      6.25  9.75          3.10        2.85          .80  .45 

Iris  dark  brown;  bill  black;  legs,  feet  and  claws  lead  color. 

The  natural  haunts  of  these  restless,  noisy  birds  are  within 
the  woodlands;  but  they  often,  especially  during  the  fall  and 
winter  months,  frequent  the  orchard  and  shade  trees  about  our 
dwellings.  A  pert,  bold  bird,  that  never  skulks  and  hides,  but, 
in  a  scolding,  saucy  manner,  with  crest  proudly  erected,  hops 
about  among  the  branches  of  the  trees,  assuming  various  easy 
and  comic  positions,  often  swaying  from  the  tips  of  the  slender 
twigs,  in  its  search  for  food.  When  an  insect  too  large  to- 
swallow  or  a  nut  is  found,  they  hammer  away  at  the  same  until 
in  condition  to  eat,  and  then,  Hawk-like,  retain  their  position  on 
the  perch  with  one  foot,  and  grasp  the  food  in  the  other,  and 
daintily  pick  off  bits  from  between  the  toes. 

The  birds  are  easily  tamed,  and,  unlike  the  Nuthatches  and 
Chickadees,  soon  become  reconciled  to  confinement,  unless  cap- 
tured at  the  time  their  hearts  are  set  on  mating.  I  have  had 
them  take  food  and  drops  of  water  from  my  fingers  the  third 
day  after  capture. 

The  males  commence  singing  often  early  in  February,  and 
sing  loudly  and  defiantly  during  the  early  part  of  the  breeding 
season.  Their  song  is  but  a  repetition  of  syllables,  that  sound 
much  like  "Che'o,  che'o,  che'o,"  and  at  times,  "Clio,  cho,  chor 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  631 

cho,"  uttered  in  a  clear,  whistling,  musical  tone.  Their  ordi- 
nary notes  are  various.  Their  flights  are  short,  irregular,  and 
rather  undulating.  They  are  often  met  with  in  small  flocks,  but 
do  not  move  in  harmony  together,  each  acting  independently  of 
the  others,  as  if  they  came  together  by  accident,  rather  than  from 
choice. 

The  mated  pairs  are  very  attentive  lovers  and  parents.  The 
males  ever  on  the  alert,  fussing  about,  scolding,  challenging  and 
driving  rivals  and  intruders  away;  and  while  their  mates  are 
building  a  nest,  they  do  not  aid,  but  proudly  follow  her  back  and 
forth,  singing  their  very  best  to  cheer  her,  and  in  so  doing  be- 
tray their  nesting  place,  and  make  it  an  easy  find. 

Their  nests  are  placed  in  deserted  Woodpecker  holes,  and  nat- 
ural cavities  in  trees.  They  are  loosely  constructed  of  leaves 
and  moss,  and  lined  with  a  fine,  soft,  fibrous,  cotton-like  sub- 
stance, and  hairs  from  cattle.  Eggs  five  to  eight,  .75x.54; 
white  to  creamy  white,  sprinkled  with  rusty  red,  thickest  and 
somewhat  running  together  around  larger  end,  with  here  and 
there  a  few  lilac  stains;  in  form,  oval. 

SUBGENUS  PARUS  LINNAEUS. 

"Head  not  crested;  body  and  head  full;  tail  moderately  long,  and  slightly 
rounded;  bill  conical,  not  very  stout;  the  upper  and  under  outlines  very  gently 
and  slightly  convex.  Tarsus  but  little  longer  than  middle  toe;  head  and  neck 
generally  black  or  brown,  with  sides  white.  Nest  in  holes;  eggs  white,  sprinkled 
with  red." 

Parus  atricapillus  LINN. 

CHICKADEE. 
PLATE  XXXV. 

Resident;  abundant  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  State;  common 
to  the  middle  portion;  rare  westward.  Begin  laying  early  in 
April. 

B.  290.     R.  41.     C.  44.     G.  17,     321.     U.  735. 

HABITAT.  Eastern  North  America;  west  to  the  edge  of  the 
Great  Plains;  south  into  the  northern  borders  of  the  Indian 
Territory  and  southern  Missouri,  but,  east  of  the  Mississippi 
River,  rarely  south  of  latitude  40°.  Resident  throughout  their 
range. 


632  HISTORY  OF   THE 

SP.  CHAR.  Adult:  Entire  pileum  and  cervix  glossy  black;  chin,  throat  and 
malar  region  black,  this  broken  posteriorly  by  whitish  tips  to  the  feathers;  sides 
of  head  and  neck  white;  upper  parts  ash  gray,  more  or  less  tinged  with  yellow- 
ish; wings  blackish,  the  feathers  edged  with  light  ashy,  the  greater  coverts  and 
tertials  broadly  edged  with  white;  tail  dusky,  the  feathers  edged  with  ashy,  in- 
clining to  white  on  lateral  retrices.  Median  lower  parts  (from  jugulum  back) 
white,  lateral  portions  buff;  bill  black;  feet  bluish  plumbeous;  iris  dark  brown. 
Young:  Very  similar  to  the  adult,  but  black  of  pileum  and  cervix  without  gloss, 
that  of  the  throat  more  sooty,  buff  of  sides  less  distinct,  and  plumage  of  looser 
texture.  (Ridgway.) 

Stretch  of 
Length.          iving.  Wing.          Tail.          Tarsus.         Bill. 

Male 5.50  8.00          2.60         2.60  .67          .33 

Female...      5.35  7.75          2.50         2.50  .65          .32 

Iris  dark  brown;  bill,  feet  and  claws  black;  legs  slate  brown. 

The  natural  home  of  these  sprightly  little  birds  is  within  the 
woodlands,  but  they  often  frequent  orchards  and  gardens,  and  in 
severe  winter  weather,  when  the  snow  lies  upon  the  branches  of 
the  trees  and  fills  the  crevices  in  the  bark,  they  visit  the  door- 
yards  to  pick  up  the  scattered  crumbs,  and  if  a  piece  of  fresh 
meat  is  hung  up  in  a  tree  or  upon  the  side  of  an  outbuilding, 
they  will  come  daily  to  pick  off  frozen  bits,  until  the  weather 
moderates  and  melts  the  snow  and  ice  that  covered  the  eggs, 
larva,  etc.,  upon  which  they  are  accustomed  to  feed.  The 
birds  are  very  social  and  move  about  in  small  flocks,  a  happy 
group,  chatting  away,  and  "merrily  singing  their  Chick-a-dee- 
dee." 

In  the  early  mating  season  they  have  a  loud,  clear,  whistling 
song,  "Peto,"  uttered  at  short  intervals,  and  various  quaint, 
chatty  call  notes.  Graceful  little  fellows  !  that  fly  from  tree  to 
tree  and  actively  search  the  branches,  often  swinging  feet  up- 
permost from  the  ends  of  slender  twigs,  to  pick  out  a  seed,  an 
insect  from  a  leaf,  or  larva  hidden  in  a  bud.  Pretty  birds ! 
that  with  their  familiar,  unsuspicious  ways  win  our  love;  and  in 
addition  to  this  should  receive  a  warm  welcome  for  the  good 
they  do  in  ridding  the  forest  and  fruit  trees  of  their  many  pests. 
Mr.  Samuels,  in  "Birds  of  New  England."  says: 

"In  some  localities  the  Titmouse  is  regarded  as  injurious, 
from  the  fact  that  it  is  often  seen  among  the  branches  and  leaves 
of  the  fruit  trees  and  shrubs,  pecking  off  and  destroying  the 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  633 

buds.  It  does  not  do  this  to  the  bud  for  food,  but  really  for 
the  grub  contained  in  it.  If  these  buds  be  examined  after  the 
Chickadee  has  thrown  them  away,  the  burrow  of  a  grub  or  cat- 
erpillar will  be  found  in  the  very  heart  of  them.  The  bird  is 
able  to  discover  the  presence  of  these  vermin  much  more  read- 
ily than  man  could,  and  it  is  thus  able  to  assail  them  at  a  period 
of  their  existence  when  they  are  doing  the  most  harm.  But  it 
is  not  the  insect  and  the  larva  alone  that  he  destroys.  His 
microscopic  eyes  enable  him  to  discover  their  eggs  deposited  on 
and  in  the  crevices  of  the  bark  and  in  the  buds,  and  in  an  in- 
stant he  can  destroy  the  whole  future  brood.  The  eggs  of  the 
moth  of  the  destructive  leaf-rolling  caterpillar,  those  of  the 
canker  worm,  the  apple  tree  moth,  and  others  of  these  well- 
known  plagues,  are  greedily  eaten  up  by  it;  and  this  is  in  the 
inclement  winter,  when  most  of  our  other  birds  have  aban- 
doned us  for  a  more  genial  climate. 

"In  the  summer  time,  the  Chickadee's  labors  are  more  easily 
noticed;  and  as  he  raises  a  large  brood  of  young,  the  female 
laying  six  or  eight  eggs  at  a  litter,  he  is  very  busy  through  the 
whole  day  in  capturing  vast  quantities  of  caterpillars,  flies  and 
grubs.  It  has  been  calculated  that  a  single  pair  of  these  birds 
destroy,  on  the  average,  not  less  than  five  hundred  of  these  pests 
daily;  a  labor  which  could  hardly  be  surpassed  by  a  man,  even 
if  he  gave  his  whole  time  to  the  task. 

"  'Moreover,  the  man  could  not  be  successful  at  so  small  a 
cost,  for,  setting  aside  the  value  of  his  time  and  the  amount  of 
a  laborer's  daily  wages,  he  could  not  reach  the  denser  and  loftier 
twigs,  on  which  the  caterpillars  revel  and  which  the  Titmouse 
can  traverse  with  perfect  ease.  No  man  can  investigate  a  tree? 
and  clear  it  of  the  insect  hosts  that  constantly  beleaguer  it, 
without  doing  some  damage  to  the  buds  and  young  leaves  by 
his  rough  handling;  whereas  the  Chickadee  trips  along  the 
branches,  peeps  under  every  leaf,  swings  himself  round  upon 
his  perch,  spies  out  every  insect,  and  secures  it  with  a  peck  so 
rapid  that  it  is  hardly  perceptible.' 

uln  some  observations  made  on  the  habits  of  this  and  some 
other  birds  in  Paris,  it  was  found  that  the  Titmouse  destroys,  at 


634  111 ti TORY  OF   THE 

the  lowest  computation,  over  two  hundred  thousand  eggs  aloner 
of  noxious  insects,  in  the  course  of  a  year.  That  one  small 
bird  is  thus  able  to  accomplish  so  much  good,  in  destroying 
these  myriads  of  vermin,  is  an  appeal  to  the  good  sense  of  the 
farmer  for  the  protection  of  the  whole  class  that  should  not  be 
slighted." 

Their  nests  are  placed  near  the  ground,  in  holes  made  by 
themselves  in  decaying  trees  and  stumps.  They  are  composed 
of  bits  of  moss,  interwoven  with  fur  and  fine  hair,  and  occasion- 
ally a  few  downy  feathers.  Eggs  four  to  eight,  .  60x.47;  white, 
speckled  with  reddish  brown  and  lilac  stains,  generally  the 
thickest  around  the  larger  end;  in  form,  oval. 

Parus  atricapillus  septentrionalis  (HARRIS). 

LONG-TAILED  CHICKADEE. 
PLATE  XXXV. 

Resident;  quite  common  in  the  western  part  of  the  State, 
along  the  streams  fringed  with  trees  and  bushes;  rare  in  the 
eastern  portion,  though  not  uncommon  in  winter.  Begin  laying 
about  the  middle  of  April. 

B.  289,     289a.     R.  41a.     C.  45.     G.  18,     322.     U.  735a. 

HABITAT.  Rocky  Mountain  regions,  from  New  Mexico  to 
Alaska;  west  to  the  edge  of  the  Great  Basin;  east  to  eastern  Kan- 
sas and  Manitoba;  a  resident  throughout  their  range.  (From 
observations,  I  am  led  to  think  they  are  partially  migratory.) 

SP.  CHAR.  "Head  above  and  below  black,  separated  by  white  on  the  sides 
of  the  head;  back  brownish  ash.  Beneath,  white,  tinged  with  pale  brownish 
white  on  the  sides.  Outer  tail  feathers,  primaries  and  secondaries  broadly  edged 
with  white,  involving  nearly  the  whole  outer  web  of  outer  tail  feathers.  Tail 
much  graduated;  the  outer  feather  about  .50  of  an  inch  shorter  than  the  middle. 
Second  quill  about  as  long  as  the  secondaries. 

"This  race  is  very  similar  to  the  P.  atricapillus,  but  differs  from  it  somewhat 
as  atricapillus  does  from  carolinensis.  Its  size  is  much  greater;  the  tail  propor- 
tionally longer,  and  much  more  graduated;  the  white  of  the  wing  and  tail  is 
purer  and  more  expanded.  The  bill  appears  to  be  stouter  and  more  conical. 
The  back  has  perhaps  a  little  more  yellowish.  The  spurious  or  first  primary  is 
larger." 

Stretch  of 
Length.          wing.  Wing.         Tail.         Tarsus.       Bill. 

Male 5.80  8.60          2.75         2.80         .69         .33 

Female..         5.50  8.25          2.60         2.65         .(57         .33 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  635 

Iris  dark  brown;  bill  and  claws  black;  legs  and  feet  bluish 
slate. 

I  am  unable  to  detect  any  difference  in  the  habits,  actions  or 
notes  of  this  large  form  from  the  eastern  bird,  our  common 
Chickadee,  and  they  occasionally  interbreed. 

Eggs  four  to  eight,  .  62x.48;  dull  white,  rather  evenly  speckled 
with  reddish  brown,  and  a  few  shell  stains  of  lilac;  in  form, 
oval. 

FAMILY   SYLVIIDJE.     WARBLERS,  KINGLETS,  GNATCATCHERS. 

"Bill  much  shorter  than  head,  slender,  broad,  and  depressed  at  the  base,  dis- 
tinctly notched  and  decurved  at  the  tip.  Culinen  sharp-ridged  at  base.  Frontal 
feathers  reaching  to  the  nostrils,  which  are  oval,  with  membrane  above,  and 
overhung — not  concealed  —  by  a  few  bristles  or  by  a  feather.  Rictal  bristles 
extending  beyond  nostrils.  Tarsi  booted  or  scutellate.  Basal  joint  of  middle 
toe  attached  its  whole  length  externally,  half  way  internally.  Primaries  ten; 
spurious  primary  about  half  the  second,  which  is  shorter  than  seventh.  Lateral 
toes  equal." 

SUBFAMILY  KEGULHSTJL      KINGLETS. 

"Wings  longer  than  the  emarginated  tail.  Tarsi  booted,  or  without  scuttel- 
lar  divisions.  This  subfamily  embraces  but  a  single  well-defined  North  Ameri- 
can genus." 

GENUS  EEGULUS  CUVIEB. 

"Bill  slender,  much  shorter  than  the  head,  depressed  at  base,  but  becoming 
rapidly  compressed;  moderately  notched  at  tip.  Culmen  straight  to  near  the 
tip,  then  gently  curved.  Commissure  straight;  goiiys  convex.  Kictus  well  pro- 
vided with  bristles;  nostril  covered  by  a  single  bristly  feather,  directed  forwards 
(not  distinct  in  Calendula).  Tarsi  elongated,  exceeding  considerably  the  mid- 
dle toe,  and  with  scutella.  Lateral  toes  about  equal;  hind  toe  with  claw  longer 
than  middle  one  by  about  half  the  claw.  Claws  all  much  curved.  First  pri- 
mary about  one-third  as  long  as  the  longest;  second  equal  to  fifth  or  sixth.  Tail 
shorter  than  wings,  moderately  forked,  the  feathers  acuminate.  Colors,  olive 
green  above,  whitish  beneath.  Size,  very  small." 

Regulus  satrapa  LIGHT. 

GOLDEN-CROWNED  KINGLET. 
PLATE  XXXV. 

"Winter  sojourner;  rare;  in  migration  quite  common.  Leave 
in  March  to  first  of  April;  begin  to  return  about  the  middle  of 
October. 

B.  162.     R.  33.     C.  34.     G.  15,     323.     U.  748. 

HABITAT.     Eastern  and  northern  North  America;  breeding 
rom  the  extreme  northern  United  States  northward;  wintering 


636  HISTORY  OF   THE 

nearly  throughout  the  eastern  United  States,  southward  to 
Guatemala.  (Replaced  on  the  Pacific  coast  from  California  to 
Sitka  by  12.  satrapa  olivaceus.} 

SP.  CHAK.  "Above,  olive  green,  brightest  on  the  outer  edges  of  the  wing. 
Tail  feathers  tinged  with  brownish  gray  towards  head.  Forehead,  a  line  over 
the  eye,  and  space  beneath  it,  white.  Exterior  of  crown,  before  and  laterally, 
black,  embracing  a  central  patch  of  orange  red,  encircled  by  gamboge  yellow. 
A  dusky  space  around  the  eye.  Wing  coverts  with  two  yellowish  white  bands; 
the  posterior  covering  a  similar  band  on  the  quills,  succeeded  by  a  broad  dusky 
one.  Under  parts  dull  whitish.  Female  without  the  orange  red  central  patch. 
Young  birds  without  the  colored  crown,  and  black  head  markings  obsolete  or 
only  faintly  indicated." 

Stretch  of 
Length.          wing.  Wing.  Tail.        Tarsus.          Bill. 

Male 4.20  6.85          2.25         1.90          .68  .30 

Female...      8.90  6.60          2.15         1.72          .65  .28 

Iris  brown;  bill  blackish,  the  base  of  under  sometimes  pale; 
legs  and  feet  brown;  soles  of  feet  yellowish;  claws  black. 

These  diminutive  little  beauties  frequent  the  orchards  and 
groves,  especially  during  migration,  and  in  the  winter  months, 
but  their  favorite  resorts  are  within  the  deep  woods.  They  usu- 
ally move  about  in  small  flocks,  and  often  in  company  with  the 
Titmice,  and  like  the  latter  live  largely  in  the  branches  of  the 
trees,  flitting  here  and  there,  and  hopping  about  with  half-spread 
wings,  in  various  graceful  attitudes;  uttering,  in  a  cheerful,  con- 
tented manner,  their  soft  call  note,  ' '  Te-ze,  te-ze, ' '  as  they  peep 
into  the  fissures  in  the  bark,  and  under  the  leaves,  arid  flutter 
before  the  buds  and  flowers,  or  dart  from  the  perch  to  capture 
the  passing  insect.  A  picture  of  restless,  active  existence,  that 
hardily  braves  the  coldest  storms. 

In  the  early  breeding  season,  the  males  sing  softly  and  sweetly, 
a  low,  lisping,  whistling  warble,  that  I  have  often  stopped  to  lis- 
ten to  in  the  deep  northern  evergreen  forests.  It  is  not  attract- 
ive, and  would  hardly  be  noticed  by  the  common  observer,  as 
it  rises  but  little  above  the  mnrmur  of  the  leaves;  but,  to  the 
lover  of  nature,  it  falls  upon  the  ear  in  pleasing  harmony  with 
its  surroundings.  The  following  is  a  description  of  a  nest  con- 
taining ten  eggs,  collected  in  the  spring  of  1882,  at  Grand 
Manan,  New  Brunswick: 

The  nest  was   built  in  thick  twigs,  at  the  end  of  a  spruce 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  637 

limb,  about  fifteen  feet  from  the  ground.  It  was  partially  sus- 
pended, like  the  Vireos,  but  largely  supported  by  the  stiff  branch- 
ing twigs,  within  which  it  was  well  concealed,  and  was  composed 
almost  wholly  of  green  tree  moss;  roundish  in  shape,  two  and 
a  half  inches  deep  inside,  and  one  and  a  half  inches  in  diameter 
at  the  top.  The  outside  was  beautifully  dotted  with  lichens  and 
feathers,  and  warmly  lined  with  downy  feathers.  Eggs:  .50x 
.40,  .50x.40,  .50x.41,  .50x.41,  .50x.41,  .50x.41,  .50x.42, 
.50x.42,  .50x.42,  .50x.43;  in  form,  oval. 

Regulus  calendula  (LINN.). 

RUBY-CROWNED  KINGLET. 
PLATE  XXXV. 

An  occasional  winter  sojourner;  in  migration  common,  at 
times  abundant;  the  bulk  leave  in  April;  a  few  remain  until  the 
first  of  May;  begin  to  return  early  in  September. 

B.  161.     R.  30.     C.  33.     G.  14,     324.     U.  749. 

HABITAT.  North  America;  north  to  the  Arctic  coast;  south 
to  Guatemala;  breeding  in  the  higher  mountains  from  Arizona 
and  northern  borders  of  the  United  States  northward;  wintering 
in  the  more  southern  States  southward. 

SP.  CHAR.  "Above,  dark  greenish  olive,  passing  into  bright  olive  green  on 
the  rump  and  outer  edges  of  the  wings  and  tail.  The  under  parts  are  grayish 
white  tinged  with  pale  olive  yellow,  especially  behind.  A  ring  round  the  eye, 
two  bands  on  the  wing  coverts,  and  the  exterior  of  the  inner  tertials,  white. 
Male:  Crown  with  a  large  concealed  patch  of  scarlet  feathers,  which  are  white 
at  the  base.  Female:  Without  the  red  on  the  crown.  This  species  of  Regulus 
appears  to  lack  the  small  feather  which,  in  gatrapa,  overlies  and  conceals  the 
nostrils,  which  was  probably  the  reason  with  Cabanis  and  Blyth  for  placing  it 
in  a  different  genus.  There  is  no  other  very  apparent  difference  of  form,  how- 
ever, although  this  furnishes  a  good  character  for  distinguishing  between  young 
specimens  of  the  two  species." 

Stretch  of 
Length.          wing.  Wing.         Tail.          Tarsus.         Bill. 

Male 4.50  7.30          2.30         1.80          .72  .33 

Female...      4.20          7.05         2.20        1.65         .70          .30 

Iris  brown;  bill  blackish,  with  base  of  under  usually  paler; 
legs,  feet  and  claws  dark  brown;  bottoms  of  feet  yellowish. 

These  elegant  little  birds  are  similar  in  habits  and  actions  to 
the  Golden-crowned  Kinglets,  and  were  it  not  for  their  surpris- 


638  HISTORY  OF   THE 

ingly  clear, .  tender,  varied,  resonant  song  (heard  during  the 
mated  and  early  breeding  season),  a  detailed  description  would 
be  hardly  necessary.  As  it  is,  I  take  pleasure  in  quoting  from 
Dr.  Elliott  Coues'  happy  description  of  the  birds: 

"To  observe  the  manners  of  the  Ruby-crowned,  one  need 
only  repair,  at  the  right  season,  to  the  nearest  thicket,  coppice, 
or  piece  of  shrubbery,  such  as  the  Titmice,  Yellow-rumps  and 
other  Warblers  love  to  haunt.  These  are  its  favorite  resorts, 
especially  in  the  fall  and  winter;  though  sometimes,  in  the  spring 
more  particularly,  it  seems  to  be  more  ambitious,  and  its  slight 
form  may  be  almost  lost  among  the  branchlets  of  the  taller  trees, 
where  the  equally  diminutive  Parula  is  most  at  home.  We  shall 
most  likely  find  it  not  alone,  but  in  straggling  troops,  which 
keep  up  a  sort  of  companionship  with  each  other  as  well  as  with 
different  birds,  though  each  individual  seems  to  be  absorbed  in 
its  peculiar  business.  We  hear  the  slender,  wiry  note,  and  see 
the  little  creatures  skipping  nimbly  about  the  smaller  branches 
in  endlessly  varied  attitudes,  peeping  into  the  crevices  of  the 
bark  for  their  minute  insect  food,  taking  short,  nervous  flights 
from  one  bough  to  another,  twitching  their  wings  as  they  alight, 
and  always  too  busy  to  pay  attention  to  what  may  be  going  on 
around  them.  They  appear  to  be  incessantly  in  motion  —  I 
know  of  no  birds  more  active  than  these  —  presenting  the  very 
picture  of  restless,  puny  energy,  making  '  much  ado  about  noth- 
ing.' .  .  . 

' '  One  of  the  most  remarkable  things  about  the  Ruby-crowned 
is  its  extraordinary  powers  of  song.  It  is  really  surprising  that 
such  a  tiny  creature  should  be  capable  of  the  strong  and  sus- 
tained notes  it  utters  when  in  full  song.  The  lower  larynx,  the 
sound-producing  organ,  is  not  much  bigger  than  a  good-sized 
pin's  head,  and  the  muscles  that  move  it  are  almost  microscopic 
shreds  of  flesh.  If  the  strength  of  the  human  voice  were  in 
the  same  proportion  to  the  size  of  the  larynx,  we  could  converse 
with  ease  at  the  distance  of  a  mile  or  more.  The  Kinglet's  ex- 
quisite vocalization  defies  description;  we  can  only  speak  in  gen- 
eral terms  of  the  power,  purity  and  volume  of  the  notes,  their 
faultless  modulation  and  long  continuance.  Many  doubtless 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  639 

have  listened  to  this  music  without  suspecting  that  the  author  was 
the  diminutive  Kuby-crowned,  with  whose  common-place  utter- 
ance, the  slender,  wriry  'Tisp,'  they  were  already  familiar.  .  .  .'' 
Their  nests  are  usually  built  in  clustering  twigs  at  the  end  of 
a  branch  in  evergreen  trees,  the  spruce  the  favorite.  The  few 
that  have  been  found  range  from  near  the  ground  to  sixty  feet 
in  height.  They  are  partially  suspended  to  the  upper  branching 
twigs,  and  securely  supported  by  others  from  beneath;  a  semi- 
pensile,  roundish,  bulky  structure,  composed  of  shreds  of  soft 
bark,  fine  moss,  lichens,  cobwebs,  etc.,  and  thickly  lined  with 
feathers,  that  are  ingeniously  woven  into  the  structure,  the  up- 
per feathers  usually  placed  so  as  to  curve  towards  the  center 
and  nearly  conceal  the  entrance.  Eggs  five  to  nine,  .  55x.43; 
dull  white  to  pale  buff,  minutely  but  faintly  spotted  (chiefly  about 
the  larger  end)  with  light  brown;  sometimes  they  are  nearly 
plain;  in  form,  oval  to  rounded  oval. 

SUBFAMILY  POLIOPTILIN^E.      GNATCATCHERS. 

Wing  not  longer  than  the  graduated  tail;  anterior  tarsal  envelope  distinctly 
scutellate;  outer  tail  feathers  with  conspicuous  white  tips  and  edgings  (some- 
times almost  entirely  white).  (Ridgway.) 

GENUS  POLIOPTILA  SCLATEK. 

"Bill  slender,  attenuated,  but  depressed  at  the  base;  nearly  as  long  as  the 
head,  distinctly  notched  at  the  tip,  and  provided  with  moderate  rictal  bristles. 
Nostrils  rather  elongated,  not  concealed,  but  anterior  to  the  frontal  feathers. 
Tarsi  longer  than  middle  toe,  distinctly  scutellate;  the  toes  small;  the  hinder 
ones  scarcely  longer  than  the  lateral;  its  claws  scarcely  longer  than  the  middle. 
Outer  lateral  toe  longer  than  the  inner.  First  primary  about  one-third  the 
longest;  second  equal  to  seventh.  Tail  a  little  longer  than  wings,  moderately 
graduated;  the  feathers  rounded.  Nest  felted  and  covered  with  moss  or  lichens. 
Eggs  greenish  white,  spotted  with  purplish  brown." 

Polioptila  caerulea  (LINN.). 

BLUE-GRAY  GNATCATCHER. 
PLATE  XXXV. 

Summer  resident;  common  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  State; 
rare  westward;  in  migration,  common  throughout  the  State. 
Arrive  in  April;  begin  laying  the  first  to  middle  of  May;  the 
bulk  leave  in  September;  a  few  occasionally  remain  into  Octo- 
ber. 

B.  282.     R.  27.     C.  36.     G.  13,     325.     U.  751. 


640  HISTORY  OF  THE 

HABITAT.  United  States,  chiefly  south  of  latitude  42°;  win- 
tering in  the  Gulf  States,  the  Bahamas,  Cuba,  and  eastern  Mexico 
to  Guatemala;  breeding  from  Cuba  northward  throughout  their 
range.  (Replaced  in  Arizona,  California  and  western  Mexico 
by  P.  ccerulea  obscura. ) 

SP.  CHAR.  "Above,  grayish  blue,  gradually  becoming  bright  blue  on  the 
crown;  a  narrow  frontal  band  of  black  extending  backwards  over  the  eye;  under 
parts  and  lores  bluish  white,  tinged  with  lead  color  on  the  sides.  First  and  sec- 
ond tail  feathers  white  except  at  the  extreme  base,  which  is  black,  the  color  ex- 
tending obliquely  forward  on  the  inner  web;  third  and  fourth  black,  with  white 
tip,  very  slight  on  the  latter;  fifth  and  sixth  entirely  black.  Upper  tail  coverts 
blackish  plumbeous;  quills  edged  externally  with  pale  bluish  gray,  which  is 
much  broader  and  nearly  white  on  the  tertials.  Female  without  any  black  on 
the  head." 

Stretch  of 
Length.  wing.  Wing.          Tail.         Tarsus.          Bill. 

Male 4.50  6.60          2.10        2.10          .68  .40 

Female...      4.30          6.30          1.95         1.95          .65          .38 

Iris  dark  brown;  bill  black,  the  under  sometimes  pale  at  base; 
legs,  feet  and  claws  blackish. 

These  delicate  little  birds  are  as  much  at  home  in  the  shrubby 
bushes  on  the  hillsides,  or  mesquite  growths  on  the  plains,  as 
within  the  treetops  of  the  heavily-timbered  bottom  lands;  a 
nervous,  restless  species,  that,  in  their  quest  of  insect  life,  nim- 
bly skip  from  branch  to  branch,  with  partially-spread  wings,  and 
flirting  tails,  held  more  or  less  erect,  now  and  then  darting  like 
a  flash  into  the  air  to  catch  the  passing  flies;  a  tireless  picture 
of  bustling  energy,  that  only  ceases  with  the  day. 

They  are  not  naturally  social,  and  when  met  with  in  small 
flocks  straggle  about  regardless  of  the  movements  of  others. 
Even  their  wiry  " Tsee-tsee-tsee  "  sounds  more  like  an  utterance 
of  content  and  self-satisfaction  than  a  call  note.  They  also  oc- 
casionally utter,  much  like  the  Catbird,  the  faint  mew  of  a  kitten. 
Their  soft,  warbling  love  song  is  varied,  tender,  and  full  of 
melody,  but  so  low  the  hearer  must  stop  to  listen  in  order  to 
fully  catch  its  silvery  tones. 

Their  nests  are  usually  saddled  between  and  woven  to  up- 
right twigs  in  the  branches  of  treetops,  ranging  from  ten  to 
fifty  feet  from  the  ground;  beautiful  nests,  composed  of  stem- 
like  stemlets,  bits  of  leaves  and  feathers,  woven  together  with 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS. 

spiders'  webs,  thickly  dotted  on  the  outside  with  lichens,  and 
lined  with  a  soft,  downy  substance  from  plants.  Eggs  four  or 
five,  .  56x.44;  pale  greenish  white,  spotted  and  blotched  with 
reddish  brown,  lilac  and  slate,  thickest  and  running  together 
around  the  larger  end;  in  form,  oval  to  rounded  oval. 

FAMILY  TTIRDID^E.     THRUSHES,  SOLITAIRES,  STONECHATS, 
BLUEBIRDS,  ETC. 

"Nostrils  oval;  bristles  or  bristly  points  about  the  mouth;  wings  moderate, 
not  reaching,  when  folded,  beyond  the  middle  of  the  tail,  and  not  over  one  and 
a  third  times  as  long  as  the  latter;  tip  formed  by  third  to  sixth  quill;  outer  sec- 
ondary reaching,  in  closed  wing,  three-fourths  or  more  the  length  of  the  longest 
primary;  spurious  quill  longer,  sometimes  one-half  the  second;  tarsi  booted." 

SUBFAMILY  MYADESTIN^E.      SOLITAIRES. 

Gonys  not  more  than  one-third  as  long  as  commissure;  the  bill  short  and 
rather  depressed.  (Midgway.) 

GENUS  MYADESTES  SWAINSON. 

"Occipital  feathers  full  and  soft;  plumage  rather  loose;  bill  weak,  much  de- 
pressed; commissure  nearly  straight;  hind  toe  longer  than  inner  lateral;  toes 
deeply  cleft;  closed  wing  externally  with  an  exposed  light  band  across  the  base 
of  the  quills,  and  another  near  the  end,  separated  by  a  darker  one;  tail  somewhat 
graduated  on  the  sides." 

Myadestes  townsendii  (Auo.). 

TOWNSBND'S  SOLITAIRE. 
PLATE  XXXV. 

An  occasional  fall  and  winter  visitant  in  the  western  part  of 
the  State. 

B.  235.     R.  25.     C.  169.     G.  12,     326.     U.  754. 

HABITAT.  Western  United  States,  chiefly  in  the  mountainous 
regions;  north  to  British  Columbia;  (not  reported  south  of  the 
United  States;)  east  to  Dakota  and  Texas.  (A  straggler  was 
killed  December  16,  1875,  at  Waukegan,  Illinois.  Nelson.') 

SP.  CHAK.  "Tail  deeply  forked.  Exposed  portion  of  spurious  quill  less  than- 
one-third  that  of  the  second;  fourth  quill  longest;  second  a  little  longer  than 
sixth.  Head  not  crested.  General  color  bluish  ash,  paler  beneath;  under  wing 
coverts  white.  Quills  with  a  brownish  yellow  bar  at  the  base  of  both  webs 
mostly  concealed,  but  showing  a  little  below  the  greater  coverts  and  alula;  this 
succeeded  by  a  bar  of  dusky,  and  next  to  it  another  brownish  yellow  across  the 
outer  webs  of  the  central  quills  only.  Tertials  tipped  with  white.  Tail  feath- 
ers dark  brown;  the  middle  ones  more  like  the  back;  the  lateral  with  the  outer 
web  and  tip,  the  second  with  the  tip  only,  white.  A  white  ring  round  the  eye. 

—41 


642  HISTORY  OF   THE 

Young  birds  have  a  large,  triangular,  pale  ochraceous  light  spot  on  the  end  of 
each  feather  (rather  paler  below),  bounded  externally  by  a  narrow  border  of 
blackish;  the  quills  and  tail  feathers  as  in  the  adult." 

Stretch  of 
Length.          wing.  Wing.          Tail.         Tarsus.         Bill. 

Male 8.50         13.75          4.60         4.25  .78          .50 

Female....     8.25        13.50         4.50        4.15          .75         .48 

Iris  dark  brown;  bill,  legs,  feet  and  claws  black. 

These  birds,  notwithstanding  the  name  they  bear,  are  quite 
social  during  the  fall  and  winter  months,  and  often  associate  to- 
gether in  small  flocks  or  family  groups.  They  seldom  visit  the 
habitations  of  man,  preferring  for  their  haunts  the  wild  mountain 
sides,  deep,  rocky  ravines,  and  shrubby  growths  upon  the  plains. 
They  are  not  timid  or  shy,  as  might  be  expected  from  their  re- 
tiring habits,  and  as  their  favorite  perching  places  are  upon 
dead  limbs  or  the  topmost  branches  of  trees.  They  are  usually 
in  sight,  and  if  not,  make  their  presence  known  by  their  loud, 
ringing  call  note,  and  charming  song,  so  varied  and  full  of  sil- 
very melody,  that  echoes  in  the  canons  and  on  the  mountain 
sides  from  the  depth  of  winter  until  the  close  of  the  breeding 
season,  and  occasionally  in  the  fall  and  early  winter,  but  not  in 
as  full  and  energetic  manner  as  during  the  mated  time. 

They  are  quite  common  throughout  their  range,  making  their 
summer  home  in  the  higher  mountain  regions  and  wintering  in 
the  foothills  among  the  cedars  and  upon  the  plains.  They  are 
expert  flycatchers,  but  during  the  winter  months  feed  largely 
upon  the  cedar  berries;  they  occasionally  search  for  food  upon 
the  ground,  but  not  in  a  rasorial  manner.  In  flight  and  actions 
they  are  easy,  and  seem  to  partake  of  and  share  somewhat  the 
characteristics  of  the  Flycatchers,  and  of  our  Bluebirds. 

Their  nests  are  placed  in  slight  depressions  in  the  ground, 
hollows  in  logs,  fissures  in  rocks  and  other  similar  places.  They 
are  quite  bulky,  and  loosely  constructed  of  bits  of  twigs,  stems, 
pine  needles,  grasses,  etc. ,  and  lined  at  times  with  soft  vegetable 
matter.  Eggs  three  to  six  (usually  four),  .92x.  68;  they  vary 
greatly  in  size  and  markings;  ground  color  whitish,  speckled 
and  spotted  with  reddish  brown,  usually  thickest  and  somewhat 
confluent  around  the  larger  end;  in  form,  oval. 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  643 

SUBFAMILY  TUKDIN^E.      THRUSHES. 

Gonys  more  than  one-third  as  long  as  commissure,  the  bill  more  slender  and 
compressed.  (Ridgway.) 

GENUS  TUEDUS  LINX.ETJS. 

"Bill  conical,  subulate,  shorter  than  the  head;  the  tip  gently  decurved  and 
(except  in  Hesperocichla)  the  rictus  with  moderate  bristles;  the  wings  rather  long 
and  pointed,  with  small  first  primary  ( less  than  one-fourth  the  second );  wings 
considerably  longer  than  the  tail,  which  is  firm,  nearly  even,  with  broad  feathers. 
Tarsi  variable,  seldom  as  long  as  the  skull,  the  scutella  fused  into  a  continuous 
plate,  only  in  rare  individual  instances  showing  indications  of  the  lines  of  sep- 
aration." 

SUBGENUS  HYLOCICHLA  BATED. 

"Smallest  species.  Bill  short,  broad  at  base;  much  depressed.  Tarsi  long 
and  slender,  longer  than  middle  toe  and  claw  by  the  additional  length  of  the 
claw;  outstretched  legs  reaching  nearly  to  tip  of  tail.  Body  slender.  Color: 
Above,  olivaceous  or  reddish;  beneath,  whitish;  breast  spotted;  throat  without 
spots." 

Turdus  mustelinus  GMEI* 

WOOD  THRUSH. 
PLATE  XXXV. 

Summer  resident;  abundant  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  State; 
rare  in  the  western  portion.  Arrive  the  middle  of  April  to  the 
first  of  May;  begin  laying  about  the  middle  of  May;  the  bulk 
leave  in  September;  a  few  linger  late  into  October. 

B.  148.     R.  1.     C.  6.     G.  1,     327.     U.  755. 

HABITAT.  Eastern  United  States;  north  to  Massachusetts,  On- 
tario, Wisconsin  and  eastern  Dakota;  west  to  the  Great  Plains; 
south  in  winter  to  Cuba  and  Guatemala. 

SP.  CHAR.  Above,  bright  tawny  cinnamon  brown,  more  rufescent  anteriorly, 
more  grayish  posteriorly;  auriculars  streaked  white  and  dusky.  Lower  parts 
white,  the  breast  and  sides  with  large  blackish  spots.  Adult,  in  summer:  Above, 
cinnamon  brown,  becoming  bright  tawny  rufous  on  the  head,  the  color  clearer 
and  somewhat  lighter  on  the  cervix;  wings  less  reddish  than  the  back;  rump 
still  more  olivaceous,  and  tail  decidedly  grayish  brown.  A  pure  white  orbital 
ring;  lores  grayish  white,  more  gray  immediately  in  front  of  the  eye;  auriculars 
dusky,  distinctly  streaked  with  whitish.  A  white  malar  stripe,  curving  upward 
beneath  the  auriculars,  the  anterior  portion  speckled  with  dusky.  Entire  lower 
parts  white,  usually  somewhat  tinged  with  buff  on  the  breast;  sides  of  throat 
bounded  by  a  stripe  of  aggregated  blackish  cuneate  streaks;  jugulum  marked 
with  distinct  cuneate  or  deltoid;  the  breast  and  sides  with  larger,  broader,  in- 
versely cordate  spots  of  black;  abdomen  and  crissum  immaculate;  throat  with 
very  few  minute  spots,  or  entirely  immaculate.  Adult,  in  winter:  Similar,  but 


644  HISTORY  OF  THE 

jugulum  more  decidedly  tinged  with  buff.  Young,  first  plumage:  Similar  to  the 
adult,  but  feathers  of  the  pileum  and  back  with  paler  (ochraceous)  shaft  streaks; 
middle  wing  coverts  with  terminal  triangular  spots  of  ochraceous,  the  greater 
coverts  narrowly  tipped  with  the  same;  spots  on  breast,  etc.,  less  sharply  de- 
fined. (Ridgicay.) 

Stretch  of 
Length,          wing.  Wing.         Tail.         Tarsus.          Bill. 

Male 8.20         13.40         4.40         3.15         1.25          .64 

Female...     8.00         13.15         4.30         3.00         1.22          .62 

Iris  brown;  bill  —  upper  and  end  of  lower,  dark  brown,  rest 
brownish  yellow;  legs  and  feet  flesh  color;  claws  light  brown. 

The  natural  haunts  of  this  solitary  species  are  within  the  deep 
forests  upon  the  bottom  lands,  bordering  streams,  and  remote 
from  the  habitations  of  man,  although,  where  the  locations  are 
favorable,  I  have  occasionally  found  them  nesting  in  orchards 
and  gardens.  They  make  their  home  in  the  lower  branches 
of  the  trees,  and,  in  their  search  for  food,  often  hop  over  the 
ground,  like  the  Robins.  They  feed  chiefly  upon  worms,  beetles, 
grasshoppers,  etc.,  and  berries  in  their  season.  They  are  wary 
in  their  habits,  but  gentle  in  their  deportment,  and  move  about 
without  ostentation,  in  an  easy,  dignified,  graceful  manner,  and, 
when  approached,  do  not  skulk  and  hide,  like  the  Towhees  and 
Chats,  but  hop  openly  about,  uttering  now  and  then  their  sharp 
alarm  or  call  note,  "Tuck,"  which  is  often  rapidly  repeated, 
taking  good  care  to  keep  at  a  safe  distance  from  the  intruder 
by  gliding  noiselessly  from  tree  to  tree. 

During  the  breeding  season,  the  short,  silvery,  flute-like  song 
of  the  males  rings  out  in  sweet,  clear,  indescribable  notes,  that 
even  the  Mockingbirds  do  not  attempt  to  imitate.  Mr.  Nuttall 
happily  says: 

"At  the  dawn  of  morning  he  now  announces  his  presence  in 
the  woods  from  the  top  of  some  tall  tree  rising  through  the  dark 
and  shady  forest;  he  pours  out  his  few  clear  and  harmonious 
notes  in  a  pleasing  reverie,  as  if  inspired  by  the  enthusiasm  of 
renovated  nature.  The  prelude  to  this  song  resembles  almost 
the  double  tongueing  of  the  flute,  blended  with  a  tinkling,  shrill 
and  solemn  warble,  which  reechoes  from  his  solitary  retreat  like 
the  dirge  of  some  sad  recluse  who  shuns  the  busy  haunts  of  life. 
The  whole  air  consists,  usually,  of  four  parts,  or  bars,  which  sue- 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  645 

ceed  in  deliberate  time,  and  finally  blend  together  in  impressive 
and  soothing  harmony,  becoming  more  mellow  and  sweet  at 
every  repetition.  Rival  performers  seem  to  challenge  each 
other  from  various  parts  of  the  wood,  vicing  for  the  favor  of 
their  mates,  with  sympathetic  responses  and  softer  tones,  and 
some,  waging  a  jealous  strife,  terminate  the  warm  dispute  by 
an  appeal  to  combat  and  violence.  Like  the  Robin  and-  the 
Thrasher,  in  dark  and  gloomy  weather,  when  other  birds  are 
sheltered  and  silent,  the  clear  notes  of  the  Wood  Thrush  are 
heard  through  the  dropping  woods,  from  dawn  to  dusk,  so  that, 
the  sadder  the  day,  the  sweeter  and  more  constant  is  his  song. 
His  clear  and  interrupted  whistle  is  likewise  often  nearly  the 
only  voice  of  melody  heard  by  the  traveler  to  mid-day,  in  the 
heat  of  summer,  as  he  traverses  the  silent,  dark  and  wooded 
wilderness,  remote  from  the  haunts  of  men.  It  is  nearly  impos- 
sible by  words  to  convey  any  idea  of  the  peculiar  warble  of  this 
vocal  hermit;  but  amongst  his  phrases,  the  sound  of  'Air-o-ee,' 
peculiarly  liquid,  and  followed  by  a  trill,  repeated  in  two  inter- 
rupted bars,  is  readily  recognizable.  At  times  their  notes  bear 
a  considerable  resemblance  to  those  of  Wilson's  Thrush,  such  as 
'Eh  rhehu,  vrhehu, '  then  varied  to  'Eh  villia,  villia,  eh  villia, 
vrhehu,'  then,  'Eh  vein,  villu,'  high  and  shrill." 

Their  nests  are  usually  saddled  on  to  a  horizontal  limb  of  a 
tree,  six  to  ten  feet  from  the  ground.  They  are  composed  out- 
side of  loose  stems  of  weeds  and  leaves,  attached  to  a  closely 
compact  body  of  pulverized  leaves,  fibers  and  lint-like  substances 
from  plants,  plastered  together  with  saliva  and  tracings  of  mud, 
and  lined  with  small,  fibrous  roots.  Eggs  three  to  five,  1.02x 
.74  (they  vary  greatly  in  size);  greenish  blue;  in  form,  oval. 

Turdus  fuscescens  STEPH. 

WILSON'S  THRUSH. 

Migratory;  rare.  I  have  never  met  with  the  birds  in  the  west- 
ern part  of  the  State.  Arrive  the  last  of  April  to  first  of  May; 
begin  to  return  early  in  September;  none,  to  my  knowledge, 
remain  later  than  the  middle  of  October. 

B.  151.     R.  2.     C.  7.     G.  2,     328.     U.  750. 


646  HISTORY  OF  THE 

HABITAT.  Eastern  United  States;  north  to  Newfoundland, 
the  Magdalen  Islands,  Manitoba,  etc. ;  west  to  the  plains;  breed- 
ing from  about  latitude  41°  northward;  wintering  in  the  South- 
ern States  and  Cuba.  (Replaced  in  the  Rocky  Mountain  regions 
by  T.fuscescens  salicicolus.  I  think  that  I  have  seen  this  bird 
in  western  Kansas,  but  am  not  certain.) 

SP.  CHAR.  Above,  uniform  rather  light  fulvous  brown,  varying  in  precise 
shade;  no  trace  of  a  lighter  orbital  ring,  the  sides  of  the  head  being  nearly  uni- 
form grayish,  as  in  T.  alicm.  Jugulum  and  posterior  portion  of  throat  creamy 
buff,  with  cuneate  spots  of  brown,  usually  a  little  darker  than  the  color  of  the 
crown,  these  markings  narrower  and  more  distinct  anteriorly;  chin  and  upper 
part  of  throat  nearly  white,  immaculate,  but  bordered  along  each  side  by  a  lon- 
gitudinal series  of  brown  streaks,  sometimes  blended  into  a  single  stripe,  below 
an  ill-defined  whitish  or  buffy  malar  stripe;  lores  pale  grayish  or  grayish  white; 
auriculars  darker  and  more  brownish.  Sides  of  breast,  sides  and  flanks  light 
brownish  gray,  the  sides  of  the  breast  sometimes  faintly  spotted  with  a  deeper 
shade,  but  frequently  uniform;  tibia  grayish  white  in  front,  brown  on  posterior 
side;  rest  of  lower  parts  pure  white.  In  summer  the  colors  paler;  in  fall  and 
winter  the  brown  above  brighter,  the  buff  of  jugulum  deeper,  and  spots  darker. 
(Ridgway.) 

Stretch  of 
Length.  wing.  Wing.  Tail.        Tarsus.         Bill. 

Male 7.40          12.60        4.00         3.25         1.15         .60 

Female...      7.15          12.00         3.80         3.05         1.12          .57 

Iris  brown;  bill  —  upper  and  end  of  under  dusky;  rest  pale 
flesh  color;  legs  flesh  color;  feet  and  claws  brown. 

These  birds  occasionally  visit  the  upland  groves  and  gardens, 
but  their  true  home  is  within  the  deep  woods,  on  swampy 
grounds  and  moist  lands  bordering  the  sloughs  and  streams. 
Happy  birds  !  in  their  deep,  gloomy,  solitary  surroundings,  that 
sing  sweetly  in  the  breeding  season  from  early  morn  until  late 
at  eve;  and  so  softly  do  some  of  the  notes  fall,  the  hearer  must 
listen  to  catch  its  full,  tender,  soul-stirring  melody,  which,  to 
my  ear,  rings  out  louder  and  clearer  as  the  shades  of  night 
deepen.  Their  ordinary  note  is  a  sharp,  liquid  "Chirp,"  ut- 
tered at  times  in  a  harsh,  scolding  manner. 

The  birds  are  rather  shy,  and  on  account  of  their  retiring 
habits  and  unfrequented  haunts,  much  more  common  throughout 
their  range  than  they  are  generally  supposed  to  be.  Like  the 
Wood  Thrush,  they  live  in  the  lower  branches  of  the  trees,  and 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  647 

search  largely  for  their  food  (which  is  similar)  upon  the  ground, 
the  upturned  roots  and  moss-covered  bodies  of  fallen  trees. 

They  build  their  nests  either  on  the  ground  in  hillocks  of 
moss,  under  a  clustering  growth  of  plants,  or  in  the  forks  of 
shrubs,  when  well  concealed  by  low,  overhanging  bushes.  They 
are  composed  of  leaves,  intermingled  with  soft  strippings  from 
vines  and  plants,  stems  of  weeds,  grasses,  etc.,  and  often  lined 
with  finer  grasses,  rootlets  or  horse  hairs.  Eggs  four  or  five, 
.  87x.  65;  greenish  blue;  they  vary  in  size  and  somewhat  in  depth 
of  color;  and  in  rare  instances  a  few  faint  reddish  spots  appear 
upon  the  larger  end;  in  form,  oval. 

Turdus  alicise  BAIBD. 

GRAY-CHEEKED  THRUSH. 

Migratory;  not  uncommon.  Arrive  the  last  of  April  to  first 
of  May;  return  and  leave  for  the  south  in  September. 

B.  154.     R.  3.     C.  12.     G.  3,     329.     U.  757. 

HABITAT.  Eastern  and  northern  North  America;  west  to  the 
Rocky  Mountains,  Alaska  and  eastern  Siberia;  breeding  from 
Labrador  westward  to  southern  Alaska,  and  north  to  the  Arctic 
coast;  wintering  south  of  the  United  States  to  Costa  Rica. 

SP.  CHAR.  Above,  uniform  greenish  olive  brown;  no  trace  of  light  orbital 
ring.  Beneath,  white,  usually  more  or  less  tinged  with  buff  on  the  jugulum, 
the  sides  uniform  olive  gray.  Jugulum  with  lower  parts  and  sides  of  throat 
marked  with  rather  small  triangular  spots  of  dusky.  Adult,  in  spring:  Above, 
uniform  greenish  olive  brown,  the  tail  and  outer  portion  of  wings  sometimes 
appreciably  browner,  or  less  greenish;  sides  of  head  nearly  uniform  dull  grayish, 
the  auriculars  faintly  streaked  with  white.  Malar  region,  and  lower  parts  in 
general,  white,  the  entire  sides  uniform  olive  gray,  and  the  jugulum  usually 
(but  not  always)  more  or  less  tinged  with  light  buff;  jugulum,  with  lower  part 
and  sides  of  throat,,  marked  with  rather  small  but  very  distinct  deltoid  spots  of 
dusky,  these  markings  more  cuueate  anteriorly,  and  forming  a  nearly  continuous 
sub-malar  stripe  along  each  side  of  throat,  the  extreme  posterior  spots  decidedly 
transverse;  breast  marked  with  transverse  spots  of  olive  gray,  like  the  color  of 
the  sides.  Adult,  in  fall  and  winter:  Similar,  but  usually  more  greenish  olive, 
and  the  buff  tinge  on  jugiflum  more  distinct.  Turdus  alicim  is  apparently  a 
very  near  ally  of  T.  fuscescens,  with  which  it  agrees  much  more  closely  in 
measurements  and  in  pattern  of  coloration  than  T.  ustulatus  swainsonii,  with 
which  it  has  usually  been  compared,  and,  by  many,  confused,  though  needlessly 
so.  From  the  latter  it  may  be  invariably  distinguished  by  the  entire  absence  of  a 
light  orbital  ring,  the  whole  side  of  the  head  being  nearly  uniform  grayish,  as 
in  fuscescens.  The  spots  on  the  jugulum  average  decidedly  smaller;  the  jugu- 


648  HISTORY  OF   TIIK 

lum  and  malar  region  are  much  less  distinctly  buff:  the  sides  much  grayer,  etc. 
Some  specimens  of  alii-ue  and  swainsonii  are  identical  in  the  color  of  the  upper 
parts,  but  a  large  majority  of  the  former  species  are  decidedly  darker  and  less 
brown,  appearing  on  actual  comparison  almost  gray  in  contrast.  (Ridgway.) 

Stretch  of 
Length.          wing.          Wing.  Tail.         Tarsus.          Bill. 

Male 7.60        12.60        4.15         3.15        1.20          .55 

Female...       7.30         12.30         4.00          3.00         1.18  .53 

Iris  brown;  bill  dusky,  with  basal  half  of  under  yellowish; 
legs  and  feet  flesh  color,  the  feet  a  shade  darker,  with  bottoms 
pale;  claws  brown. 

This  species  frequents  alike  the  woods  and  scattering  trees 
and  bushes  fringing  the  streams.  Shy,  restless  birds;  and,  as 
they  prefer  for  their  feeding  grounds  open  spaces  or  forests 
free  from  underbrush,  they  are  not  easily  approached.  They  are 
largely  terrestial  in  their  habits,  and  spend  much  of  their  time 
hopping  over  the  ground  in  search  of  food,  standing  almost 
erect  when  they  stop  to  listen,  or  utter  from  the  perch  their 
low,  whistling  "Whew."  I  am  wholly  unacquainted  with  their 
breeding  habits,  and  therefore  take  pleasure  in  quoting  from 
Mr.  E.  W.  Nelson's  "Report  upon  Natural  History  Collections 
made  in  Alaska:" 

"This  species  is  comnfon  throughout  all  the  northern  portion 
of  Alaska  wherever  willow  and  alder  thickets  afford  it  shelter. 
Its  western  range  extends  to  Behring  Straits  and  beyond,  and 
it  has  been  recorded  from  Kamtchatka,  and  probably  occurs  on 
the  Chukchi  Peninsula.  Along  the  entire  Yukon,  and  other 
streams  bordered  by  trees  and  bushes  in  this  region,  it  is  present 
in  great  abundance  during  the  breeding  season.  On  the  first  of 
June,  1879,  as  I  came  down  the  Yukon  by  boat,  large  numbers 
of  their  old  nests  were  seen  in  the  leafless  bushes  along  the  river 
banks.  A  number  of  these  nests  were  close  to  the  ground  — 
within  two  or  three  feet  —  while  others  were  from  eight  to  twelve 
feet  high,  at  the  division  of  two  stout  branches,  where  the  com- 
pact structure  of  fine  grass  and  leaves  was  placed.  This  species 
reaches  the  mouth  of  the  Yukon  and  adjacent  coast  in  large 
numbers  the  last  of  May  or  first  of  June.  The  earliest  arrival 
which  I  have  recorded  is  on  May  24th.  They  are  soon  found 
in  every  thicket,  whence  their  low,  sweet  song  is  frequently 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  649 

heard;  but  they  are  very  shy,  and,  at  the  first  alarm,  dive  into 
the  dense  bushes  for  shelter.  As  soon  as  the  breeding  season 
is  over  they  become  less  retiring,  and  frequent  the  vicinity  of 
villages  and  more  open  spots,  where  many  are  killed  by  the  na- 
tive boys,  armed  with  their  bows  and  arrows.  Their  skins  are 
removed  and  hung  in  rows  or  bunches  to  dry  in  the  smoky  huts, 
and  are  preserved  as  trophies  of  the  young  hunters'  prowess. 
In*  the  winter  festivals,  when  the  older  hunters  bring  out  the 
trophies  of  their  skill,  the  boys  proudly  display  the  skins  of 
these  Thrushes  and  hang  them  alongside. 

'kOn  the  seacoast  every  alder  patch  has  a  pair  or  more  of 
these  birds,  and  its  presence  at  Sitka  and  Kadiak  is  attested  by 
numerous  specimens  in  the  National  Museum  Collection.  Dall 
records  a  nest  obtained  from  an  elevation  of  about  six  feet  in  a 
small  alder.  This  nest  was  made  of  hair,  lined  with  scraps  of 
deer  hair,  feathers,  and  a  little  moss.  A  nest,  obtained  by  me 
near  St.  Michael's,  on  the  first  of  June,  is  an  extremely  small, 
loose  structure,  formed  by  lining  a  small  depression  at  the  base 
of  a  shrub  in  the  midst  of  an  alder  thicket  with  fine,  soft  grass 
leaves.  The  material  of  the  nest  is  uniform  throughout,  and  in 
this  particular  partly  bears  out  Dr.  Brewer's  statement  in  the 
'History  of  North  American  Birds,'  which  is:  'The  nests  (of 
alicice)  are  also  quite  different  in  their  appearance  and  style  of 
structure.  The  Hypnum  mosses,  so  marked  a  feature  in  the 
nests  of  T.  swainsonii,  as  also  in  those  of  T.  ustulatus,  are 
wholly  wanting  in  those  of  T.  alicice.'  This  statement  is  not 
confirmed,  however,  by  the  examination  of  other  nests.  A  sec- 
ond example,  obtained  at  St.  Michael's,  on  June  20th,  was  com- 
posed mainly  of  these  mosses  mixed  with  a  small  amount  of 
coarse  grass.  This  nest  was  placed  upon  the  branching  base  of 
a  small  alder,  only  a  few  inches  from  the  ground.  The  nest 
first  mentioned  measured  three  and  a  half  inches  across  the  top 
by  two  inches  deep,  and  the  eggs  which  it  contained  measure 
respectively:  .  93x.62,  .  90x.64  and  .93x.6S.  These  eggs  are 
blue,  with  a  varying  amount  of  reddish  brown  specking,  which 
is  most  abundant  at  the  larger  end.  In  two  specimens  of  this 
set  the  spots  are  thinly  scattered  over  the  shell,  while  in  the 


650  HISTORY  OF   THE 

other  two  it  is  so  distributed  that  over  half  the  surface  is  con- 
cealed by  it.  Of  the  specimens  in  the  National  Museum  Collec- 
tion, some  are  scarcely  marked  at  all,  while  in  others  the  ground 
color  is  nearly  hidden.  The  single  egg  found  in  the  second 
nest  measures  .  92x.69.  This  nest  measures  three  inches  in 
depth  by  four  inches  in  width,  the  central  cavity  being  two  inches 

deep." 

Turdus  ustulatus  swainsonii  (CAB.). 

OLIVE-BACKED  THRUSH. 
PLATE  XXXV. 

Migratory;  common.      Arrive  about  the  first  of  May;  begin 
to  return  early  in  September;  a  few  remaining  late  in  October. 
B.  153.     K.  4a.     C.  13.     G.  4,     330.     U.  758a. 

HABITAT.  Eastern  North  America;  north  into  the  Arctic  re- 
gions; west  to'  and  including  the  Rocky  Mountains,  and  from 
the  upper  Columbia  River  northwest  throughout  the  wooded 
lands  of  Alaska;  breeding  chiefly  north  of  the  United  States; 
wintering  from  the  Gulf  States  southward  into  northern  South 
America. 

SP.  CHAR.  Adult:  Above,  uniform  olive  brown,  more  grayish  in  some  ex- 
amples; a  very  distinct  orbital  ring  of  buff;  supraloral  stripe,  malar  region, 
chin,  throat  and  jugulum  light  buff,  usually  deepest  toward  sides  of  head  and 
neck;  jugulum  thickly  marked  with  very  broad  triangular  spots  of  dusky  brown 
(much  darker  than  the  color  of  the  crown),  these  markings  more  cuueate  ante- 
riorly, and  continued  along  sides  of  throat  in  a  series  of  longitudinal  dashes, 
usually  blended  into  a  more  or  less  continuous  submalar  stripe,  narrower  and 
unbroken  anteriorly;  chin  and  upper  parts  of  throat  immaculate;  sides  of  breast, 
sides  and  flanks  olivaceous  gray;  rest  of  lower  parts  pure  white;  breast  marked 
with  distinct  transverse  spots  of  deep  brownish  gray;  tibia  light  brownish  gray. 
Axillars  and  lining  of  wing  deep  grayish  fulvous,  mixed  with  ochraceous.  (Ridg- 
way.) 

Stretch  of 
Length.          -wing.          Wing.  Tail.         Tarsus.       Bill. 

Male 7.40          12.15         4.00         3.00          1.12          .52 

Female...      7.15          11.65         3.80        2.80          1.10          .50 

Iris  brown;  bill  dusky,  with  under  pale  straw  color  at  base; 
legs  pale  brown;  feet  and  claws  a  shade  darker. 

This  species  is  more  a  bird  of  the  woods  than  the  Gray- 
cheeked  Thrush,*  which  it  so  closely  resembles  in  build,  color, 

*From  the  observations  and  collections  made  on  the  upper  Yukon,  the  Olive-backed 
Thrush  appears  to  be  a  common  summer  resident  there,  and  thus  ex  ends  its  breeding  range 
within  the  Arctic  circle.  It  appears  to  be  influenced  to  a  great  extent  in  its  ange  by  the  pres- 
ence or  absence  of  woods,  and  its  northern  limit  may  be  marked  as  coinciding  with  the  tree 
limit.  Alicia,  on  the  contrary,  extends  beyond  this,  wherever  a  bunch  of  dwarf  willows  will 
give  it  shelter,  to  the  very  shores  of  the  Arctic  and  Behring  Seas.  ( Nelson. ) 


BIRDS  OF  KANXAti.  651 

habits  and  actions,  that  one  familiar  with  both  is  often  in  doubt 
as  to  the  bird  in  the  bush,  and  only  feels  certain  when  he  has  it 
in  hand,  or  hears  its  call  note  or  song.  Doctor  Brewer,  in 
"North  American  Land  Birds,"  says  in  regard  to  the  latter: 

"The  Turdus  alicice  conies  a  few  days  the  earlier,  and  is 
often  in  full  song  when  the  T.  swainsonii  is  silent.  The  song 
of  the  former  is  not  only  totally  different  from  that  of  the  latter, 
but  also  from  that  of  all  our  other  Wood  Thrushes.  It  most  re- 
sembles the  song  of  T.  pallasi,  but  differs  in  being  its  exact  in- 
verse, for  whereas  the  latter  begins  with  its  lowest  notes,  and 
proceeds  on  an  ascending  scale,  the  former  begins  with  its  high- 
est, and  concludes  with  its  lowest  note.  The  song  of  T.  swain- 
sonii, on  the  other  hand,  exhibits  much  less  variation  in  the 
scale,  all  the  notes  being  of  nearly  the  same  altitude." 

In  the  spring  and  early  summer  of  1880,  I  found  these  birds 
quite  common,  and  breeding,  in  Nova  Scotia  and  on  Grand 
Manan  Isle,  New  Brunswick.  They  were  very  shy,  and  as  they 
made  their  homes  largely  in  the  thick  growths  of  trees,  I  seldom 
caught  a  glimpse  of  one,  and  were  it  not  for  their  exquisite  song, 
and  sharp  call  and  alarm  notes,  "Whit,  whit,  whit,"  so  often 
repeated,  I  should  have  thought  them  extremely  rare.  In  migra- 
tion, they  frequent  the  more  open  woods,  and  are  less  wary. 

Their  nests  are  built  in  bushes,  or  small  trees,  ranging  from 
two  to  eight  feet  from  the  ground.  They  are  composed  of  leaves, 
moss,  twigs,  strippings  from  plants,  etc.,  and  sometimes  lined 
with  fine  rootlets.  Eggs  usually  four,  ,92x.66;  light  greenish 
blue,  spotted  and  occasionally  blotched  with  pale  reddish  to  dark 
brown  and  lilac,  chiefly  about  the  larger  end;  in  form,  oval.  A 
set  of  four  eggs,  collected  June  15th,  at  Grand  Manan,  from  a 
nest  in  a  small  white  birch,  about  six  feet  up,  are,  in  dimensions: 
.92x.67,  .93x.66,  .94x.68,  .95x.65. 

Turdus  aonalaschkae  pallasii  (CAB.). 

HERMIT  THRUSH. 
PLATE  XXXV. 

Migratory;  rare.  I  have  never  met  with  the  birds  in  the 
middle  or  western  part  of  the  State.  Arrive  in  March  and 


652  HISTORY  OF   THE 

April;   begin  to  return  in  September;  remain  into  November, 
and  may  occasionally  winter  in  southeastern  part  of  the  State. 

B.  149.     R.  5i.     C.  10.     G.  5,     331.     U.  7596. 

HABITAT.  Eastern  North  America;  west  casually  to  the  Great 
Plains  (replaced  westward  by  the  Rocky  Mountain  variety,  T. 
aonalasctikce  audubonii,  which  I  feel  confident  will  be  found  in 
the  early  spring  and  fall  in  western  Kansas  and  western  Ne- 
braska); breeds  from  the  northern  United  States  northward, 
and  winters  in  the  Southern  States. 

SP.  CHAR.  Second  primary  shorter  than  fifth.  Tail  much  more  reddish  than 
back.  Adult,  in  spring  and  early  summer:  Above,  uniform  olive  brown,  chang- 
ing to  dull  cinnamon  rufous  on  the  tail,  the  upper  tail  coverts  of  an  intermediate 
tint;  outer  portion  of  the  wings  more  rusty  than  back,  but  much  less  rufous  than 
the  tail.  A  very  distinct  orbital  ring  of  pale  buff;  auriculars  and  suborbital  re- 
gion dull  grayish  brown,  indistinctly  streaked  with  paler.  Lower  parts  dull 
white,  purer  on  the  abdomen,  the  jugulum  usually  faintly  tinged  with  buff;  jugu- 
lum  marked  with  large  deltoid  spots  of  dark  brown  to  blackish,  the  more  poste- 
rior of  these  spots  broader  and  less  pointed,  the  anterior  ones  more  cuneate;  sides 
of  the  neck  with  cuneate  streaks  of  dark  brown  or  blackish,  narrower  and  more 
linear  anteriorly,  where  they  form  a  well-defined  stripe  or  "bridle"  along  each 
side  of  the  throat;  malar  region  dull  white,  indistinctly  speckled  or  streaked 
with  brown;  breast  with  distinct  roundish  or  somewhat  sagittate  spots  of  deep 
grayish  brown;  sides  and  flanks  light  grayish  olive  brown;  axillars  and  lining 
of  wing  pale  dull  ochraceous;  tibia  olive  brown.  Adult,  in  fall  and  winter: 
Similar,  but  above  much  browner  (almost  umber  on  the  back),  the  tail  deeper 
rufous,  the  jugulum  more  distinctly  tinged  with  buff,  and  the  sides  browner  olive. 
(Ridgway.) 

Stretch,  of 
Length.          wing.         Wing.          Tail.        Tarsus.         Bill. 

Male 7.20          11.50         3.70         3.00         1.20          .55 

Female...      6.80          11.00         3.50        2.75         1.18          .52 

Iris  dark  brown;  bill  —  upper  and  ends  of  lower  dusky;  rest 
straw  color;  legs,  feet  and  claws  light  brownish  flesh  color. 

These  birds  frequent  the  moist  woodlands,  timbered  streams 
and  swampy  growths,  where  I  have  often  met  with  them  in 
their  winter  quarters  and  summer  homes.  They  are  not  natu- 
rally timid  or  suspicious  birds,  and  in  fall  and  winter  they  have 
come  about  my  camp  and  scratched  among  the  leaves  for  food, 
regardless  of  my  presence;  but  during  the  breeding  season  they 
are  wary,  and  keep  well  hidden  in  the  gloomy  forests  of  spruce, 
fir  and  hemlock,  making  their  presence  known,  however,  by 
their  loud  "Chuck,"  note,  and  the  woods  ring  with  their  clear, 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  653 

liquid,  silvery  song,  that  at  times  is  uttered  low  and  soft,  but 
always  in  a  charming,  musical  flow.  It  sounds  much  like  the 
golden  song  of  the  Wood  Thrush,  but  on  a  little  higher  key,  and 
with  less  compass  of  voice.  Like  all  the  Wood  Thrushes,  they 
live  largely  in  the  lower  branches  of  the  trees  and  on  the  ground, 
and  their  food  habits  and  actions  are  similar. 

Their  nests  are  built  in  a  depression  in  the  ground,  and  well 
concealed  beneath  bushes  or  hidden  among  the  forest  plants. 
They  are  quite  bulky,  and  composed  of  weeds,  grasses  and  moss, 
and  lined  with  a  finer  material  of  the  same,  and  often  with 
rootlets.  Eggs  usually  four,  .86  x.  65;  greenish  blue;  inform, 
elongate  oval.  A  set  of  four  eggs,  collected  May  26,  1880, 
near  Digby,  Nova  Scotia,  from  a  nest  sunk  in  the  ground  among 
ferns,  the  rim  barely  coming  to  the  surface,  are,  in  dimensions: 
.85x.66,  .86x.65,  .86x65,  .87x.65. 

GENUS  MERULA  LEACH. 

Tail  about  four-fifths  as  long  as  the  wing,  and  more  than  three  times  as  long 
as  the  tarsus;  slightly  rounded.  Tarsus  a  little  longer  than  the  commissure,  ex- 
ceeding middle  toe  and  claw  by  less  than  the  length  of  the  latter.  Third,  fourth 
and  fifth  quills  longest,  the  second  about  equal  to  the  sixth,  never  much  longer 
or  shorter;  third  to  sixth  quills  with  outer  webs  sinuated.  Outstretched  feet 
not  reaching  beyond  the  middle  of  the  tail.  Plumage  variable,  but  never  dis- 
tinctly spotted  beneath,  except  in  young.  Sexes  sometimes  very  different  in 
plumage.  (Ridgway.) 

Merula  migratoria  (LINN.). 

AMERICAN  ROBIN. 
PLATE  XXXV. 

Resident;  abundant  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  State  in  sum- 
mer, and  along  the  streams  in  winter,  where  the  hackberries 
are  plenty;  rare  at  other  times;  not  common  in  the  western 
portion  of  the  State.  Begin  laying  the  last  of  April. 

B.  155.     E.  7.     C.  1.     G.  6,     332.     U.  761. 

HABITAT.  Northern  and  eastern  North  America  (replaced  in 
the  western  United  States,  east  to  the  edge  of  the  Great  Plains, 
by  M.  migratoria propinqua)',  south  into  eastern  Mexico;  breed- 
ing from  near  the  southern  borders  of  the  United  States  north- 
ward to  the  Arctic  coast. 


654  HISTORY  OF   THE 

Sr.  CHAR.  Adult  male,  in  summer:  Head  deep  black,  with  the  lower  e3-elid, 
part  of  the  upper  eyelid,  and  a  supraloral  streak,  pure  white;  chiu  pure  white, 
the  throat  streaked  with  the  same.  Upper  parts  grayish  slate  color,  the  scapn. 
lars  and  interscapulars  showing  darker  centers,  these  usually  most  conspicuous 
anteriorly;  wing  coverts  also  darker  centrally,  but  this  mostly  concealed;  pri- 
maries, primary  coverts  and  alula  black,  narrowly  but  distinctly  edged  with 
ash  gray.  Tail  uniform  slate  black,  the  two  outer  feathers  with  inner  webs 
distinctly  tipped  with  white.  Jugulum,  breast,  entire  sides,  upper  part  of  ab. 
domen,  axillars  and  lining  of  the  wing,  uniform  deep  rufous  or  reddish  ochra- 
ceous  (varying  in  shade  in  different  individuals);  posterior  part  of  abdomen  and 
femoral  region  pure  white;  anal  region  and  crissum  white,  mixed  with  plumbe- 
ous, this  mostly  beneath  the  surface.  Adult  female,  in  summer:  Usually  a 
little  paler  and  duller  in  color  than  the  male,  but  not  always  distinguishable. 
Bill  less  purely  yellow;  dimensions  about  the  same.  Adult,  in  icinter:  Upper 
parts  decidedly  tinged  with  olive;  rufous  feathers  of  the  lower  parts  distinctly 
bordered  with  white,  producing  a  scaly  appearance.  Bill  mostly  blackish,  the 
yellow  confined  chiefly  to  the  lower  mandible.  Young,  in  first  winter:  Differ- 
ing from  the  autumnal  or  winter  adult  in  much  paler  colors;  head  grayish,  the 
pileum  scarcely  or  not  at  all  darker  than  the  back,  the  upper  parts  being  uni- 
form dull  gray;  breast,  etc.,  reddish  ochraceous,  much  mixed  with  white  poste- 
riorly; the  jugulum  tinged  with  ashy.  A  more  or  less  distinct  supra-auricular 
streak  of  white.  Young,  in  first  plumage:  Pileum  and  side  of  head  dull  black- 
ish, with  an  indistinct  dull  whitish  superciliary  streak  between;  the  lower 
eyelid  also  whitish.  Upper  parts  dull  brownish  gray,  the  scapulars  and  inter- 
scapulars  variegated  with  blackish  terminal  bars  and  whitish  shaft  streaks; 
lesser  and  middle  wing  coverts  also  marked  with  pale  shaft  streaks.  A  whitish 
malar  stripe,  bordered  below  by  a  blackish  stripe  along  each  side  of  throat; 
chin  and  throat  white,  immaculate,  or  with  only  very  faint  scattered  specks. 
Breast  and  sides  of  abdomen  pale  rufous  or  ochraceous,  thickly  spotted  with 
black;  lining  of  wings  uniform  ochraceous  or  pale  rufous;  posterior  lower  parts 
chiefly  whitish.  (Rtdgway.) 

Stretch  of 
Length.         wing.  Wing.  Tail.         Tarsus.         Bill. 

Male 10.50         16.20         5.25         4.30         1.35          .87 

Female...       9.85        15.95        5.15        4.15        1.33          .85 

In  a  few  specimens  the  females  were  fully  as  large  as  the 
males. 

Iris  brown;  bill  bright  yellow,  tipped  with  dusky  (the  bill  of 
the  female  somewhat  paler;  in  young  birds  the  upper  mandible, 
with  the  exception  of  the  edges,  dark  brown);  legs  brown;  feet 
dark  brown;  claws  blackish. 

These  familiar  birds  of  the  orchard  and  garden  brave  the 
coldest  weather,  and  their  distribution  in  winter  depends  largely 
upon  the  food  supply.  In  the  winter  of  1880,  I  found  a  few 
wintering  on  Brier  Island,  Novia  Scotia.  They  sought  shelter 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  655 

at  night  and  during  severe  storms  in  the  thick  growths  of  spruce 
and  other  shrubby  trees,*  and  subsist  upon  the  snails  and  minute 
forms  of  life  that  abound  in  the  kelp  and  other  debris  washed 
upon  the  shore.  Their  winter  fare  inland  consists  largely  of 
cedar  berries,  hackberries,  wild  grapes,  etc.,  and  in  the  fall  help 
themselves  to  our  cultivated  berries;  but  they  more  than  repay 
the  loss  in  the  destruction  of  cut  worms,  canker  worms  and  va- 
rious forms  of  injurious  insect  life,  which  they  diligently  search 
for  in  the  gardens,  plowed  fields  and  bare  spots,  in  the  early 
spring,  ready  to  catch  them  as  fast  as  they  are  warmed  into  life 
in  their  winter  beds  by  the  hot  rays  of  the  sun  and  venture  to 
the  surface.  Then  they  are  the  first  of  the  family  to  greet  us 
with  their  song:  not  as  varied  and  musical  as  the  silvery  songs 
of  their  cousins  of  the  deep  woods,  but  full  of  tender  pathos, 
and  awaken  us  to  the  fact  that  winter  is  over  and  summer  at 
hand. 

Their  nests  are  built  in  the  crotches  of  trees,  saddled  on  to 
horizontal  branches  or  placed  in  hedges,  outbuildings  —  in  fact, 
most  anywhere  off  the  ground.  They  are  coarsely  constructed 
of  leaves,  stems,  twigs  and  grasses,  fastened  together  and  plas- 
tered inside  with  mud,  and  lined  with  fine  stems  and  rootlets. 
Eggs  three  to  five  (usually  four),  1.16x.80;  greenish  blue;  in 
form,  oval. 

Merula  migratoria  propinqua  Rroow. 

WESTERN  ROBIN. 
PLATE  XXXV. 

An  occasional  visitant  in  the  western  part  of  the  State.    (May 

breed  there.) 

B. .     R.  7o.     C.  2.     G.  7,     333.     U.  761a. 

HABITAT.  Western  United  States;  north  to  British  Columbia; 
east  to  the  eastern  edge  of  the  Great  Plains;  south  over  the 
table  lands  of  Mexico. 

SP.  CHAR.  Very  similar  to  T.  migratoria.  Differ  as  follows:  Outer  tail  feath- 
ers without  distinct  white  tip  (often  with  no  white  at  all);  anterior  portion  of 
back  slaty  gray,  abruptly  defined  against  black  of  hind  neck.  Average  a  little 
larger.  (Ridgway.) 

*  These  birds  usually  have  roosting  places  in  the  deep,  moist  or  swampy  woods,  where 
they  assemble  at  night,  like  the  Crows,  in  large  flocks.  For  full  description  of  this  habit,  see 
"Brewster  on  Robin  Roosts,"  in  "  The  Auk,"  Vol.  7,  p.  360. 


656  HISTORY  OF   THE 

Stretch  of 
Length.          wing.  Wing.  Tail.  Tarsus.        BUI. 

Male 10.45          16.35  5.35  4.40  1.35         .90 

Female...     10.15         16.10         5.25  4.25          1.35         .87 

Iris  brown;  bill  yellow,  with  tips  and  often  the  ridge  dusky; 
young  birds  show  less  yellow,  and  the  upper  mandible  is  usually 
all  dusky,  except  the  edges  and  a  little  on  basal  sides;  legs 
brown;  feet  and  claws  dark  brown. 

The  general  habits,  actions,  nesting  and  eggs  of  this  western 
form  are  like  those  of  the  eastern  species.  Eggs:  1.17x.  81. 

GENUS  SIALIA  SWAINSON. 

"Bill  short,  stout,  broader  than  high  at  base,  then  compressed;  slightly 
notched  at  tip.  Rictus  with  short  bristles.  Tarsi  not  longer  than  middle  toe; 
claws  considerably  curved.  Wings  much  longer  than  tail;  the  first  primary 
spurious,  not  one-fourth  the  longest.  Tail  moderate;  slightly  forked.  Eggs 
plain  blue.  Nest  in  holes.  The  species  of  this  genus  are  all  well  marked,  and 
adult  males  are  easily  distinguishable.  In  all,  blue  forms  a  prominent  feature. 
Three  well-marked  species  are  known,  with  a  fourth  less  distinct.  The  females 
are  duller  in  color  than  the  males.  The  young  are  spotted  and  streaked  with 
white." 

Sialia  sialis  (LINN.). 

BLUEBIRD. 
PLATE  XXXV. 

An  abundant  resident  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  State;  com- 
mon to  the  middle;  retiring  in  winter  to  the  thickets  in  the  deep 
ravines  and  along  the  streams;  a  rare  summer  resident  in  the 
western  portion  of  the  State.  Begin  laying  the  last  of  April. 

B.  158.     R.  22.     C.  27.     G.  10,     334.     U.  766. 

HABITAT.  Eastern  United  States;  north  to  Nova  Scotia,  On- 
tario and  Manitoba;  west  to  the  base  of  the  Rocky  Mountains; 
breeding  throughout  their  range;  wintering  from  the  Middle 
States  southward  to  Cuba. 

SP.  CHAB.  Breast  and  sides  cinnamon  or  chestnut.  Throat  cinnamon,  like 
breast;  belly  white.  Breast,  etc.,  deep  cinnamon  or  cinnamon  rufous;  sides  of 
neck  and  malar  region  blue.  Adult  male:  Above,  rich  cobalt  blue  (rarely  vary- 
ing to  ultramarine,  more  rarely  still  to  cerulean).  In  winter  the  blue  is  duller, 
the  cinnamon  of  breast,  etc.,  deeper  and  more  purplish,  and  feathers  of  back, 
etc.,  bordered  with  rusty.  Adult  female:  Above,  dull  grayish,  the  wings  dull 
blue,  the  rump,  upper  tail  coverts  and  tail  brighter  blue;  a  whitish  orbital  ring; 
breast,  etc.,  light  dull  cinnamon,  the  throat  paler,  with  a  dusky  streak  along 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  657 

each  side;  an  indistinct  whitish  malar  stripe.  Young:  Above,  dark  brownish 
or  grayish,  with  conspicuous  tear-shaped  streaks  of  whitish  over  whole  back, 
scapulars,  etc.;  wings  (except  coverts)  and  tail  as  iu  adult;  beneath,  white,  the 
feathers  of  breast,  etc.,  very  broadly  bordered  with  dark  grayish  or  brownish: 
a  whitish  orbital  ring.  (Rtdffway.) 

Stretch  of 
Length.  iving.          IVing.          Tail.         Tarsus.         Bill. 

Male 6.80          12.40         4.00         2.75          .78  .47 

Female...      6.60          12.00        3.85        2.60          .76          .46 

Iris  brown;  bill,  legs,  feet  and  claws  blackish. 

The  habits  of  this  well-known  species  are  so  familiar  to  all  that 
no  description  is  needed.  I  cannot,  however,  refrain  from  pre- 
senting the  following,  written  by  Wilson  Flagg,  in  so  happy 
and  pleasing  a  style: 

"Not  one  of  our  songsters  is  so  intimately  associated  with 
the  early  spring  as  the  Bluebird.  Upon  his  arrival  from  hi& 
winter  residence,  he  never  fails  to  make  known  his  presence  by 
a  few  melodious  notes  uttered  from  some  roof  or  fence  in  the 
field  or  garden.  On  the  earliest  morning  in  April,  when  we 
first  open  our  windows  to  welcome  the  soft  vernal  gales,  they 
bear  on  their  wings  the  sweet  strains  of  the  Bluebird.  These 
few  notes  are  associated  with  all  the  happy  scenes  and  incidents 
that  attend  the  opening  of  the  year. 

"The  Bluebird  is  said  to  bear  a  strong  resemblance  to  the 
English  Robin-Redbreast,  similar  in  form  and  style,  having  a 
red  breast  and  short  tail  feathers,  with  only  this  manifest  differ- 
ence: that  one  is  olive  colored  above  where  the  other  is  blue. 
But  the  Bluebird  does  not  equal  the  Redbreast  as  a  songster. 
His  notes  are  few  and  not  greatly  varied,  though  sweetly  and 
plaintively  modulated,  and  never  loud.  On  account  of  their 
want  of  variety,  they  do  not  enchain  the  listener;  but  they  con- 
stitute an  important  part  of  they  melody  of  morn. 

"The  value  of  the  inferior  singers  in  making  up  a  general 
chorus  is  not  sufficiently  appreciated.  In  musical  composition, 
as  in  an  anthem  or  oratorio,  though  there  is  a  leading  part,  which 
is  usually  the  air,  that  gives  character  to  the  whole,  yet  this 
leading  part  would  often  be  a  very  indifferent  piece  of  melody  if 
performed  without  its  accompaniments;  and  these  alone  would 
seem  still  more  trifling  and  unimportant.  Yet,  if  the  composi- 


658  HISTORY  OF   THE 

tion  be  the  work  of  a  master,  these  brief  strains  and  snatches, 
though  apparently  insignificant,  are  intimately  connected  with 
the  harmony  of  the  piece,  and  could  not  be  omitted  without  a 
serious  disparagement  of  the  grand  effect.  The  inferior  singing 
birds,  bearing  a  similar  relation  to  the  whole  choir,  are  indis- 
pensable as  aids  in  giving  additional  effect  to  the  note  of  the 
chief  singers. 

"Though  the  Robin  is  the  principal  musician  in  the  general 
anthem  of  morn,  his  notes  would  become  tiresome  if  heard  with- 
out accompaniments.  Nature  has  so  arranged  the  harmony  of 
this  chorus,  that  one  part  shall  assist  another;  and  so  exquisitely 
lias  she  combined  all  the  different  voices,  that  the  silence  of  any 
one  cannot  fail  to  be  immediately  perceived.  The  low,  mellow 
warble  of  the  Bluebird  seems  an  echo  to  the  louder  voice  of  the 
Robin;  and  the  incessant  trilling  or  running  accompaniment  of 
the  Hairbird,  the  twittering  of  the  Swallow,  and  the  loud,  melo- 
dious piping  of  the  Oriole,  frequent  and  short,  are  sounded  like 
the  different  parts  in  a  band  of  instruments,  and  each  performer 
seems  to  time  his  part  as  if  by  some  rule  of  harmony.  Any 
discordant  sound  that  may  occur  in  the  performance  never  fails 
to  disturb  the  equanimity  of  the  singers,  and  some  minutes  will 
elapse  before  they  resume  their  song.  It  would  be  difficult  to 
•draw  a  correct  comparison  between  the  birds  and  the  various 
instruments  they  represent.  But  if  the  Robin  was  described  as 
the  clarionet,  the  Bluebird  might  be  considered  the  flageolet, 
frequently,  but  not  incessantly,  interspersing  a  few  mellow  strains. 
The  Hairbird  would  be  the  octave  flute,  constantly  trilling  on  a 
high  key,  and  the  Golden  Robin  the  bugle,  often  repeating  his 
loud  and  brief  strain.  The  analogy,  if  carried  farther,  might 
lose  force  and  correctness. 

"All  the  notes  of  the  Bluebird — his  call  notes,  his  notes  of 
complaint,  his  chirp,  and  his  song  —  are  equally  plaintive  and 
closely  resemble  one  another.  I  am  not  aware  that  this  bird 
utters  a  harsh  note.  His  voice,  which  is  one  of  the  earliest  to 
be  heard  in  the  spring,  is  associated  with  the  early  flowers  and 
with  all  pleasant  vernal  influences.  When  he  first  arrives  he 
perches  upon  the  roof  of  a  barn  or  upon  some  leafless  tree,  and 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  659 

•delivers  his  few  and  frequent  notes  with  evident  fervor,  as  if 
conscious  of  the  pleasures  that  await  him.  These  mellow  notes 
are  all  the  sounds  he  makes  for  several  weeks,  seldom  chirping 
or  scolding  like  other  birds.  His  song  is  discontinued  at  mid- 
summer, but  his  plaintive  call,  consisting  of  a  single  note  pen- 
sively modulated,  continues  every  day  until  he  leaves  our  fields. 
This  sound  is  one  of  the  melodies  of  summer's  decline,  and  re- 
minds us,  like  the  note  of  the  green  nocturnal  tree-hopper,  of 
the  ripened  harvest,  the  fall  of  the  leaf,  and  of  all  the  joyous 
festivals  and  melancholy  reminiscences  of  autumn. 

"The  Bluebird  builds  his  nest  in  hollow  trees  and  posts,  and 
may  be  encouraged  to  breed  around  our  dwellings  by  supplying 
boxes  for  his  accommodation.  In  whatever  vicinity  we  reside, 
whether  in  a  recent  clearing  or  in  the  heart  of  a  village,  if  we 
set  up  a  bird  house  in  May,  it  will  certainly  be  occupied  by  a 
Bluebird,  unless  previously  taken  by  a  Wren  or  a  Martin.  But 
there  is  commonly  so  great  a  demand  for  such  accommodations, 
that  it  is  not  unusual  to  see  two  or  three  different  species  con- 
tending for  one  box." 

Their  nests  are  loosely  but  rather  smoothly  constructed  of 
fine  straws,  grasses,  and  occasionally  leaves,  hair  and  feathers. 
Eggs  usually  four  or  five,  .  83x.  63;  light  greenish  blue;  in  form, 
oval.  Pure  white  sets  have  occasionally  been  taken. 

Sialia  arctica  (SWAINS.). 

MOUNTAIN  BLUEBIRD. 
PLATE  XXXV. 

A  common  winter  sojourner  in  the  western  part  of  the  State; 
rare  in  the  eastern  portion.  Begin  to  arrive  the  last  of  Septem- 
ber; leave  in  March  and  April. 

B.  160.     R.  24.     C.  29.     G.  11,     335.     U.  768. 

HABITAT.  Western  North  America;  north  to  Great  Slave 
Lake;  east  into  Dakota  and  Texas;  south  into  Mexico;  breeds 
in  the  Rocky  Mountain  region. 

SP.  CHAK.  Breast,  etc.,  fine  greenish  blue  (in  adult  maj^),  or  brownish  gray 
or  grayish  brown  ( iu  female) ,  the  belly  and  under  tail  coverts  pure  white.  Adult 
male:  Above,  rich,  glossy  cerulean  blue,  the  wings  and  tail  more  azure,  or  cobalt; 
beneath, lighter  cerulean  blue,  the  belly  and  under  tail  coverts  white.  (In  win- 


660  HISTORY  OF  THE 

ter,  the  blue  of  the  head,  neck,  back  arid  breast  obscured  by  grayish  brown  tips 
to  the  feathers.)  Adult  female:  Above,  brownish  gray,  the  primaries  dull  light 
blue,  the  rump,  upper  tail  coverts  and  tail,  bright  or  greenish  blue;  beneath, 
light  grayish  brown,  the  belly  and  under  tail  coverts  white;  a  whitish  orbital 
ring.  (In  winter,  colors  deeper,  especially  on  lower  parts.)  Young:  Quills  and 
tail  feathers  as  in  adults;  above,  grayish  brown,  the  back  usually  streaked  with 
white;  beneath,  grayish  white,  the  breast  and  sides  mottled  with  grayish  brown. 
(Ridgway.) 

Stretch  of 

Length.         wing.  Wing.  Tail.  Tarsus.  Bill. 

Male 7.15         13.50  4.50  3.00  .85  .52 

Female 6.90         13.00  4.30  2.80  .85  .50 

Iris  brown;  bill,  legs,  feet  and  claws  blackish. 

These  birds  of  the  central  regions  are  very  similar  in  habits 
to  our  common  Bluebird,  but  more  wary  and  silent.  Even  their 
love  song  is  less  loud  and  musical.  A  rather  feeble,  plaintive, 
monotonous  warble,  and  their  chirp  and  twittering  notes  are 
weak.  They  subsist  upon  the  cedar  berries,  seeds  of  plants, 
grasshoppers,  beetles,  etc.,  which  they  pick  up  largely  upon  the 
ground,  and  occasionally  scratch  for,  among  the  leaves.  Dur- 
ing the  fall  and  winter,  they  visit  the  plains  .and  valleys,  and  are 
usually  met  with  in  small  flocks,  until  the  mating  season.  They 
are  great  lovers  and  attentive  parents. 

I  have  found  them  nesting  in  New  Mexico  and  Colorado, 
from  the  foothills  to  near  timber  line,  usually  in  deserted  Wood- 
pecker holes,  natural  cavities  in  trees,  fissures  in  the  sides  of 
steep,  rocky  cliffs,  and,  in  the  settlements,  in  suitable  locations 
about  and  in  the  adobe  buildings.  Their  nests  are  lined  with 
fine  grasses,  or  most  any  suitable  rnaterial  at  hand.  In  locali- 
ties where  sheep  are  raised,  wool  is  freely  used.  Eggs  usually 
four  or  five,  ,85x.65;  pale  greenish  blue;  in  form,  oval. 


BIRDS  OF  KANSAS.  661 


ADDITIONS 

To  the  list  of  birds  since  the  publication  of  my  "Revised  Cata- 
logue of  the  Birds  of  Kansas:" 

^Echmophorus  occidentalis  (LAWR.).     Western  Grebe. 

Oidemia  perspicillata  (LiNN.).     Surf  Scoter. 

Chen  coerulescens  (LiNN.).     Blue  Goose. 

Grus  canadensis  (LiNN.).      Little  Brown  Crane. 

^Egialitis  meloda  circumcincta  RIDGW.    Belted  Piping  Plover. 

^Egialitis  nivosa  CASS.      Snowy  Plover. 

CoUn-as  virginianus  texanus  (LAWK.).     Texan  Bob-white. 

Phalcenoptilus  nuttalli  nitidus  BKEWST.     Frosted  Poor-will. 

Picicorvus  columbianus  (WiLS.).      Clark's  Nutcracker. 

Spizella  monticola  ochracea  BREWST.    Western  Tree  Sparrow. 


ELIMINATIONS. 

Centrocercus  urophasianus  (BONAP.).     Sage  Grouse. 
Otocoris  alpestris  (LiNN.).     Horned  Lark. 


ENGLISH  SPARROW. 

EUROPEAN  SPARROW — Passer  domesticus  (Liun.).     LEACH. 

These  hardy,  aggressive  little  foreigners  (unfortunately  intro- 
duced) cannot  properly  be  classed  with  our  native  birds,  but  as- 
they  are  here  to  stay,  are  entitled  to  mention.* 

GENUS  PASSER  BKISSOX. 

Form  stout  and  stocky.  Bill  very  stout,  shaped  somewhat  as  in  Carpodacus, 
but  without  nasal  ruff.  Culmen  curved;  commissure  little  angulated;  gouys 
convex,  ascending;  lateral  outlines  of  bill  bulging  to  near  the  end.  Wings 
pointed;  first,  second  and  third  primaries  nearly  equal  and  longest;  fourth  little 
shorter,  rest  graduated;  inner  secondaries  not  elongate.  Tail  shorter  than 
wings,  nearly  even;  feet  small;  tarsus  about  equal  to  middle  toe  and  claw;  lat- 
eral toes  of  equal  lengths,  their  claws  not  reaching  to  base  of  middle  claw. 
Sexes  alike.  Male  with  black  and  chestnut  on  head.  Middle  of  back  only 
streaked.  Old  World;  two  species  naturalized  in  North  America  (domesticus 
and  montanus). 

The  Sparrow — Philip  Sparrow — House  Sparrow — parasite  —  tramp — hood- 
lum— gamin.  Male  adult:  Upper  parts  ashy  gray;  middle  of  back  and  scapu- 
lars boldly  streaked  with  black  and  bay.  A  dark  chestnut  or  mahogony  space 
behind  eye,  spreading  on  side  of  neck.  Lesser  wing  coverts  deep  chestnut; 
median  tipped  with  white,  forming  a  conspicuous  wing  bar,  bordering  which  is 
a  black  line.  Greater  coverts  and  inner  quills  with  central  black  field  bordered 
with  bay.  Tail  dusky  gray,  unmarked.  Lower  parts  ashy,  gray  or  w!..;:sh; 
chin  and  throat  jet  black,  spreading  on  the  breast  and  lores,  bordered  on  side 
of  neck  with  white.  Bill  blue  black;  feet  brown.  Wing  about  3.00;  tail  2.25. 
Female  adult:  Above,  brownish  gray;  streaking  of  back  light  ochery  brovvu 
and  black;  wing  edgings  light  ochery  brown,  the  white  bar  impure.  No  black, 
mahogony  or  white  on  head;  a  pale  brown  postocular  stripe;  bill  blackish 
brown,  yellowish  at  base  below.  Varies  endlessly  in  the  purity  or  dinginess  of 
coloration.  Young  male:  At  first  like  female.  Europe,  etc.  (Coues.) 

Their  nests  are  placed  in  any  available  nook  about  houses, 
cavities  in  shade  trees,  etc.  They  are  rather  bulky,  and  loosely 
constructed  of  hay,  straw,  wool,  or  most  any  material  at  hand, 
and -lined  with  feathers.  Eggs  four  to  seven,  .  86x.62;  dull 
light  gray  or  grayish  white,  speckled  and  dashed  with  dusky 
brown  and  purplish  gray.  They  vary  somewhat  in  marking, 
depth  of  color,  form  and  size. 

*For  report  of  the  committee  appointed  by  the  American  Ornithologists1  Union,  to  inves- 
tigate the  eligibility  or  ineligibility  of  the  European  House  Sparrow,  see  my  "Revised  Cata- 
logue of  the  Birds  of  Kansas." 


GLOSSARY. 


A. 

ABDOMEN,  n.  The  belly. 

ABDOMINAL,  a.  Pertain  ing  to  the  abdo- 
men. 

ABERRANT,  a.  Deviating  from  the  usual 
or  normal  character. 

ABORTIVE,  a.  Imperfectly  developed. 

ACCIPITRES,  n.  Plural  of  accipiter; 
also  the  name  of  a  more  or  less  arti- 
ficial group  of  birds,  including  the  so- 
called  "Birds  of  Prey,"  or  Raptores 
of  some  authors. 

ACCIPITRINE,  a.  Hawk-like. 

ACICULAR,  a.  Needle  shaped. 

ACULEATE,  a.  Slender  pointed. 

ACUMINATE,  a.  Tapering  gradually  to 
a  point. 

ACUTE,  a.  Sharp  pointed. 

ADOLESCENCE,  n.  Youth. 

ADULT,  n.  As  applied  to  birds,  an  indi- 
vidual which  has  attained  the  final 
or  mature  plumage. 

ADULT,  a.  In  ornithology,  having 
reached  the  fully-mature  or  final 
plumage.  (A  bird  may  be  adult  as 
regards  organization  without  being 
of  adult  plumage. ) 

^STIVAL,  a.  Pertaining  to  summer. 

AGGREGATED,  a.  Collected  together; 
accumulated.  Thus,  by  aggregation, 
a  number  of  individual  spots  or  other 
markings  may  form,  collectively,  a 
larger  patch  or  stripe. 

AFTERSHAFT,  n.  Properly,  the  stem  of 
the  supplementary  plume  springing 
from  near  the  base  of  some  feathers: 
ordinarily,  however,  applied  to  the 
plume  itself. 

ALAR.  a.  Pertaining  to  the  wing. 

ALAUDINE,  a.  Lark-like. 


ALBINISM,  n.  An  abnormal  condition 
of  plumage,  with  white  replacing  the 
ordinary  colors  to  a  greater  or  -less 
extent.  Albinism  results  from  a  defi- 
ciency or  entire  absence  of  pigment 
in  the  skin  which  supplies  the  color- 
ing of  the  feathers,  and  is  complete 
only  when  all  colors  are  obliterated 
from  the  plumage.  (In  birds,  com- 
plete albinism  of  the  plumage  is  not 
necessarily  accompanied  by  change  of 
colors  of  the  bill,  feet  and  eyes.) 

ALBINO,  n.  An  animal  affected  with  al- 
binism. 

ALBINISTIC,  )  a.  Affected   with  albin- 

ALBINOTIC,    )      ism. 

ALECTROID,  a.  Cock-like ;  resembling 
the  domestic  cock. 

ALECTORINE,  a.  Pertaining  to  the  do- 
mestic cock. 

ALIFORM,  a.  Wing-like. 

ALPINE,  a.  Pertaining  to  the  Alps. 
(Often  used  in  relation  to  any  high 
mountain  range  for  species  inhabit- 
ing  high  altitudes,  which  are  termed 
"Alpine"  species.) 

ALTRICES,  n.  Birds  whose  young  are 
reared  in  the  nest  and  fed  by  the  par- 
ents. With  the  exception  of  the  Sap- 
tores,  some  of  the  Xteganopodes  and 
Pygopodes,  the  Longipennes  and 
Sphenisci,  young  of  Altrices  are  psilo-  ; 
psedic,  born  naked  or  partially-clad. 

ALTRICIAL,  a.  Having  the  character  of 
or  pertaining  to  the  Altrices. 

ALULA,  n.  The  "bastard  wing,"  com- 
posed of  several  stiff  feathers  growing 
on  the  so-called  thumb.  They  are  di- 
rectly below  the  secondary  or  greater 
coverts,  and  collectively  resemble  a 
miniature  wing,  whence  the  name. 


664: 


GLOSSARY. 


ALULAR,  a.  Pertaining  to  the  alula. 
AMBULATORY,  a.  Gradient:  walking  or 

running.  (Opposite  of  saltatory,  hop- 

ping or  leaping.) 

ANAL,  a.  Pertaining  to  the  anus. 
ANAL  REGION,  n.  The  feathers  imme- 

ately  surrounding  the  anus. 
ANATINE,  a.  Duck-like. 
Axni'iTAL,  a.    Two  edged;    double 

edged. 
ANGLE  OF  CHIN,  n.  The  anterior  point 

of  the  space  between  the  rami  of  the 

lower  jaw. 
ANISODACTYL^E,  n.  The  name  of  a 

group  of  birds  having  three  toes  in 

front  and  one  behind. 
ANISODACTYLOUS,  a.  Having  three  toes 

in  front  and  one  behind. 
ANISOPOGONOUS,  a.  Said  of  a  feather 

when  the  two  webs  are  of  unequal 

breadth. 
ANOTINE,  n.  A  bird  one  year  or  less 

old,  or  which  has  moulted  but  once. 

(Little  used.) 
ANNULAR,  a.  Ringed. 
ANOMALOUS,  a.  Very  unusual;  strange; 

abnormal. 

ANSERINE,  a.  Goose-like. 
ANTE  (  in  composition  ).     Anterior  to, 

or  before;  as,  anteorbtial,  anteocular, 

etc. 

ANTIIINE,  a.  Pipit-like. 
ANTKOBSE,  a.  Directed  forward,  as  the 

nasal  tufts  of  most  Jays  and  Crows, 

and  the  rictal  bristles  of  many  birds. 
APEX,  n.  The  tip  or  point  of  anything. 
AQUATIC,  a.  Pertaining  to  the  water. 

Aquatic  birds  are  those  which  derive 

their  subsistence  chiefly  from  seas, 

lakes  or  rivers,  and  include  two  arti- 

ficial  groups,  known  as  "Waders 

and  "Swimmers." 
AQUILINE,  a.  Eagle-like. 
ARBOREAL,     )       „,       .  , 

-  Tree  Inhablttn* 


ARCUATE,  a.  Bow  shaped;  arched. 
AREOL.E,  n.   The  small  naked  spaces 

between  the  scales  of  the  feet,  usually 

called  interspaces. 
ARIETIFOKM,  a.  Having  the  form  of  the 

zodiacal  sign,  Aries, 
ARMICLA,  n,  A  colored  ring  round  the 

lower  end  of  the  tibia;  an  anklet. 
ARTICULATION,  n.    A  joint  or  hinge. 

(Usually  applied  to  the  limbs.) 
ASYMMETRICAL,  a.  Without  symmetry. 

or  without  close  resemblance  between 

corresponding  parts,  as  opposite  sides. 

(The  pattern  of  coloration  in  partial 

albinos  is  often  asymmetrical.) 


ASYMMETRY,  n.  Disproportion,  or  want 
of  close  resemblance,  between  cor- 
responding parts  or  organs.  (Very 
decided  asymmetry  of  opposite  sides 
of  skull  is  observable  in  some  Owls.) 

ATROPHY,  n.  The  wasting  away,  or 
obliteration  of  an  organ  or  part, 
through  deficient  nutrition. 

ATTENUATE,  a.  Tapering  or  growing 
gradually  narrower  toward  the  ex- 
tremity, but  not  necessarily  pointed, 
which  would  be  acuminate. 

AURICULAR,  a.  Pertaining  to  the  ear. 

AURICULARS,  n.  The  (usually)  well- 
defined  feathered  area  which  con- 
ceals the  ears  in  birds. 

AUTOPTICAL,  a.  Personally  inspected. 

AUTUMNAL  PLUMAGE,  n.  The  full 
dress  of  autumn.  In  most  birds  it 
remains  essentially  unchanged  till 
the  spring  moult.  In  many  species 
the  young  possess  a  peculiar  autumnal 
plumage  (assumed  by  their  first  moult) 
which  differs  not  only  from  their  first 
livery,  but  also  from  that  of  adults  at 
the  same  season.  In  such,  the  adult 
or  mature  plumage  may  be  completely 
assumed  at  the  next  moult,  or  it  may 
be  gradually  acquired  by  successive 
moults,  as  in  the  case  of  many  Orioles, 
Tanagers,  and  other  bright-colored 
Passerine  groups. 

AVIAN  FAUNA,  j  n'  Thte  b,ird  life  °f  a 

AVI-FAUNA,      j      P«"jticular    country 
(      or  locality. 

AXILLA,  n.  The  armpit. 

AXILLAR,     )  a.  Pertaining  to  the  arm- 

AXILLARY,  )      pit. 

n.  A  more  or  less  dis- 
tinct tuft  of  gradu- 
ated, usually  soft  and 
elongated  feathers, 
growing  from  armpit. 

B. 

BACK,  n.  In  descriptive  ornithology, 
usually  includes  the  scapulars  and 
interscapulars,  but  should  properly  be 
restricted  to  the  latter  alone. 

BAND,  n.  A  broad  transverse  mark, 
with  regular  and  nearly  parallel 
edges;  a  broad  bar  of  color.  (A  broad 
band  is  usually  called  a  zone.) 

BANDED,  a.  Marked  with  bands. 

BAR,  n.  A  narrow  transverse  mark  of 
color. 

BAKU,  n.  Any  one  of  the  fibrillse,  or 
larninse,  composing  the  web  of  feath- 
ers. 


AXILLARIES, 
AXILLARS, 


GLOSSARY. 


6G5 


BARBED,  a.    Furnished   with  barbs; 

bearded. 

BARBULE,  n.  A  barb  of  a  barb. 
BARRED,  a.  Marked  with  bars. 
BASE,  n.  Boot;  origin. 
BASAL,  a.  Pertaining  to  the  base. 
BELLY,  n.   The  central  posterior  por- 
tion of  the  under  surface  of  the  body; 
bounded  laterally  by  the  sides,  pos- 
teriorly by  the  vent  or  anal  region, 
and  anteriorly  by  the  breast. 
BELT,  n.  A  broad  band  of  color  across 
the  brea*t  or  belly.     (Distinguished 
from  zone  in  that  the  latter  may  cross 
the  wings  or  tail.) 

BELTED,  a.  Marked  with  a  broad  band 
of  color  across  the  lower  part  of  body. 
BEND  OF  THE  WING,  n.  The  angle  or 
prominence  at  the  carpus  or  wrist 
joint  in  the  folded  wing. 
BEVY,  n.    A  flock  of   Quails  or  Par- 
tridges. 
BIBLIOGRAPHY,  n.  Condensed  history 

of  the  literature  of  a  subject. 
BIFURCATE,  a.  Doubly  forked. 

'  a.  Two-named,  or,  more 
properly,  named  by 
two  terms.  The  bi- 
nomial system  of  nom- 
enclature, instituted  in 
1758  by  Linnaeus,  and 
adopted  by  zoologists 
and  botanists,  promul- 
gates the  use  of  two 
terms  as  the  name  of 
each  species  —  the  first 
generic,  the  second 
[  specific. 

BIOLOGY,  n.  The  study  of  living  beings 
with  relation  to  the  laws  and  results 
of  their  organization. 
BIOLOGICAL,  a.  Pertaining  to  biology. 
Biological  science  embraces  the  study 
of  all  organic  creations,  and  thus  in- 
cludes zoology  and  botany,  both  re- 
cent and  fossil. 

BOAT  SHAPED,  a.  A  boat-shaped  tail 
has  the  opposite  sides  or  halves  meet- 
ing below  along  the  median  line,  the 
outer  edges  being  elevated.  The  tail 
of  Quiscalus  is  a  familiar  example, 
while  that  of  the  domestic  fowl  (Gal- 
lus  bankiva)  exemplifies  the  opposite 
form,  with  the  edges  below  the  middle 
feathers  forming  the  ridge  instead  of 
the  keel.  A  boat-shaped  bill  is  one  in 
which  the  maxilla  resembles  an  in- 
verted boat,  as  in  genus  Cancroma. 
BOOT,  n.  In  birds,  the  tarsal  envelope, 
when  entire. 


BINOMIAL, 
BINOMINAL, 


BOOTED,  a.  A  booted  tarsus  has  the 
usual  scales  fused  so  as  to  form  a  con- 
tinuous or  uninterrupted  covering. 
The  tarsus  of  the  smaller  Thrushes 
and  the  American  Robin  well  illus- 
trates this  character. 

Boss,  n.  A  knob  or  short,  rounded  pro- 
tuberance. 

BRACCATE,  a.  Having  the  feathers  on 
the  outer  side  of  the  tibia  elongated 
or  plume-like,  as  in  most  of  the  Fal- 
conidce. 

BRACE  SHAPED,  n.  Shaped  like  the 
brace  of  printers. 

BRACHIAL,  a.  Pertaining  to  the  wing. 
(Little  used.) 

BRACHYPTEROUS,  a.  Short  winged. 

BRACHYUROUS,  a.  Short  tailed. 

BREAST,  n.  In  birds,  an  artificial  and 
somewhat  arbitrary  subdivision  of  the 
under  surface,  lying  between  the  jug- 
ulum  and  abdomen.  Its  position  cor- 
responds nearly  with  that  of  the 
underlying  pectoral  muscles. 

BREVIPENNES,  n.  The  systematic  name 
of  a  group  of  short-winged  birds,  in- 
cluding the  Ostriches  and  kindred 
forms. 

BREVIPENNINE,  a.  Short  feathered; 
short  winged  ( improperly  so  used ) ; 
pertaining  to  the  Brevipennes. 

BRIDLE,  n.  A  stripe  of  color  extending 
back  from  the  bill,  along  the  lower 
sides  of  the  head. 

BRIDLED,  a.  Marked  with  a  distinct 
stripe  of  color  from  the  bill  back- 
ward, beneath  the  eye,  along  the 
lower  jaw  or  sides  of  the  throat. 

BRISTLE,  n.  A  small,  hair-like  feather, 
consisting  chiefly  of  the  shaft;  com- 
monly developed  near  the  angle  of 
the  mouth  or  rictus,  but  sometimes  on 
other  portions  of  the  plumage  also. 

BUCCAL,  a.  Pertaining  to  the  cheeks. 

BULLATE,  a.  Having  a  blistered  ap- 
pearance. 


c. 

CADUCOUS,  a.  Falling  off  early. 

CALCAREOUS,  a.  Chalky. 

CANALICULATED,  a.  Channeled  or  fur- 
rowed. 

CANCELLATE,  a.  Latticed;  marked 
both  longitudinally  and  transversely. 

CANDESCENT,  )  a.  Whitish;   hoary; 

CANESCENT,    j     frost-like. 

CAPILLARY,  a.  Hair-like. 

CAPISTRATE,  a.  Hooded  or  cowled. 


666 


GLOSSARY. 


CAPISTRUM,  n.  A  hood  or  cowl.  In  de- 
scriptive ornithology,  the  fore  part  of 
the  head  all  around,  or  that  portion 
immediately  surrounding  the  base  of 
the  bill. 

CAPITAL,  a.  Pertaining  to  the  head. 

CAPITATE,  a.  A  capitate  feather  has 
the  end  enlarged. 

CAPUT,  n.  The  head. 

CARINA,  n.  A  keel  or  median  ridge. 

CARINATE,  a.  Keeled,  or  with  a  me- 
dian ridge.  Curinate  birds  (Aves  car- 
inatus)  are  those  furnished  with  a 
keeled  sternum. 

CARNEOUS,  o.  Fleshy. 
CABNIVEROUS,  a.  Flesh  eating. 
CABPAL,  a.  Pertaining  to  the  wrist  or 
carpus. 

a.  The  prominence 
formed  by  the 
wrist  joint,  or  car- 
pus,  when  the 
wing  is  closed. 
The  length  of  the 
CARPAL  JOINT,  I  wing,  in  descrip- 
CABPAL  ANGLE,  j  tions,  is  measured 
from  the  carpal 
angle  of  the  tip  of 
the  longest  quill. 
(Same  as  bend  of 
the  wing,  or  flex- 
ura.)  . 

CABPO-METACABPAL  JOINT,  n.  The 
last  wing  joint,  covered  exteriorly  by 
the  alula. 

CABPUS,  n.  The  wrist.     In  a  bird  the 
space  between  the  bend  (flexura)  and 
the  hand  joint  of  the  wing. 
CABUNCLE,  n.  A  naked  fleshy  excres- 
cence,   usually    about   the    head    or 
neck,  and  ordinarily  brightly  colored, 
wrinkled  or  warty. 
CABUNCULATE,     j  a.  Having 
CABUNCULATED,  )  caruncles. 

CAUDAL,  a.  Pertaining  to  the  tail. 
CAUDA,  n.  The  tail. 
CAUDATE,  a.  Tailed. 
CEPHALIC,  a.  Pertaining  to  the  head. 
CEBACEOUS,  a.  Wax-like. 
CERE,  n.  The  naked  skin  or  membrane 
in  which  the  nostrils  are  situated, 
common  to  most  birds  of  prey  (Rap- 
tores),  and  many  of  the  Parrot  tribe, 
as  well  as  to  the  Pigeons  and  some 
other  groups.     It  usually  has  a  more 
or  less  distinct  line  of  demarkatiou 
anteriorly,  except  in  the  Pigeons. 
CEBVICAL,  a.  Pertaining  to  the  cervix 
or  hind  neck. 


CERVIX,  n.  The  hind  neck,  extending 
from  the  occiput  to  the  commence- 
ment of  the  back.  It  has  two  sub- 
divisions, namely,  the  nape  and  scruff 
(nucha  and  auchenium),  which  oc- 
cupy respectively  the  upper  and  lower 
halves  of  the  cervix. 

CHEEK,  n.  An  arbitrary  subdivision  of 
the  side  of  the  head,  differently  em- 
ployed by  various  writers,  but  usually 
corresponding  to  the  malar  region  or 
feathered  portion  of  the  lower  jaw. 

CHIN,  n.  The  extreme  anterior  point  of 
the  gular  region,  or  the  space  between 
the  lateral  branches  (rami)  of  the 
lower  jaw. 

CICONINE,  a.  Stork-like. 

CILIUM,  n.  An  eyelash. 

CIRCUM  (in  composition).  Around,  en- 
circling; as,  circumorbital  (around 
the  eye),  circumventral  ( around  the 
vent),  etc. 

CIRRHOUS,  a.  Tufted. 

CLAAV,  n.  The  horny,  pointed  and  com- 
pressed sheath  of  the  terminal  pha- 
lanx of  the  toe. 

CLUTCH,  n.  A  nest  complement  or 
"set"  of  eggs. 

COCCYGES,  n.  The  systematic  name  of 
a  natural  group  of  zygodactyle  birds, 
including  the  Cuckoos,  Plain  tain- 
eaters,  Turacous,  Trogons,  etc. 

COLLAR,  n.  A  ring  of  color  encircling 
the  neck. 

COLLAKED,  a.  Marked  with  a  neck  ring 
of  different  color  from  surrounding 
parts. 

COLLUM,  n.  The  neck. 

COLORED,  a.  In  ornithology,  different 
from  white.  Thus,  the  colored  phase 
of  dichromatic  species  is  that  in  which 
the  plumage  is  other  than  white. 

COMB,  n.  An  erect,  fleshy,  longitudinal 
caruncle  on  the  top  of  the  head,  as  in 
the  domestic  fowl  ( Gallusferrugineus 
var.)  and  the  adult  male  Condor. 

COMMISSURAL,  a.  Pertaining  to  the 
commissure. 

COMMISSURE,  n.  The  outlines  of  the 
closed  mouth,  or  the  opposed  edges 
of  the  mandible  and  maxilla. 

CONGENER,  n.  A  species  belonging  to- 
the  same  genus  with  another. 

CONGENERIC,  a.  Belonging  to  the  same 
genus  with  another. 

CONIROSTRKS,  n.  An  arbitrary  group  of 
birds,  in  classifications,  of  which  the 
Sparrow  tribe  (F  ringillidce)  are  typi- 
cal. 


GLOSSARY. 


667 


CONIROSTRAL,  a.  Having  a  conical  bill 
like  that  of  a  Finch  or  Sparrow;  per- 
taining to  the  so-called  Conirostres. 

CONTOUR  FEATHERS,  n.    The  surface 
feathers  of  the  head,  neck  aud  body. 

CORDATE,      ) 

CORDIFORM,  \a'  Heart-shaped. 

CORIACEOUS,  a.  Of  leathery  texture. 

CORNEOUS,  a.  Horny. 

CORNICULATE,  a.    Furnished   with   a 

small  horn. 
CORNIPLUME,  n.  A  horn-like  tuft  of 

feathers  on  the  head. 
COHOXATE,  a.  Crowned;  having  the  top 

of  the  head  ornamented  by  lengthened 

or  otherwise  distinguished  feathers. 
CORRUGATE,     i       w  .  , 
CORRUGATED,  f  a"  Wrinkled. 
COVEY,  n.  A  family  (or  brood  with  or 

without  their  parents)  of  Quails  or 

other  game  birds. 


CREXULATE,  a.  Finely  crenate. 

CREPUSCULAR,  a.  Pertaining  to  twi- 
light. (Crepuscular  birds  are  those 
which  become  active  after  sunset.) 

CRISSUM,  n.  A  term  usually  applied  to 
the  lower  tail  coverts  collectively,  but 
properly  belonging  to  the  feathers  sit- 
uated between  the  lower  tail  coverts 
and  the  anal  region. 

CRISSAL,  a.  Pertaining  to  the  crissum. 

CROWN,  n.  Properly  the  vertex,  or  that 
portion  of  the  top  of  the  head  between 
the  forehead  and  the  occiput. 


CRURAL,  a.  Pertaining  to  the  crus  or 
tibia. 

CRUS,  n.  The  "thigh"  or  tibia. 

CUBITAL,  a.  Pertaining  to  the  foi-earm. 

CUCULLATE,  a.  Hooded,  or  having  the 
head  colored  differently  from  the  rest 
of.  the  plumage. 

CULMEN,  n.  The  ridge  or  upper  outline 
of  the  maxilla  or  upper  mandible. 

CULMINAL,  a.  Pertaining  to  the  cul- 
men. 

CULTRATE,  a.  Knife-like. 

CULTRIROSTRES,  n.  An  artificial  group 
of  wading  birds,  including  the  Herons 
and  Storks,  so  named  on  account  of  the 
knife-shaped  bill,  and  in  this  sense 
nearly  equivalent  to  Herodiones. 
Also  applied  to  a  group  of  Passerine 
birds  (?)  which  includes  the  Corvidce, 
SturnidcB,  Icterida,  etc. 


CULTRIROSTRAL,  «.  Having  a  knife- 
shaped  bill,  or  the  bill  lengthened, 
compressed,  and  pointed  like  a 
Heron's;  pertaining  to  the  so-called 
Cultrirostres. 

CUNEATE,         )          -pp.     , 

CUNEIFORM,  [  a'  Wed^e  shaPed" 
CUPREOUS,  a.  Coppery;  like  copper. 
CURSORES,  n.  An  artificial  group  of 

birds  in  the  older  systems,  including 

the  Bustards  and  other  "coursers"  or 

' '  runners. " 
CURSORIAL,  a.  Running;  pertaining  to 

the  Cur  sores. 

CUSPIDATE,  a.  Stiff  pointed. 
CUTAXEOUS,  a.  Pertaining  to  the  skin. 

(Same  as  dermal.) 
CYLIXDUICOVATE,  n.  An  elongate  ovate 

with  parallel  sides. 
CYMIJIFORM,  a.  Boat  shaped. 
CYPSELINE,  a.  Swift-like;  pertaining  to 

the  CypselidcB  or  Swifts. 

D. 

DASYP^EDIC,  a.  Clothed  with  down  at 
birth.  (Same  as  Ptilopcedic.) 

DECIDUOUS,  a.  Temporary  or  shed 
periodically,  as  the  horns  of  the  deer, 
and  the  ' 'nuptial  ornaments " of  many 
birds. 

DECLINATE,  )       „ 

DECLINED,    P-  Bent  downward. 

DECOMPOSED,  a.  Said  of  a  feather  when 
the  barbs  are  separated,  not  forming 
a  continuous  or  compact  web. 

DECUMBENT,  a.  Hanging  downward; 
drooping. 

DECUSSATE,  a.  Crossed;  intersected. 

DELTOID,  a.  Triangular,  or  shaped  like 
the  Greek  character  "Delta"  (A). 

DENTATE,  a.  Toothed. 

DENTICULATE,  a.  With  small  teeth. 

DENTIGEROUS,  a.  Bearing  teeth. 

DENTIROSTRES,  n.  An  artificial  or  arbi- 
trary group  in  classifications,  the 
members  of  which  have  the  maxilla 
more  or  less  notched  near  the  tip 

DENTIROSTRAL,  a.  Tooth  billed ;  per- 
taining to  the  Dentirostres. 

DENUDATION,  a.  Nakedness. 

DEPLUMATE,  a.  Bare  of  feathers. 

DERMAL,  a.  Pertaining  to  the  skin. 

DESMOGNATHOUS,  a.  Having  the  palate 
bones  united. 

DESQUAMATION,  n.  Peeling  or  scaling 
off. 

Di  ( in  composition).  Twice;  double 
(as  dichromatic,  two  colored.) 

DICHOTOMOUS,  a.  Paired,  or  by  twos. 


6G8 


GLOSSARY. 


DICHROMATIC,  a.  In  descriptive  orni- 
thology, a  species  is  said  to  be  dichro- 
matic when  it  exists  in  two  distinct 
plumages  which  are  entirely  inde- 
pendent of  sex,  age  or  season.  These 
distinct  plumages  were  formerly,  in 
the  case  of  most  dichromatic  birds, 
supposed  to  representdistinct  species, 
and  the  nature  of  their  real  relation- 
ship is  a  comparatively  recent  discov- 
ery. Familiar  examples  of  dichro- 
matism  are  the  rufous  and  gray  forms 
of  the  little  Screech  Owl  and  the  white 
and  bluish  or  dusky  forms  of  some 
Herons  (as  Ardea  occidentalis  and  Di- 
chromanassa  rufa). 

DICHROMATISM,  n.  The  state  of  exist- 
ing in  two  distinct  phases  of  colora- 
tion, which  are  wholly  independent  of 
the  usual  causes  of  color  differences 
(as  sex,  age  and  season).  Dichromat- 
ism  among  birds  is  somewhat  analo- 
gous to  dimorphism  in  insects. 

DIDACTYLE,       |  a.  Two  toed,  as  the 

DIDACTYLOTTS,  )      Ostrich. 

DIGITIGRADE,  a.  Walking  on  the  toes. 
(Applicable  to  most  birds.) 

DIMORPHIC,  a.  Existing  in  two  forms, 
as  some  species  of  insects. 

DIMORPHISM,  n.  The  state  of  existing 
in  two  forms.  ( The  nearest  approach 
to  dimorphism  among  birds  is  the 
state  of  dichrornatism,  which  see.) 
n.  Set  of  radiating  feathers 
surrounding  the  eye  in  some 
birds,  especially  the  Owls. 

DISTAL,  a.  Toward  or  at  the  extrem- 
ity. (Opposite  of  proximal,  or  toward 
the  base.) 

DISTICHOUS    \  a"  Two  rowed'  as   the 
us'  \      webs  of  a  feather. 

'a.  Producing   but  two 
eggs  for  each  clutch,  as 
DITOKOUS,  \      the  Pigeons,  Humming- 
birds, and  a  few  other 
groups. 

r  j  a.  Spreading  or  curv- 
^  \      ing  apart. 
DORSAL,  a.  Pertaining  to  the  back. 
DORSUM,  n.  The  back. 

a.  A  doubly  emargin- 
DOUBLE  ate  tail   has  the 

EMAHGINATE,        middle  and  lateral 
DOURLY  feathers    slightly 

EMARGINATE,         longer  than  the  in- 
tervening ones. 
'a.  A  doubly  forked  tail  has 
the  middle  and  lateral 
feathers  decidedly  long- 
er than  those  between. 


Disc, 
DISK, 


DIVARICATE, 


DOUBLE  fa.  A.  doubly  rounded  tail 
HorxDED,  I  has  the  middle  and  lat- 

DOUBLY  1  eral  feathers  shorter 
ROUNDED,  [  than  those  between. 

DOWN,  n.  Small,  soft, decomposed  feath- 
ers, which  clothe  the  nestlings  of  many 
birds,  and  which  also  grow  between 
and  underneath  the  true  feathers  in 
the  adults  of  many  others,  especially 
the  various  kinds  of  water  fowl. 

DOWNY,  a.  Pertaining  to  or  having  the 
nature  of  down,  or  clad  with  down. 

E. 

EAR  COVERTS,  n.  The  usually  well- 
defined  tract  of  feathers  overlying  the 
ears  of  most  birds.  The  ear  coverts 
(or  auriculars,  as  they  are  usually 
termed  in  descriptions)  are  bounded 
above  by  the  backward  extension  of 
the  supercilum,  or  lateral  portion  of 
the  crown,  posteriorly  by  the  occiput 
and  nape,  below  by  the  malar  region  or 
"cheeks,"  and  anteriorly  by  the  sub- 
orbital  region.  ( Same  as  aurieu/nrx. ) 
EARED,  a.  Decorated  with  tufts  of 
feathers,  distinguished  by  length  or 
color,  which  by  their  appearance  sug- 
gest the  external  ears  of  mammals. 
EAR  TUFTS,  n.  Erectile  tufts  of  elong- 
ated feathers  springing  from  each  side 
of  the  crown  or  forehead,  and  present- 
ing a  close  superficial  resemblance  to 
the  external  ears  of  many  mammalia. 
They  are  especially  characteristic  of 
certain  Owls  (Strigida). 
ECONOMY,  n.  Physiological  disposition. 
ECTO (in  composition).  Outer;  as ecto- 

zoon,  an  external  parasite. 
EDGE  OF  WING,  n.   The  anterior  bor- 
der of  the  wing,  from  the  armpit  to 
the  base  of  the  outer  primary. 

a.  An  emarginate 
tail  has  the  middle 
feather  shortest, 
the  rest  succes- 
sively a  little 
longer;  hence,  an 
EMARGINATE,  I  emarginate  tail  is 
EMAIIGINATED,  |  very  slightly 
forked.  An  emar- 
giuate  quill  has 
the  web  suddenly 
narrowed  by  an 
abrupt  cutting 
away  of  the  edges. 
EMBRYO,  n.  In  birds,  the  young  before 

leaving  the  egg. 
ENSATE,  ENSIFORM,  a.  Sword  shaped. 


GLOSSARY. 


669 


ENTO  ( in  composition).  Inner;  as  ento- 
zoon,  an  internal  parasite. 

EPI  (in  composition).  Upon;  as  epider- 
mis, upon  the  skin;  i.  e.,  surface  skin. 

EPIDERMIS,  n.  The  cuticle,  or  scarf 
skin. 

EPIDERMIC,  a.  Pertaining  to  the  epi- 
dermis. 

EPIGNATHOUS,  a.  Hook  billed,  as  a 
Hawk  or  Parrot. 

EPITIIEMA,  n.  A  horny  excrescence  up- 
.  on  the  bill. 

ERYTJIRISM,  n.  A  particular  state  of 
plumage  caused  by  excess  of  red  or 
rufous  pigment;  it  is  one  of  the  dichro- 
matic states  of  many  birds,  as  certain 
species  of  Owls  (Meyascops  asio,  etc.) 

ETIOLATED,  a.  Whitened;  bleached. 

ETYPICAL,  a.  Tending  away  from  nor- 
mal or  typical  character. 

EURHIPIDURA,  n.  The  name  of  one  of 
the  primary  groups  of  birds  compris- 
ing all  existing  species. 

EVEN,  a.  An  even  or  "square"  tail  has, 
when  closed,  all  the  feathers  termi- 
nating on  the  same  transverse  line; 
in  other  words,  it  is  truncated  at  the 
tip.  When  spread,  tips  of  feathers 
describe  a  semicircle,  while  an  emar- 
giuate  or  slightly  forked  tail  becomes 
even  or  truncated  when  spread. 

EXCRESCENCE,  n.  Any  outgrowth, 
whether  cutaneous,  corneous,  or 
fleshy. 

EXTENSILE,  a.  Susceptible  of  being  ex- 
tended or  lengthened. 

EYEBROW,  n.  The  middle  portion  of 
the  superciliary  region,  or  that  part 
immediately  above  the  eye. 

F. 

FACIAL,  a.  Pertaining  to  the  face. 

FALCATE,      j  a.   Shaped  like  a  sickle 

FALCIFORM,  (      or  scythe. 

FALCONINE,  a.  Falcon- like. 

FAMILY,  n.  A  systematic  group  in 
scientific  classification,  embracing  a 
greater  or  less  number  of  genera  which 
agree  in  certain  characters  not  shared 
by  other  birds  of  the  same  order.  In 
rank,  a  Family  stands  between  Order 
and  Genus,  the  former  being  composed 
of  a  greater  or  less  number  of  nearly 
related  families.  In  zoological  no- 
menclature, the  name  of  a  family  is 
taken  from  a  typical  genus,  the  name 
of  which  is  modified  by  the  termina- 
tion idee,  nsFalconidce,  Columbidce,  etc. 
(Subfamilies  by  the  termination  ina.) 


FASCIA,  n.  A  band  or  broad  bar  of  color. 

FASCIATED,  a.  Banded  or  broadly 
barred. 

FASCICLE,  n.  A  bundle. 

FASCICLED,       )       T,      n  , 

FASCICULATE,  h  Bundled' 

FASTIGIATE,  a.  Bundled  together  like 
a  sheaf. 

FEMORAL,  a.  Pertaining  to  the  thigh 
proper,  or  the  inner  segment  of  the 
leg.  (To  be  carefully  distinguished 
from  tibial,  which  refers  to  the  so- 
called  "thigh,"  or  middle  segment  of 
the  leg.) 

FEMUR,  n.  The  thigh;  the  thigh  bone. 

FERAL,  a.  Wild,  or  undomesticated. 
The  wild  Jungle  Fowl  ( Oallus  ferru- 
gineus)  is  the  feral  stock  of  the  do- 
mestic fowl. 

FIBRILLA,  n.  A  small  fiber. 

FILAMENT,  n.  A  slender  or  thread-like 
fiber. 

s;;:™u8'hThread-iike- 

FILOPLUMACEOUS,  a.  Having  the  struc- 
ture of  a  filoplume. 

FILOPLUME,  n.  A  thread-like  feather. 

FIMBRIATED,  a.  Fringed. 

FISSIPALMATE,  a.  With  half -webbed 
feet,  the  free  portion  of  the  toes  lobed, 
as  a  Grebe's  foot. 

FISSIPED,  a.  Having  cleft  toes.  (Oppo- 
site of  palmiped.) 

FISSIROSTRAL,  a.  Having  the  mouth 
cleft  far  back  of  the  base  of  the  bill, 
as  in  the  Goatsuckers,  Swifts,  etc.; 
pertaining  to  the  Fissirostres. 

FISSIROSTRES,  n.  An  obsolete  name  of 
an  artificial  group  of  birds  with  deeply- 
cleft  mouths,  including  the  Goatsuck- 
ers, Swifts,  and  other  "  fissirostral " 
families. 

FLANKS,  n.  In  descriptive  ornithology, 
the  most  posterior  feathers  of  the 
sides. 

FLOCCULENT,  a.  In  descriptive  orni- 
thology, pertaining  to  the  down  of 
newly-hatched  or  unfledged  young 
birds. 

FLOCCUS,  n.  The  down  peculiar  to  un- 
fledged or  newly-hatched  young  birds; 
in  ptilopadic  birds,  it  covers  the  gen- 
eral surface  and  is  unconnected  with 
the  future  plumage,  while  mpsilopcedic 
birds  it  sprouts  only  from  the  unde- 
veloped feathers,  to  the  tips  of  which 
it  is  often  seen  clinging  when  the 
latter  are  considerably  grown. 

FLUVIATILE,  a.  Pertaining  to  rivers. 


GLOSSARY. 


{n.  Fore  part  of  the  top  of 
the  head,  from  the  base 
of  the  bill  to  the  vertex 
of  the  crown. 

FORENECK,  n.  A  rather  indefinite  and 
arbitrary  term,  variously  applied,  but 
usually  referring  to  the  lower  throat 
and  jugulum,  though  not  infrequently 
to  the  whole  of  the  space  included  by 
the  chin,  throat  and  jugulum.  In 
long-necked  birds  only  does  the  term 
become  a  definite  application. 

FOBFICATE,  a.  Deeply  forked,  as  the 
tail  of  a  Kite. 

FOBM,  n.  In  a  special  sense,  a  sort  of 
non-committal  term,  frequently  used 
by  modern  writers  to  designate  what 
is  of  doubtful  rank.  The  term 
"form"  is  thus  used  for  what  may 
prove  to  be  a  species,  or  may  be  only 
a  race,  but  as  to  the  rank  of  which 
the  author  is  in  doubt. 

FOSSA,  n.  A  ditch  or  groove.  In  de- 
scriptive ornithology,  used  chiefly  in 
the  plural,  to  denote  the  depressions 
in  which  the  nostrils  are  placed. 

FOSSORIAL,  a.  Digging  into  the  earth 
for  a  habitation.  (The  burrowing 
Owl,  Speotyto  cunicularia,  is  a  fos- 
sorial  bird.) 

FOSTER  PARENT,  n.  A  bird  which  has 
reared  the  young  of  a  parasitic  spe- 
cies. 

FOSTER  YOUNG,  n.  The  young  of  a 
parasitic  species  which  has  been 
reared  in  the  nest  of  another  bird. 

FREE,  a.  Said  of  a  leg  with  the  tibia 
unconfined  within  the  skin  of  the 
body. 

FRENTJM,  n.  A  bridle  or  marking  about 
the  head,  resembling  or  recalling  a 
bridle. 

FRINGE,  n.  A  lacerated  marginal  mem- 
brane. 

FRONTAL,  a.  Pertaining  to  the  fore- 
head. 

FRONTLET,  n.  The  extreme  anterior 
portion  of  the  forehead,  usually  dis- 
tinguished by  a  difference  of  level 
(usually  more  depressed)  from  the 
forehead,  as  in  the  Woodpeckers. 
When  divided  by  the  base  of  the  cul- 
men  (as  in  the  Woodpeckers),  the 
frontal  points  are  called  antics. 

FRUGIVOROTJS,  a.  Fruit  eating. 

FURCATE,  a.  Forked. 

FUSIFORM,  a.  Spindle  shaped,  or  taper- 
ing at  each  end. 


G. 

GALEATE.  a.  Helmeted,  or  armed,  or 
ornamented  with  a  frontal  shield,  as 
the  Galliuules,  Coots,  Cassowaries, 
etc. 

GALLINACEA,  n.  A  name  of  the  fowl 
tribe,  or  order  Qallinece  of  some  au- 
thors. 

GALLINACEOUS,  a.  Belonging  to  the 
order  Gallinaceaor  Gallinece,  or  that 
which  embraces  the  domestic  fowl 
and  kindred  birds;  having  the  char- 
acteristics or  nature  of  the  Gallinece. 

GAPE,  n.  The  opening  of  the  mouth. 

GASTR^EUM,  n.  The  lower  parts,  col- 
lectively. 

GENA,  n.  The  cheek,  or  feathered  por- 
tion of  the  lower  jaw. 

GENESIS,  n.  In  biological  science,  the 
derivation  or  origin  of  a  form, 
whether  by  evolution  or  direct  crea- 
tion. 

GENETIC,  a.  Pertaining  to  Genesis. 

GENUS,  n.  An  assemblage  of  species 
which  agree  in  the  possession  of  cer- 
tain characters  distinguishing  them 
from  otherwise  allied  forms.  (In 
taxonomic  value  a  genus  ranks  next 
below  a  subfamily.) 

GENYS,  n.  (Same  as  gonys,  which  see.) 
GEOGRAPHICAL  VARIATION,  n.  Modi- 
fication of  form  or  coloration,  accord- 
ing to  change  of  locality  or  country. 
(The  majority  of  widely-distributed 
species  are  more  or  less  affected  by 
geographical  variation,  from  varying 
influences  of  climate  and  other  sur- 
roundings. Many  species  have  evi- 
dently sprung  from  geographical 
races  through  the  extermination  of 
intermediate  specimens,  or,  in  the 
case  of  remote  islands,  by  long  and 
complete  isolation  from  the  parent 
stock.) 


GIBBOSITY,  n.   A  swelling  or  rounded 

protuberance. 
GLABROUS,  a.  Smooth. 
GNATHIDIUM,  n.  The  branch  or  ramus 

of  the  lower  jaw,  as  far  as  it  is  cov- 

ered by  the  horny  sheath.     (Chiefly 

used  in  the  plural.) 
GONYS,  n.   The  keel  or  lower  outline 

of  the  maxilla  or  lower  mandible, 

from  the  tip  to  the  point  where  the 

rami  begin  to  diverge. 


6  LOSS  Alt  r. 


671 


GRADUATED, 
GRADUATE, 


GRALLATORES, 


GRALLATORIAL,  a. 


GORGET,  n.  An  ornamented  throat 
patch,  distinguished  by  color  or  text- 
ure of  feathers,  as  the  gorget  of  a 
Hummingbird. 

GRADIENT,  a.  Walking  or  running  by 
steps.  (Same  as  ambulatory,  but 
preferable  to  tluit  term.) 

a.  A  graduated  tail  has 
the  middle   feathers 
longest,  the  rest  suc- 
cessively shorter;  the 
difference  in  length 
not  so  great,  however, 
as  in  a  cuneate  tail. 
n.  An  arbitrary  and 
artificial  group 
of  the  older  classi- 
fications, including 
the  wading  birds. 
Wading ;   pertain- 
ing to  the   wading  birds,  or  Gral- 
latores. 
GRAMINIVOROUS,  a.   Grass  eating. 

(Geese  are  graminivorous.) 
GRANIVOROUS,  a.  Seed  eating,  like  cer- 
tain Finches. 

a.  With  a  roughened 
surface,  like  coarse 
sand  paper. 

n.  The  most  posterior 
series  of  wing  coverts, 
or  those  which  imme- 
diately overlay  the  base 
of  the  secondaries; 
hence,  often  and  very 
appropriately   called 
secondary  coverts. 
GULA,  n.  The  throat. 
GULAB,  a.  Pertaining  to  the  throat. 

a.  Drop  shaped  or  tear 
shaped;    having  drop 
or  tear-shaped  spots. 
GYMNOP^DIC,  a.  Naked  at   birth. 

(Synonymous  with  ptilopcedic.') 
GYMORIIINAL,  a.  Having  naked  or  un- 
feathercd  nostrils. 

H. 

HABITAT,  n.  The  region  or  locality  in- 
habited by  a  species. 

HABITUS,  n.  Mode  of  life. 

HACKLE,  n.  A  long  lanceolate  or  fal- 
cate feather  adorning  the  neck  of  the 
domestic  cock.  ( Used  chiefly  in  the 
plural,  or  in  combination  with  neck, 
as  neck  hackles.} 


GRANULAR, 
GRANULATE, 


GREATER 
COVERTS, 

GREATER 
WING 
COVERTS, 


GUTTATE, 
GUTTIFOKM, 


HALLUCAL,  a.  Pertaining  to  the  hallux 
or  hind  toe. 

HALLUX,  ;?.  In  birds  possessing  four 
toes,  the  hinder  one  is  the  hallux,  no 
known  birds  having  four  toes  directly 
forwards.  In  some  birds,  as  certain 
Plovers.the  Bustards,  the  Strut hiones, 
etc.,  the  hallux  or  hind  toe  is  wanting. 
In  three-toed  birds  having  two  in 
front  and  one  behind,  the  hallux  is 
usually  the  one  wanting,  the  hind  toe 
being  in  reality  the  fourth  (or  outer) 
toe  reversed.  When  the  toes  are  in 
pairs  (two  before  and  two  behind), 
the  hallux  is  usually  the  inner  of  the 
hinder  pair,  the  exception  being  in 
the  Trogons.  The  hallux  reaches  its 
best  development  in  the  Passeres,  the 
Acciptires,  Striges  and  Rallida,  but 
more  especially  in  the  first,  in  which 
it  is  usually  as  strong,  if  not  stronger, 
than  the  largest  of  the  anterior  toes. 

HAMULATE,  a.  Furnished  with  a  small 
hook. 

HAMULTJS,  n.  A  small  hook;  sometimes 
applied  to  the  barbules  or  barbials  of 
a  feather,  when  hook  shaped. 

HAND  QUILLS,  n.  The  primary  quills 
or  primarie?. 

HASTATE,  a.  Shaped  like  a  spear  head. 

HEEL,  n.  The  upper  posterior  extrem- 
ity of  the  tarsus. 

HELMET,  n.  A  naked  shield  or  protub- 
erance on  the  top  or  fore  part  of  the 
head. 

HERODIONES,  n.  A  natural  group  of  al- 
tricial  waders,  embracing  the  Storks, 
Wood  Ibises,  true  Ibises,  Spoonbills, 
Boatbills  and  Herods. 

HERODIONINE,  a.  Pertaining  to  or  par- 
taking of  the  character  of  Herodiones. 

HERRING  BONE  (markings),  n.  A  series 
of  transverse  lines  or  bars  connected 
along  the  middle  of  a  feather  by  a 
longitudinal  stripe  or  line  of  the  same 
color. 

HETERODACTTL^:,  n.  The  name  of  a 
natural  group  of  birds,  including  only 
the  Trogons. 

HEXAGON,  n.  A  figure  of  six  sides. 

HEXAGONAL,  a.  Having  six  sides. 

HIND  TOE,  n.  The  posterior  toe  or  hal- 
lux, which  see. 

HIRSUTE,  a.  Hairy  or  shaggy,  as  the 
foot  of  a  Grouse. 

HISTOLOGY,  n.  Minute  anatomy. 

HOLORHTNAL,  a.  Having  the  posterior 
border  of  the  osseous  nares  rounded. 
(See  schizorhinal.) 


672 


GLOSSARY. 


HOMOGENEITY,  n.  Structural  similar- 
ity. 

HOMONYM,  n.  A  word  which  iu  several 
-ciist's  has  different  meanings;  as  Syl- 
vicola,  Swainson,  a  genus  of  birds  (now 
called  Dendroica)  is  a  homonym  of 
S///ricola,  Humphreys,  previously  ap- 
plied to  a  genus  of  mollusks.  (Oppo- 
site of  synonym.) 

HOMOTYPICAL,  a.  Of  the  same  struc- 
tural type. 

HOMOTOPY,  n.  A  particular  kind  of 
homology. 

HORNOTINE,  a.  or  n.  A  young  bird  in 
its  first  year. 

HUMERAL,  a.  Pertaining  to  the  hu- 
merus;  or,  more  generally,  to  the 
upper  arm. 

HUMERUS,  n.  The  upper  arm  bone;  or, 

the  whole  of  the  upper  arm. 
HYBRID,  a.  or  n.  The  progeny  resulting 

from  sexual  intercourse  of  distinct 

species. 
HYBRIDIZATION,  n.  Production  of  hy- 

brids. 
HYBRIDIZE,  a.  To  cross  and  bear  off- 

spring which  unite  the  characters  of 

two  species.  • 

HYEMAL,  a.  Pertaining  to  winter. 
HYOID,  a.  Properly  pertaining  to  the 

os  hyoides  or  tongue  bone*  but  fre- 

quently applied  with  reference  to  the 

tongue  itself. 
HYPERCHROMATISM,  n.  State  of  highly- 

increased  brightness  or  intensity  of 

coloration,  or  excess  of  pigment. 
HYPERTROPHY,  n.  Unusual  develop- 

ment of  a  part  or  organ.   (Opposite  of 

atrophy.) 


HYPOCHONDRIIS, 

Hi-T>r>™T,™r™    rrxr 
.ONDRIUM, 


1H 


HYPOCHONDRIAC,  a.  Pertaining  to  the 
flanks. 

HYPOGNATHOUS,  a.  Having  the  max- 
illa, or  lower  mandible,  longer  than 
the  mandible,  as  in  the  Skimmers 
(Rhynchops). 

HYPOPTILUM,  n.  An  accessory  plume, 
attached  to  the  barrel  or  stem  of  or- 
dinary feathers,  excepting  always  the 
remiges  and  rectrices.  (Essentially 
the  same  as  aftershqft.) 

HYPORADII,  n.  Barbs  of  the  hypopti- 
lum,  or  aftershaf  t. 

HYPORRHACHIS,  n.  The  aftershaft,  or 
stem  of  the  accessory  plume,  or  hy- 
poptilum. 


I. 


IGNOBLE,  a.  Said  of  certain  Hawks 
used  in  falconry.  Technically  applied 
to  the  short-winged  Hawks  (that  is, 
the  Goshawk  and  Sparrowhawk)  to 
distinguish  them  from  the  noble  Fal- 
cons (that  is,  true  Falcons). 

ILIAC,  a.  Pertaining  to  the  flanks. 

IMBRICATE,    j  a.   Overlapped,  like 

IMBRICATED,  (      shingles  upon  a  roof. 

IMPERFORATE,  a.  Not  pierced  through. 

INCISED,  a.  Cut  out;  cut  away. 

INCUBATION,  n.  The  act  of  sitting  on 
eggs,  in  order  to  hatch  them. 

INCUMBENT,  a.  Laid  at  full  length. 
( Said  of  the  hallux,  or  hind  toe,  when 
inserted  on  a  level  with  the  anterior 

Iocs.  ) 

IXDF.XTKD,  a.  Notched  along  the  mar- 
gin with  a  different  color. 

INFRA  (in  composition).  Situated  un- 
der, or  beneath.  (Opposite  of  supra, 
above. ) 

INFRAORBITAL,  a.  Below  the  orbit. 
(Same  as  suborbital,  which  is  more 
often  used.) 

INFLEXED,  a.  Turned  inward. 

INFUXDIBULIFORM,  a.   Funnel  shaped. 

INGUINAL,  a,  Pertaining  to  the  groin. 

INNER  TOE,  n.  That  situated  on  the 
inner  side  of  the  foot,  whether  ante- 
rior or  posterior,  but  usually  the 
former.  (The  anterior  inner  toe  is 
usually  the  second,  but  in  some  zygo- 
dactyle  forms,  as  the  Trogons,  it  is 
the  third,  the  second  toe  being  re- 
versed, thus  becoming  the  inner  poste- 
rior toe.  In  a  very  few,  as  certain 
Kingfishers,  the  second  toe  is  rudi- 
mentary or  wanting,  while  in  others 
the  first,  or  hallux,  is  reversed,  and 
thus  becomes  the  inner  anterior  toe.) 

INSECTIVOROUS,  a.  Feeding  on  insects. 

INSESSORES,  n.  An  obsolete  name 
formerly  applied  to  an  artificial  group 
embracing  the  Passeres  and  other 
"perching"  birds. 

INSESSORIAL,  a.  Pertaining  to  or  hav- 
ing the  character  of  perching  birds. 

INSISTENT,  a.  Said  of  the  hind  toe  when 
the  greater  part  of  its  under  surface 
touches  the  ground.  ( Same  as  incum- 
bent.) 

INTEGUMENT,  n.  A  covering  or  envel- 
ope, usually  membraneous,  as  the 
skin  of  animals,  covering  of  seeds,  etc. 

INTERMAXILLARY,  n  or  a.  The  princi- 
pal bone  of  the  upper  jaw,  or  relating 
to  the  same.  ( Same  as  premaxillary.) 


GLOSSARY. 


673 


INTERORBITAL,  a.  Between  the  eye 
sockets. 

INTERRAMAL.  a.  Between  the  forks  or 
rami  of  the  lower  jaw. 

INTERMEDIA,  n.  The  middle  pair  of 
tail  feathers,  or  middle  retrices. 

INTERSCAPULAR,  a.  Between  the  scap- 
ulars. 

INTERSCAPULARS,  n.  The  feathers  of 
the  interscapulum,  or  back. 

INTERSCAPULUM,  n.  The  region  be- 
tween the  scapular  tracts,  or  the  back 
proper. 

IMKHTROPICAL,  a.  Between  the  trop- 
ics; tropical. 

IVV.UJINATE,  a.  Sheathed. 

IRIDIAN    \a'  PertaininS  to  the  iris- 
lias,  n.  The  (usually)  colored  circle  of 

the  eye  surrounding  the  pupil. 
ISOPOGONOUS,  a.  Having  the  two  webs 

equal  in  breadth. 
ISTHMUS,  n.  A  narrow  strip,  or  neck, 

connecting  two  larger  areas. 

J. 

JUGULAR,  a.  Pertaining  to  the  jugulum. 

JUGULUM,  n.  The  lower  throat,  or  fore- 
neck,  immediately  above  the  breast. 
It  is  a  well-defined  area  in  the  Hawks, 
Vultures,  Pigeons,  Ducks,  and  some 
other  groups. 

K. 

KIDNEY  SHAPED,  a.  Somewhat  heart 
shaped,  but  without  the  point,  and 
broader  than  long. 

KNEE,  n.  Properly  the  feinoro-tibial 
joint,  concealed  in  most  birds;  but 
usually  the  tibio-metatarsal  articula- 
tion, or  heel,  is  so  called. 

L. 

(  a.  Jagged,  or  slashed  at 

TE'  -1      the  end  or  along  the 
LACINIATE,  ]      edge 

LACHRYMAL,  (bone),  n.  A  large  bone 
bounding  the  orbit  anteriorly  and 
above ;  it  is  especially  well-developed 
in  certain  Falconidce. 

LACUSTRINE,  a.  Lake  inhabiting. 

LAGOPUS,  n.  A  genus  of  birds  having 
the  tarsi  and  toes  covered  with  feath- 
ers, giving  the  foot  a  resemblance  to 
that  of  the  hare. 

LAMBDOID,  a.  L-shaped. 

LAMELLIROSTRAL,  a.  Having  a  lamel- 
late bill. 
-43 


LAMELLIKOSTKF.S.  /,.  A  group  of  birds 
embracing  the  Anatidce  and  Flamin- 
goes, in  which  the  bill  is  lamellate 
edged. 


LANCEOLATE,  a.  Lance  shaped;  taper- 

ing gradually  to  a  point  at  one  end, 

and  more  abruptly  at  the  other. 
LANUGINOUS,  a.  Woolly. 
LEG,  n.  As  generally  used,  synonymous 

with  tarsus;  as,  "legs  and  feet"  — 

tarsi  and  toes. 
LESSER  WING  COVERTS,  n.  The  smaller 

wing  coverts,  forming  a  more  or  less 

well-defined   tract   immediately    an- 

terior to  middle  coverts,  and  thence 

to  anterior  border  of  inner  wing. 
LIMBATE,  a.    Edged  with  a  different 

color. 
LIMICOL.E,  n.  The  group  of  shore  birds; 

a  more  or  less  natural  group,  embrac- 

ing the  Plovers,  Sandpipers,  Snipe, 

Curlew,  etc. 
LIMICOLINE,  a.  Shore  inhabiting;  per- 

taining to,  or  having  the  character  of, 

the  Limicolce. 

LINEOLATE,  a.  Marked  with  little  lines. 
LINING  OF  THE  WING,  n.   The  under 

wing  coverts  collectively,  especially 

the  lesser  and  middle. 
LITTORAL,  a.   Pertaining  to  the  sea 

shore. 

T  (a.  Furnished  with  mem- 

TE'  \      braueotis  flaps,  as  the  toes 
"D)     /      of  acoot(AWtca). 
LOBE,  n.  A  membraneous  flap. 
LONG  EXSERTED,  a.  Said  of  tail  feath- 

ers when  abruptly  much  longer  than 

the  rest. 
LONGIPENNES,  n.   A  group  of  long- 

wiuged  swimming  birds,  formerly 

embracing  the  Gulls  and  their  allies, 

and  the  Procellariidce  (Petrels,  Alba- 

trosses and  Fulmars),  but  properly  re- 

stricted to  the  Laridce,  Bkynchopidce 

and  Stercorariida. 
LONGIPENNINE,  a.  Pertaining  to  the 

Longipennes. 
LONGIROSTRAL,  a.  Having  a  long  bill, 

or  pertaining  to  the  artificial  and  ob- 

solete group  Longirostres. 
LONGIROSTRES,  n.   An  obsolete  group 

of  birds,  embracing  certain  long-billed 

forms. 

LORAL,  a.  Pertaining  to  the  lores. 
LORE,  n.  The  space  between  the  eyes 

and  bill  in  birds. 


674 


GLOSSARY. 


LOWER  PARTS,  n.  Entire  under  surface 
of  bird  —  chin  to  crissuui,  inclusive. 

LOWER  TAIL  COVERTS,  n.  The  feath- 
ers immediately  underneath  the  tail. 
( See  crissum. ) 

LUMBAR,  a.  Pertaining  to  the  loins. 

LUNULATE,  a.  Narrowly  crescent- 
shaped. 

LUNULE,  7i.  A  small  or  narrow  crescent. 

LURID,  a.  "A  color  between  purple, 
yellow  and  gray;"  livid. 

LUTEOUS,  a.  Yellowish;  more  or  less 
like  buff  or  clay  color. 

LYRATE,  a.  Shaped  like  a  lyre,  as  the 
tail  of  the  male  Blackcock,  or  that  of 
the  Lyre-bird. 

M. 

MACULA,  n.  A  spot. 

MACULATE,  a.  Spotted. 

MALA,  n.  The  side  of  lower  jaw.  behind 
the  horny  covering  of  the  mandible. 

MALAR,  a.  Pertaining  to  the  mala. 

MALAR  APEX,  n.  The  extreme  anterior 
point  of  the  malar  region. 

MALAR  REGION,  n.  The  side  of  the 
lower  jaw  behind  the  horny  covering 
of  the  mandible,  usually  feathered. 
In  most  birds  it  is  a  well-defined  tract, 
•extending  backward  from  the  base  of 
the  maxilla,  beneath  the  lores,  orbits 
and  auriculars,  and  bounded  beneath 
by  the  chin  and  throat. 

MANDIBLE,  n.  The  jaw;  when  not 
otherwise  indicated,  the  lower  part  of 
the  bill  is  understood. 

MANDIBULAR,  a.  Pertaining  to  the 
mandible. 

MANTLE,  n.  In  certain  Laridos  and 
some  other  birds,  the  mantle  is  that 
portion  of  the  upper  plumage  distin- 
guished from  the  other  parts  by  a 
peculiar  and  uniform  color,  suggest- 
ing, by  its  position,  a  mantle  thrown 
•over  the  body.  It  usually  includes 
simply  the  back,  scapulars  and  wings, 
and  the  term  is  perhaps  appropriate 
only  when  thus  restricted. 

MASKED,  a.  Having  the  anterior  por- 
tion of  the  head  colored  differently, 
in.  a  conspicuous  manner,  from  the 
rest  of  the  plumage. 

MAXILLA,  n.  The  jaw;  but  best  re- 
stricted to  the  upper  jaw,  sometimes 
called  upper  mandible. 

MAXILLARY,  )a.  Pertaining  to  the 

MAXILLAR,     f     maxilla  or  upper  bill. 

MEDIAL'  | a'  AIoilg  the  middle  line- 


MELANISM,  n.  A  peculiar  state  of  col- 
oration resulting  from  excess  of  black 
or  dark  pigment.  The  normal  colors 
of  the  plumage  are  replaced  by  a  more 
or  less  continuous  black  or  dusky 
color.  The  opposite  extreme  of  color 
from  albinism,  and  of  frequent  occur- 
rence in  the  family  Falconidce. 

MELANISTIC,  )  a.  Affected  with  melan- 

MKLANOTIC,   f     ism. 

MENTAL,  a.  Pertaining  to  the  chin  or 
mentum. 

MENTAL  APEX,  n.  The  extreme  an- 
terior point  of  the  chin. 

MENTUM,  n.  The  chin  or  anterior  part 
of  the  space  between  the  rami  of  the 
lower  jaw. 

MESIAL,  a.  Along  the  middle  line. 
( Same  as  medial. ) 

MESO  (in  composition).  Middle;  me- 
dian. 

MESORHINAL,  a.  Situated  between  the 
nostrils. 

METACARPAL,  a.  Pertaining  to  the 
hand  or  metacarpus. 

METACARPUS,  n.  The  hand,  exclusive 
of  the  ringers;  the  segment  of  the 
wing  between  the  carpus  and  digits. 

METAGNATHOUS,  a.  Cross  billed;  with 
the  points  of  the  maxilla  and  mandi- 
ble crossing  on  the  right  and  left. 

METATARSAL,  a.  Pertaining  to  the 
metatarsus. 

METATARSUS,  n.  That  portion  of  the 
leg  of  birds  which  in  descriptive  or- 
nithology is  called  the  tarsus;  or  that 
portion,  usually  unfeathered.  which 
extends  from  the  toes  to  the  so-called 
"knee";  that  is,  the  heel. 

MIDDLE  TOE,  n.  The  middle  one  of  the 
three  anterior  toes.  It  is  usually  four- 
jointed,  and  longer  than  the  lateral 
toes.  In  numerical  order  it  is  the 
third,  the  hind  toe  or  hallux  being 
the  first,  and  the  inner  toe  the  sec- 
ond. In  xygodactylous  birds,  it  cor- 
responds to  the  outer  anterior  toe,  the 
fourth  toe  being  reversed. 

n.  The  series  of  coverts, 
usually  in  a  single 
transverse  row,  situ- 
ated between  the  lesser 
and  greater  or  second- 
ary coverts.  They 
usually  overlap  one 
another  in  the  reverse 
manner  from  the  other 
coverts,  the  inner  or 
upper  edge  being  the 
one  exposed. 


MIDDLE 

COVERTS, 
MIDDLE 
WING 

COVERTS, 
MEDIAN 

COVERTS, 


GLOSSARY. 


675 


MIMESIS, 
MIMICRY, 


MIGRATION,  n.  Periodical  change  of 
abode,  influenced  chiefly  by  seasonal 
changes  in  climate,  in  which  case  the 
migration  is  regularly  periodical,  the 
vernal  or  spring  migration  being,  in 
the  northern  hemisphere,  northward, 
the  autumnal  migration  southward, 
but  vice  versa  in  the  southern  herni- 
sphere.  The  migrations  of  many 
birds,  however,  are  irregular  or  er- 
ratic, being  prompted  by  the  neces- 
sity of  finding  the  requisite  food 
supply.  The  Passen  ger  Pigeon, 
American  Robin,  Cedarbird,  etc.,  are 
migratory  in  this  sense;  while  the 
Tauagers,  Orioles  and  others,  which 
pass  the  summer  only  in  northern  lati- 
tudes and  the  winter  entirely  within 
the  tropics,  are  periodical  migrants. 

MIMETIC,  a.  Imitative;  pertaining  to  or 
given  to  mimicry. 

'  n.  Mockery  or  imitation  of 
voice,  shape,  color,  etc. 
The  term  protective  mim- 
icry is  applied  to  animals 
which  imitate  in  color  or 
shape  objects  by  which 
they  are  surrounded  or 
species  with  which  they 
are  associated. 

MIRROR,  n.  A  name  occasionally  given 
to  the  speculum  or  metallic  wing  spots 
of  Ducks,  etc. 

MOLLIPILOSE,  a.  Softly  downy. 

MONOGAMOUS,  a.  Mating  with  a  single 
individual  of  the  opposite  sex.  Ap- 
plied to  species  which  pair.  Those 
in  which  the  male  assists  in  incuba- 
tion and  rearing  the  young  are  doubly 
monogamous. 

MONOGAMY,  n.  The  state  of  pairing,  or 
having  a  single  companion. 

MONOMORPHIC,  a.  Of  essentially  the 
same  or  similar  type  of  structure. 
(Opposite  of  polymorphic.) 

MONOTOKOTJS,  a.  Laying  a  single  egg, 
as  the  Petrels,  Auks,  etc.  (Same  as 
uniparous.) 

MORPHOLOGICAL,,  a.  Pertaining  to 
morphology. 

MORPHOLOGY,  n.  The  science  which 
treats  of  the  laws  of  form,  or  the  prin- 
ciples of  structure.  Morphology  is 
the  basis  of  homology,  while  analogy 
is  based  upon  teleology. 

MUSTACHE,  n.  In  descriptive  ornithol- 
ogy, any  conspicuous  stripe  on  the 
side  of  the  head  beneath  the  eye. 


MUCI:ONATR.  a.   Spine  tipped,  as  the 

rectrices  of  the  Chimney  Swift  (CJice- 

tura  pelagica). 
MUCRONULATE,  a.   Tipped  with  small 

points. 
MULTIPAROUS,  a.  Producing  many 

eggs. 

MURAL,  a.  Pertaining  to  a  wall. 
MURICATE,     (  a.    Clothed  with   sharp 
MURICATED,  \      points,  or  prickles. 
MYRMOTHERINE,  a.  Applied  to  birds 

which  feed  upon  ants. 


NAPE,  n.  The  upper  portion  of  the  hind- 
neck,  or  cervix. 

NARIS,  n.  The  nostril.  The  external 
nares  open  upon  some  part  of  the 
maxilla  or  upper  mandible.  In  some 
birds  (as  the  Pelicans,  Cormorants, 
and  other  Steganopodes,  and  the  Tou- 
cans), they  are  basal  and  more  or 
less  obsolete;  in  others  (as  the  Wood- 
peckers and  members  of  the  Crow 
family),  they  are  concealed  by  the 
an^trorse  frontal  tufts  of  feathers. 
The  internal  nares  open  as  longitud- 
inal slits  in  the  posterior  portion  of 
the  palate. 

NASAL  OPERCULUM,  n.  The  scale  or 
hardened  membrane  overhanging  the 
nostril  in  some  birds. 

NASCENT,  a.  Beginning  to  grow  or  exist, 
or  in  process  of  development.  A  nas- 
cent species  is  one  which  is  yet  con- 
nected with  the  ancestral  stock  by 
individuals  of  intermediate  character. 
Well-known  examples  may  be  cited, 
in  the  Oolaptes  auratus  and  O.  mexi- 
canus,  which  possess  very  uniform 
and  pronounced  characteristics  of 
color,  etc.,  but  are  connected  by  speci- 
mens of  intermediate  characters, 
formerly  supposed  to  be  hybrids,  but 
which  are  now  with  good  reason  be- 
lieved to  be  merely  representatives  of 
the  ancestral  stock,  and  tending  more 
or  less  toward  one  or  the  other  of  the 
extremes  of  differentiation  repre- 
sented by  the  above  named  nascent 
species. 

NATATION,  n.  Act  of  swimming. 

NATATORES,  n.  Swimming  birds,  as 
Geese,  Ducks,  Gulls,  etc. 

NATATORIAL,  a.  Capable  of  swimming; 
pertaining  to  the  act  of  swimming,  or 
to  swimming  birds. 

NAVICULAR,  a.  Boat  shaped. 


676 


GLOSSARY. 


NEBULATED,  a.  Clouded,  or  indistinctly 
marked  with  faiut,  indefinite  and  ir- 
regular colors. 

NK MORAL,  a.  Pertaining  to  a  wood  or 
grove. 

NEOG.EAN,  a.  Pertaining  to  the  western 
hemisphere,  or  new  world. 

XEOSSOLOGY,  n.  The  study  of  youiig 
birds. 

NEOTROPICAL,  n.  Pertaining  to  the 
tropical  portions  of  America,  or  the 
new  world. 

NIDIFICATION,  n.  Nest  building  or  nest- 
ing habits. 

NOMENCLATURE,  n.  The  names  of 
things,  according  to  a  recognized  prin- 
ciple of  naming,  or  those  peculiar  to 
any  department  of  science.  Various 
systems  of  nomenclature  have  been 
employed  in  the  naming  of  animals 
and  plants.  Previous  to  the  institu- 
tion of  the  binomial  system  of  Lin- 
naeus (first  promulgated  in  zoology  in 
1758),  the  polynomial  system,  or  the 
use  of  several  terms  as  the  name  of  a 
species,  was  much  in  vogue.  That 
now  employed  is  the  binomial  system 
of  Linnaeus,  in  which  usually  only 
two  terms  are  used,  the  one  generic, 
the  other  specific,  but  occasionally 
modified,  according  to  requirements  of 
modern  science,  by  use  of  a  third  term 
after  the  specific  one,  for  the  designa- 
tion of  nascent  species  or  subspecies. 

NOT.EUM,  n.  The  Latin  equivalent  for 
"upper  parts." 

NUCHA,  7i.  The  nape  or  upper  part  of 
the  cervix.  ( Often,  but  incorrectly, 
used  for  the  whole  cervix.) 

NUCHAL,  a.  Pertaining  to  the  nape. 

NUPTIAL  ORNAMENTS,  n.  As  distin- 
guished from  nuptial  plumes,  any 
temporary  growth  from  the  nnfeath- 
ered  portion  of  a  bird,  characteristic 
of  or  peculiar  to  the  breeding  season. 
The  compressed  maxillary  process  of 
the  American  White  Pelican,  and  the 
accessory  or  supernumerary  portions 
of  the  bill  in  many  Alcidce,  are  among 
the  best-known  examples. 

NUPTIAL  PLUMAGE,  n.  A  particular 
plumage,  particular  to  the  breeding 
season,  characteristic  of  some  birds. 

NUPTIAL  PLUMES,  n.  Ornamental 
feathers,  acquired  at  the  approach  of 
the  breeding  season  and  cast  at  the 
close  of  that  period,  as  the  lengthened 
plumes  of  many  Herons,  the  crest  and 
filamentous  feathers  of  some  Cormo- 
rants, etc. 


o. 

OAKED.  a.  An  oared  foot  has  the  hind 
toe,  or  hallux,  united  on  one  side  with 
the  anterior  toes  by  a  web  or  connect- 
ing membrane.  Hence  the  name 
Steganopodes,  applied  to  the  group 
including  the  Pelicans,  Cormorants, 
etc.,  in  which  the  feet  are  of  this  char- 
acter. 

OBCORDATE,  a.  Shaped  like  an  inverted 
heart. 

OCCIPITAL,  a.  Pertaining  to  the  hind 
head,  or  occiput. 

OCCIPUT,  n.  The  back  part  of  the  head, 
bounded  below  by  the  nape,  anteri- 
orly by  the  vertex. 

OCKLLATE,  a.  Marked  with  ocelli,  or  eye 
spots. 

OCELLUS,  n.  A  distinct,  rounded,  usu- 
ally bright-colored  spot,  more  or  less 
resembling  the  eyes,  or  ocelli,  of  a  Pea- 
cock's train. 

OCREATE,  a.  Booted,  or  having  the  an- 
terior covering  of  the  tarsus  undi- 
vided for  the  greater  part  of  its  length. 

OLIGOTOKOUS*  a.  Producing  few  eggs. 

OMEGOID,  a.  Resembling  in  form  the 
Greek  capital  letter  omega. 

OOLOGICAL,  a.  Pertaining  to  oology. 

OOLOGY,  n.  The  science  of  birds'  eggs. 

OPERCULUM,  n.  A  lid  or  cover,  such  as 
the  scale  overhanging  the  nostrils 
(operculum  narsi)  of  many  birds. 

OPHTHALMIC,  «.  Pertaining  to  the  eye. 

ORAL,  a.  Pertaining  to  the  mouth. 

ORBICULAR,  a.  Circular. 

ORBIT,  n.  The  region  immediately 
around  the  eye. 

ORBITAL  RING,  n.  A  ring  or  circle  of 
color  immediately  surrounding  the 
eye. 

ORDER,  n.  In  natural  history,  a  group 
of  families  possessing  in  common  pe- 
culiar characteristics. 

ORDINAL,  a.  Pertaining  to  an  order. 

ORNITHIC,  a.  Pertaining  to  birds. 

ORNITHOTOMY,  ».  The  anatomy  of 
birds. 

OSCININE,  a.  Pertaining  to  the  Oscines; 
musical,  or  capable  of  singing. 

OSCINES,  n.  The  name  of  a  natural 
group  of  singing,  passerine  birds, 
comprising  the  singing  birds  par 
excellence,  characterized  by  a  highly- 
specialized  vocal  apparatus.  ( Same  as 
Polymyodce. ) 

OSSEOUS,  a.  Bony. 

OSSIFIED,  a.  Become  bony. 


GLOSSARY. 


677 


OSTEOLOGICAL,  a.  Pertaining  to  oste- 
ology. 

OSTEOLOGY,  n.  The  science  of  bones; 
descriptions  of  the  bones  or  the  bony 
structure  of  animals;  also,  the  osseous 
system. 

OUTER  WEB,  n.  The  outer  web  of  a 
feather  is  that  fartherest  from  the 
central  line  of  the  body;  in  wing 
feathers,  it  is  that  fartherest  from  the 
base  of  the  wing,  or  toward  the  outer 
edge  of  the  wing. 

OVARIUM,  j  n.    The  organ  in  which 

OVARY,      \      eggs  are  developed. 

OVIDUCT,  n.  The  tube  through  which 
i  he  egg  passes  from  the  ovary. 

OVIPAROUS,  a.  Producing  eggs  in 
which  the  young  develop  after  exclu- 
sion from  the  body. 

OVIPOSITION,  n.  Act  of  laying  eggs. 

P. 

PALAMA,  n.  The  web  or  membrane  be- 
tween the  toes  of  certain  birds. 

PALATAL,   j  a.  Pertaining  to  the  pal- 

PALATINE,  (      ate. 

PALATE,  n.  The  roof  of  the  mouth. 

PALEA,  n.  A  dewlap,  or  fleshy,  pendu- 
lous skin  on  the  throat  or  chin,  as  in 
a  Turkey  or  domestic  fowl. 

PALLIUM,  n.  A  mantle. 

{a.  Having  the  three 
anterior  toes  fully 
webbed.  (Compare 
Semipalmate  and  Toti- 
palmate. ) 

PALPEBRA,  n.  The  eyelids. 
PALPEBRAL,  a.  Pertaining  to  the  eye- 
lids. 

PALPEBRATE,  a.  Having  eyelids. 
PALUDICOLE,  a.  Marsh  inhabiting. 
PALUDINE,      j  a.  Pertaining  to  marsh 
PALUSTRINE,  (      or  swamp. 

PANDURATE,      |       Fiddle  shaped. 
PANDURIFORM,  } 

PAPILLA,  n.  .A  small,  nipple-like  eleva- 
tion. 


PAPULA,  n.  A  pimple  or  pimple-like 
elevation. 

PAPULOUS,  (  a.  Pertaining  to  or  having 

I'APULOSE,  \      pimples. 

PARAGNATIIOUS.  it.  Having  both  man- 
dibles of  equal  length,  the  tips  meet- 
ing. 


P  ARCTIC, 

PAROTID, 


PARASITE,  n.  In  oology,  a  species 
which  constructs  no  nest  and  per- 
forms none  of  the  duties  of  inculm- 
tiou  or  rearing  of  the  young,  but 
imposes  on  other  birds  for  this  pur- 
pose. A  parasitic  bird  is  also  a 
species  which  obtains  its  food  by 
systematically  robbing  other  species, 
as  the  parasitic  Jaeger  and  the  Bald 
Eagle. 

PARASITIC,  a.  Depositing  the  eggs  in 
the  nests  of  other  birds,  to  which  are 
left  the  duties  of  incubation  and  care 
of  the  young.  The  European  Cuckoo 
and  the  common  Cow  Blackbird  are 
well-known  examples. 

a.  Pertaining  to  the  region 
immediately  beneath  the 
ear. 

PASSEP.ES,  n.  A  group  of  birds  includ- 
ing the  most  highly-developed  forms, 
such  as  the  Thrushes.  Warblers,  tin- 
Sparrow  tribe,  Crow  family,  etc.,  but 
not  the  Swifts,  Hummingbirds,  King- 
fishers. Woodpeckers,  etc.,  which  be- 
long to  entirely  distinct  orders. 

PASSERINE,  a.  Pertaining  to,  or  having 
the  character  of,  the  Pu  use-res. 

a.  Having  toot h-1  i ke 
projections,  like  the 
teeth  of  a  comb,  as 
the  toes  of  the 
Grouse. 

PECTINATION,  n.  Comb-like  toothing. 

PF.CTORAL,  a.  Pertaining  to  the  breast. 

PECTUS,  n.  The  breast. 

PEDES,  n.  The  feet,  which  in  birds  in- 
cludes the  leg  below  the  tibia. 

PKLAGIC.  n.  Frequenting  the  high  seas. 

PKLASOIC,  a.  Wandering. 

PKLMA,  n.  The  under  surface  of  the 
foot. 

PENCILLATE,  a.  Brush  tipped  or  pencil- 
like. 

PENNA,  a.  A  perfect  feather. 

PENNACEOUS,  a.  Pertain  ing  to  a  perfect 
feather,  or  having  the  character  of  the 
same. 

PETROUS,  a.  Stony;  hard,  like  a  stone. 

PHALANX,  n.  In  birds,  a  joint  (not 
hinge  or  articulation)  or  segment  of 
the  toes. 

PHASE,  n.  Used  more  especially  in  the 
case  of  dichromatic  species,  as  the 
melanistic  phase,  the  rufescent  phase, 
etc. 

PICI,  n.  The  name  of  a  natural  group, 
or  order,  of  zygodactyle  birds,  com- 
prising the  Woodpeckers  and  Wry- 
necks. 


PECTINATE, 
PKCTIXATED, 


C78 


GLOSSARY. 


PICIXE,  a.  Pertaining  to  the  Wood- 
pecker tribe;  Woodpecker-like. 

a.  Capped,  or  with  the 
whole  pileum  crested. 
Different  from  crested, 
iu  that  the  latter  is  used 
PILEATE,  to  designate  aii  elonga- 

PILEATED,  ]  tion  of  the  feathers  on 
a  particular  part  of  the 
pileum,  as  &  frontal, 
vertical  or  occipital 
crest. 

PILEUM,  n.  The  cap,  or  whole  top  of 

head  from  bill  to  nape,  and  therefore 

including  the  forehead,  vertex  (or 

crown),  and  occiput. 

PILOSE,  a.  Slightly  hairy. 

a'  Havill£  wing-like  tufts 
of  elongated  feathers  on 
the  side  of  the  neck. 
PINNIFOEM,  a.  Fin-like,  as  a  Penguin's 

wing. 

PINTAILED,  a.  Having  the  central  tail 
feathers  elongated  and  narrowly 
acuminate,  as  in  the  male  Pintail 
Duck. 

PISCIVOROUS,  a.  Feeding  upon  fish. 
PLAGA,  n.  A  stripe. 
PLANTA,  n.  The  posterior  face  of  the 

tarsus. 

PLANTAR,  a.  Pertaining  to  the  planta. 
PLANTIGRADE,  a.  Walking  on  the  back 

of  the  tarsus. 
PLASTIC,  a.  Capable  of  being  moulded; 

easily  modified. 
PLUMA,  n.  A  feather. 
PLUMIPED,  a.   Having  the  feet  feath- 
ered. 

PLUMOSE,  a.  Feathered. 
PLUMULA,  n.  A  down  feather. 
PLTMULACEOUS,  a.  Downy;  bearing 

down. 

PODIUM,  n.  The  foot. 
PODOTHECA,  n.  The  whole  envelope  of 

the  legs  and  feet. 

POGONIUM,  n.  The  web  of  a  feather. 
POLLEX,  n.  The  thumb.     In  birds,  the 
joint  (homologous  with  the  index  fin- 
ger of  a  man )  which  bears  the  alula, 
or  bastard  wing. 

POLYMORPHIC,  a.  Many  formed;  con- 
taining or  consisting  of  many  forms, 
or  different  types.  In  ornithology,  a 
species  is  polymorphic  when  "it  pre- 
sents several  distinct  phases  of  color- 
ation in  the  same  locality  or  within  a 
restricted  geographical  area.  Thus, 
some  of  the  Hawks  (e.  g.,Buteosicain- 
•  soni)  are  polymorphic  in  this  sense. 


POLYMOD.E,  n.  The  name  of  a  natural; 
group  of  passerine  birds,  character- 
ized by  highly  specialized  vocal  or- 
gans. (Synonymous  with  Oscines.) 

POLYNOMIAL,  a.  or  n.  Consisting  of 
several  words,  as  the  polynomial  no- 
menclature, by  which  a  species  was 
designated  by  a  descriptive  phrase. 
This  system  of  nomenclature  preceded 
the  establishment  of  the  binomial  sys- 
tem, established  by  Linnaeus.  A  name 
consisting  of  several  words. 

POLYTOKOUS,  a.  Producing  many  eggs, 
or  young.  (Synonymous  with  multi- 
parous. ) 

POSTERIOR  TOE,  n.  In  most  birds,  the 
hallux,  or  hind  toe.  In  some,  how- 
ever, one  of  the  anterior  toes  is  di- 
rected backward,  and  also  becomes  a 
posterior,  or  hind,  toe. 

(a.  Back  of,  or  poste- 
rior  to,  the  eye_ 
The  former  is  most 
used. 

POWDEK-DOWN  FEATHERS,  n.  Pecul- 
iar, imperfect  feathers,  which  grow 
in  matted  patches,  usually  on  the  in- 
terspaces between  the  true  feather 
tracts;  characterized  by  a  greasy 
texture  and  scurfy  exfoliation.  They 
are  particularly  characteristic  of  the 
Heron  tribe,  but  are  found  in  other 
groups. 

PR/ECOCES,  n.  A  more  or  less  artificial 
group  of  birds,  whose  young  run  about 
and  feed  themselves  immediately 
after  emerging  from  the  egg.  The 
group  is  composed  of  the  orders  Gatr 
lince,  Limicolce,  Alectitrides,  An&erex, 
Pygopodes  and  Struthiones. 

PR^COCIAL,  a.  Having  the  nature  of, 
or  pertaining  to,  the  Prcecoces. 

PRESSIROSTRAL,  a.  Pertaining  to  the 
Pressirostres. 

PRESSIROSTKES,  n.  The  systematic 
name  of  the  Cuvierian  artificial  group 
of  grallatorial  birds  with  hard,  com- 
pressed bills,  comprising  the  Plovers, 
Cranes,  etc. 

PRIMARY,  n.  Any  one  of  the  quill  feath- 
ers of  the  "hand  wing,"  usually  uino 
to  eleven  in  number.  Used  chiefly  iu 
the  plural,  as  distinguished  from  the 
secondaries,  or  those  of  the  remiges 
which  grow  upon  the  forearm. 

PRIMARY  COVEKTS,  n.  The  series  of 
stiff  feathers,  usually  corresponding 
with  the  primaries  in  their  graduation, 
which  overlie  the  basal  portion  of  the 
latter. 


GL  OSS  AS  T. 


67i> 


T'uor  F.HES 
PROCERI 


A  name  given  by  Illiger 
to  the  Struthionea. 
a.  Capable  of  being 
thrust  forward  or 

PROTRACTILE,  J      elongated,  as  the 

PROTRUSILE,  j  tongue  of  the  Wood- 
pecker or  a  Hum- 
mingbird. 

PSILOP.EDES,  n.  A  more  or  less  artificial 
group  of  birds,  born  weak  and  help- 
less, and  further  distinguished  by  a 
scant  growth  of  down  affixed  to  the 
undeveloped  pterylce,  or  future  feath- 
ers, to  which  it  is  temporarily  at- 
tached. The  Passeres  and  most  of  the 
Pintras  belong  to  this  group.  (Syn- 
onymous with  G  ymnop&des.) 

PSILOP.EDIC,  a.  Pertaining  to,  or  hav- 
ing the  nature  of,  the  Psilopcedes. 

\'<\  i  -r  vci,  n,  A  very  natural  group  of 
birds,  comprising  the  Parrot  tribe 
only. 

PTERYLA,  n.  An  area  or  tract  of  the 
skin  on  which  feathers  grow.  A 
"feather  tract." 

PTERYLOGRAPIIY,  n.  A  description  of 
the  plumage,  with  reference  to  the 
distribution  of  the  feather  tracts  or 
pteryla, 

PTERYLOSIS,  n.  The  plumage,  consid- 
ered with  reference  to  its  distribution 
on  the  skin. 

PTiLOP-EDES,  n.  A  more  or  less  artificial 
group  of  birds,  instituted  by  Professor 
Sundevall,  including  those  which  at 
birth  are  covered  with  down.  (Syn- 
onymous with  Dnsypades.) 

PTILOP.EDIC,  a.  Pertaining  to,  or  having 
the  character  of  Ptilopcedes.  Clothed 
at  birth  with  down,  like  the  chick  of 
the  domestic  fowl,  a  duckling,  or  a 
gosling. 

PTIT.OSIS,  n.  Plumage. 

PULLUS,  n.  A  chick.  Applied  to  the 
downy  young  of  Ptilopcudic  or  prceco- 
i-iol  birds. 

PUNCTATE,  a.  Dotted. 

PUPIL,  n.  The  central  black  (or  dark 
blue)  spot  or  disk  of  the  eye,  enclosed 
within  the  iris. 

PYGOPODES,  n.  A  group  of  swimming 
birds,  containing  the  families  Podi- 
cipididce,  Colymbidm  and  Alcidee,  dis- 
tinguished by  the  extreme  posterior 
position  of  the  legs. 

PYGOPODOUS,  a.  Pertaining  to  or  hav- 
ing the  character  of  the  Pyyopodes. 

PYRIFORM,  a.  Pear  shaped. 


Q. 

QUILL,  n.  As  generally  used,  one  of  the 
primary  remiges;  and  perhaps  best  so 
restricted. 

QUINARY,  a.  Consisting  of  or  arranged 
by  fives.  The  quinary  system  of  classi- 
fication, formerly  much  in  vogue,  pre- 
sumed five  types  for  each  natural 
group;  that  is,  five  species  to  a  genus, 
five  genera  to  a  family,  etc. 

QUINCUXX,  n.  A  set  of  five,  arranged 
thus:  v 

E. 

RACE,  n.  A  nascent  species  or  "form," 
which  on  account  of  the  existence  of 
intermediate  specimens  cannot  be 
considered  a  species,  no  matter  how 
great  a  degree  of  differentiation  may 
have  been  reached.  Races  are  distin- 
guished as  geographical  and  local, 
according  as  to  whether  they  occupy 
extensive  or  limited  areas  of  country. 
Geographical  races  are  usually  cor- 
relative with  definite  geographical 
areas,  being,  in  fact,  the  expression  of 
geographical  variation. 

RADIAL,  a.  Pertaining  to  the  radius. 

RADII,  n.  The  barbs  of  a  perfect 
feather. 

RADII  ACCESSOR!!,  n.  The  barbs  of  a 
supplementary  feather  or  at'tershaft. 

RADIOLI,  n.  The  barbs  of  the  radii  or 
barbules. 

RADIOLI  ACCESSORII,  n.  The  barbules 
of  a  supplementary  plume  or  after- 
shaft. 

RADIUS,  n.  The  outer  bone  of  forearm. 

RAMUS,  n.  A  branch  or  fork,  as  the 
ramus  of  the  lower  mandible;  that  is, 
mandibular  ramus. 

RAPTORES,  n.  An  artificial  group  of 
birds,  including  the  so-called  "Birds 
of  Prey." 

RAPTORIAL,  a.  Pertaining  to  the  birds 
of  prey,  or  having  the  characteristics 
of  the  Raptures. 

RASOUES,  n.  The  name  of  the  Gallinr 
acece  in  some  of  the  older  classifica- 
tions. 

RASORIAL,  a.  Pertaining  to  the  Rasores 
or  scratching  birds. 

RATIT.E,  n.  A  group  of  birds,  more  or 
less  artificial,  including  those  with  a 
flat  or  unkeeled  sternum,  and  com- 
prising the  orders  Struthiones  and 
Apteryges,  all  other  existing  birds  be- 
ing included  in  the  Carinatie,  which, 
have  ;\  keeled  sternum. 


680 


GLOSSARY. 


RAUCOUS,  a.   Hoarse  voiced. 

RECTRIX,  n.  Any  one  of  the  tail  feath- 
ers. (Used  chiefly  in  the  plural.) 

UEFI: ACTED,  a.  Abruptly  bent,  as  if 
broken. 

REMKX,  n.  Any  one  of  the  longer  wing 
feathers.  (Used  chiefly  in  the  plural.) 
The  remiges  are  of  two  kinds,  namely: 
The  primary  remiges  or  quills  of  the 
hand  wing,  and  the  secondary  remiges 
or  quills  of  the  forearm. 

REXIFOIJM,  a.  Kidney  shaped. 

RFPIICVTE         \  ^    F°lded  OVel'  S0  aS  t0 

KEPL  clxED  ]  fonn  a  groove  or 
.PLICATED,  |  channei. 

(  a.  Marked  with  cross 

'    \     lines  like  the  meshes 
RETICULATED,  "j     Qf  ft  net 

RETICULATION,  n.  Net  work. 

RETRACTILE,  a.  Susceptible  of  being 

-  drawn  back  and  driven  forward,  as  a 
cat's  claw. 

RETUOSE,  a.  Directed  backward. 

RHACHIS,  n.  The  shaft  of  a  feather,  ex- 
clusive of  the  hollow  basal  portion  or 
"barrel." 

RHINAL,  a.  Pertaining  to  the  nose. 

RHOMBOID,  a.  Lozenge  shaped. 

RICTAL,  a.  Pertaining  to  the  rictus. 

RICTUS,?;.  The  gape;  sometimes  re- 
stricted to  the  corner  of  the  mouth, 
or  angulus  oris. 

ROSTRUM,  n.  The  beak. 

ROUNDED,  a.  A  rounded  tail  has  the 
central  pair  of  feathers  longest,  the  re- 
mainder successively  a  little  shorter. 
A  rounded  wing  is  one  in  which  the 
first  primary  is  short,  the  longest  quill 
being  the  third,  fourth  or  fifth,  or  one 
nearly  midway  between  first  and  last. 

RUGA,  n.  A  ridge  or  wrinkle. 

RUGOSE,  a.  Wrinkled. 

RUMP,  «.  That  portion  of  the  upper 
surface  of  the  body  lying  between  the 
interscapulars  and  upper  tail  coverts. 

RUPICOLINE,  n.  Rock  inhabiting. 

S. 

SAGITTATE,  a.  Shaped  like  an  arrow- 
head. 

SALIVARY  GLANDS,  n.  The  organs 
which  secrete  the  saliva,  or  spittle. 

SALTATORY,  a.  Progressing  by  leaps; 
hopping. 

SAURGNATHOUS,  a.  The  want  of  fusion 
of  the  parts  of  the  palate  at  mid-line. 

SATJROPSIDA,  n.  A  primary  group  of 
vertebrate  animals,  comprising  birds 
and  reptiles. 


SAXICOLINE,  a.  Stone  inhabiting;  per- 
taining to  or  having  the  characteris- 
tics of  the  Stone  Chats. 

SCABROUS,  a.  Scabby;  scurfy;  scaly. 

SCAXDENT,  a.  Climbing. 

s<  ANSOKIAL,  a.  Capable  of  climbing, 
as  a  Woodpecker.  Pertaining  to  the 
obsolete  group  Xeanitorea. 

SCAPULA,  n.  The  shoulder  blade. 

SCAPULAR,  a.  Pertaining  to  the  scapula. 

SCAPULAR  REGIOX,  n.  The  usually 
well-defined  longitudinal  'area  of 
feathers  overlying  the  shoulder  blade. 
They  lie  on  each  side  of  the  back 
(whence  the  feathers  of  the  latter  re- 
gion are  frequently  called  interscapu- 
lars). 

SCHIZOGNATHOUS,  a.  Having  the  max- 
illo-palatiue  bones  separated. 

SCHIZORIIINAL,  a.  Having  the  posterior 
margin  of  the  osseous  nares  decidedly 
slit-like  or  triangular. 

SCISSOR  SHAPED,  a.  A  scissor- stm/ml 
tail  is  one  that  is  deeply  forficate. 
thus  resembling  the  blades  of  a  pair 
of  shears. 

SCOLOPACINE,  a.  Snipe-like;  pertaining 
to  or  having  characteristics  of  the 
Snipe  family. 

SCUTELLATE,  o.  Provided  with  scu- 
tella,  or  transverse  scales. 

SCUTELLUM,  n.  One  of  the  regular 
transverse  scales,  or  plates,  of  the 
tarsus  or  toes  of  a  bird. 

SCUTIFORM,  a.  Shield  shaped. 

SECONDARY  COVERTS,  n.  Properly  the 
posterior  row  of  wing  coverts,  whicli 
overlie  the  basal  portion  of  the  sec- 
ondaries. The  greater  wing  coverts. 


QUILLS, 
SECONDARY 
KEMIGES, 


SEMIPALMATE, 
SEMIPALMATED, 


which  in  the  spread 
wing  appear  in  a  con- 
tinuous  row  with 
the  primaries. 
a.  Half-webbed; 
having  the  mem- 
brane between  the 
anterior    toes 
reaching  not  more 
than  half  way  to 
their  ends. 
SENILE,  a.  Aged;  pertaining  to  old  age. 
SEPTUM,  n.  A  partition. 
SERICEOUS,  a.  Silky. 

SEKKATED,  }  «•  Toothed,  like  a  saw. 
SESSILE,  a.   Resting  directly  upon  an 
object,  without  stem  or  peduncle. 

SETACEOUS,  a.  Bristly:  bristled. 


GLOSSARY. 


681 


:,  n.  Bristles  or  bristle-like  feath- 
ers. 

SKTIFORM,  a.  Bristle-like. 

SHAFT,  n.  The  midrib  of  a  feather. 

.SIBILANT,  a.  Hissing. 

SIDE  OF  NECK,  n.  The  space  included 
betAveen  the  cervix  and  the  juguhini. 

SIDES,  n.  The  lateral  portions  of  tlie 
inferior  surface  of  a  bird's  body,  ex- 
tending from  near  the  armpits  to  and 
including  the  flanks.  The  sides  are 
subdivisible  into  sides  of  breast,  sides 
proper,  and  flanks. 

SIGMOID,  a.  Shaped  like  the  letter  S. 

SINCIPITAL,  a.  Pertaining  to  the  sinci- 
put, or  anterior  half  of  the  pileum. 

SINCIPUT,  n.  The  anterior  half  of  the 
pileum.  (Nearly  synoiiomous  with 
forehead,  but  denoting  a  more  ext§p- 
sive  area;  that  is,  the  frontlet,  fore- 
head, and  anterior  part  of  the  crown, 
together. 

a.  Said  of  a  feather  when 


SPATULATE,  a.  Spoon  shaped;  that  is, 
gradually  narrowed  toward  the  end, 
when  suddenly  widely  expanded. 

SPECIES,  n.  The  aggregate  of  individu- 
als related  by  generic  descent,  and 
differing  constantly  in  certain  feat- 
ures, whereby  they  are  distinguished 
from  all  other  beings. 

SPK<  ULUM,  ri.  A  mirror-like  or  bright- 
colored  area,  usually  comprising  the 
secondaries,  on  the  wing  of  certain 
Ducks. 

SPINOSE  I  °"  Havin£  spines;  some- 
'  •<  times  said  of  mucronate, 
LS'  (  or  spine-tipped  feathers. 

SPURIOUS,  a.  False;  imperfect;  bas- 
tard ;  rudimentary. 

SPURIOUS  PRIMARY,  n.  The  first  p  r  i- 
mary.  when  much  reduced  in  size. 

SPURIOUS  WING,  n.  The  alula  or  bas- 
tard wing. 

SQUAMOSE,  j  a.  Scaly;  scale-like,  or 

SQUAMOUS,  (      bearing  scales. 

STEGANOPODES,  n.  A  group  of  swim- 
ming birds  characterized  by  having 
the  hind  toe  united,  on  the  inner  side, 
to  the  inner  anterior  one  by  a  full  web. 
The  group  includes  the  Pelicans  and 
allied  families.  (Same  as  Totipalmi. 

STEGANOPODOUS,  a.  Having  the  hallux 
connected  with  the  anterior  toes,  as  in 
the  Steganopodes. 

STELLATE,  a.  Star  shaped. 

STELLULATE,  a.  Resembling  little  stars. 

STERILE,  a.  Unfruitful;  barren. 


Streaked. 


STIPULA,  n.  A  newly-sprouted  feather. 

STRAGULUM,  n.  The  mantle,  or  the  back 
and  upper  surface  of  the  wings  taken 
together.  ( Synonymous  w  i  t  h  p  a  l- 
lium.} 

STRIA,  n.  A  streak. 

STRIATE,     )       g 

STRIATED,  ) 

STRIDENT,  a.  Shrill. 

STRIGES,  n.  The  name  given  to  the  Owl 
tribe  by  those  who  consider  these  birds 
as  constituting  a  distinct  order. 

STRIGINE,  a.  Owl  1  ke;  pertaining  to, 
or  having  characteristics  of,  the  Owl 
family. 

STRUTHIONES,  n.  The  ordinal  name  of 
the  Ostrich  tribe. 

STRUTHIONINE,  a.  P  e  r  t  a  i  n  i  n  g  to,  or 
having  the  characteristics  of,  the  Os- 
trich tribe. 

STRUTHIOUS,  a.  Ostrich  like. 

STYLIFORM,  (  a.  Shaped  like  a  peg  or 

STYLOID,       \      pen. 

SUBARCULATE,       )          Oi- 

SUBARCULATED,  [  °"  Slightly  arched. 

SUB-BASAL,  a.  Near  the  base. 

SUBCAUDAL,  a.  Beneath  the  tail. 

SUBCLASS,  n.  A  group  often  recog- 
nized, having  taxouomic  rank  inter- 
mediate between  a  class  and  an  order. 

SUBFAJIILY,  n.  A  subdivision  of  a  fam- 
ily, including  one  or  more  genera. 

SUBGENUS,  n.  A  subdivision  of  a  genus 
of  indefinite  value,  and  frequently  not 
recognized  by  name  except  in  the 
grouping  of  species. 

SUBMALAR,  a.  Beneath  the  malus,  or 
malar  region,  as  a  submalar  streak, 

SUBORBITAL,  a.  Beneath  the  eye. 

SUBORDER,  n.  A  group  intermediate  in 
taxonomic  rank  between  an  order  and 
a  family. 

SUBSPECIES,  n.  A  nascent  species;  a 
variation,  usually  geographical,  of  a 
species,  but  not  accorded  full  specific 
rank  on  account  of  the  incomplete- 
ness of  its  differentiation;  hence, 
usually  a  geographical  race  or  form. 

SUBT YPICAL,  a.  Not  quite  typical; 
somewhat  aberrant. 

SUBULATE,  a.  Awl  shaped. 

SULCATE,  a.  Grooved. 

SULCUS,  n.  A  groove. 

SUPERCILIARY,  a.  Above  the  eye.  A 
superciliary  streak,  in  its  usual  sense, 
denotes  a  continuous  marking  of  color 
from  the  base  of  the  upper  mandible 
over  the  eye,  and  extended  back  above 
the  auriculars  to  the  sides  of  the  occi- 
put. 


682 


GLOSSARY. 


SUPERCILIUM,  n.  The  eyebrow. 

SUPERFAMILY,  n.  A  group  containing: 
several  families,  yet  not  of  ordinary 
rank.  (Next  in  rank  below  a  sub- 
order.) 

SUPEKIOB,  a.  Lying  over;  topmost,  or 
uppermost. 

SUPERORDEB,  n.  A  group  consisting  of 
one  or  more  orders,  but  not  ranking 
as  high  as  a  class.  (Next  in  rank 
below  a  subclass.) 

SUPRA- AURICULAR,  a.  Situated  above 
the  auriculars  or  ear  coverts. 

SUPRALORAL,  a.  Situated  above  the 
lores. 

SUPRAORBITAL,  a.  Pertaining  to  the 
region  immediately  above  the  eye. 

SYMPIIESIS,  n.  A  growing  together,  as 
symphesis  of  the  lower  jaw. 

(a.  Having  two  toes 
coalescent  for  a 
considerable  por- 

SYNGNESIOUS,  tion    of     their 

[     length. 

(n.  In  natural  history,  a 
specific  or  generic 
name,  which  is  sup- 
pressed on  account  of 
having  been  proposed 
subsequent  to  another 
name  for  the  same  ob- 
ject, or  for  reason  of 
its  being  otherwise  un- 

SYNONYM,  I  available.  Thus,  the 
common  Song  Sparrow 
having  been  first  named 
fascmta,  in  1788,  by 
Gmelin,  the  name  melo- 
dia,  given  by  Wilson  in 
1810,  becomes  a  syno- 
iiyin  by  reason  of  its 
later  date.  (The  op- 
posite of  homonym, 
which  see.) 


SYNONYME, 


I 


T. 


TAIL  COVERTS,  n.  The  most  posterior 
feathers  of  the  body,  or  those  which 
immediately  cover  the  basal  portion 
of  the  tail. 

TABSAL,  a.  Pertaining  to  the  tarsus,  so- 
called. 

TARSUS,  n.  In  descriptive  ornithology, 
the  leg  of  a  bird,  or  that  portion  from 
the  foot  ( that  is,  the  toes)  to  the  heeJ 
joint. 

TECTRICES,  n.  Coverts;  especially  those 
of  the  wing. 


TECTRICES  MKDIJE, 
TKCTRICES  PER v  i  R8 JB, 


TBCTRICBS  ALJE,       )      ,1T. 
TKCTKICES  ALABES,  }»•  Wtng  coverts. 

TKCTRICES  ALABES  INFEBIOBES,  n. 
The  under  wing  coverts,  or  those  of 
the  under  surface  of  the  wing. 
TECTRICES  CAUD.E,  n.  Tail  coverts. 

n.  The  mid- 
dle wing 
coverts. 

TELEOLOGICAL,  a.  Pertaining  to  tele- 
ology. A  teleological  character  is  a 
modification  resulting  from  necessity 
of  adaptation  to  particular  ends. 
Thus,  the  naked  head  and  other  vul- 
turine  aspects  of  the  Old  World  Vul- 
tures and  those  of  the  New  World  are 
teleological,  inasmuch  as  their  mode 
of  living  necessitates  in  both  certain 
^modifications  of  external  structure 
fitting  them  to  act  the  part  of  scav- 
engers, their, actual  (morphological) 
structure  being  very  different. 
TELEOLOGY,  n.  The  science  or  doctrine 

of  adaptation. 

TEMPOTAL,  a.  Pertaining  to  the  tem- 
ples. 

TENUIROSTRAL,  a.  Slender  billed;  per- 
taining to  the  obsolete  group  Tenui- 
rostres. 

TENUIROSTBES,  n.  An  obsolete  and  ex- 
ceedingly artificial  group  of  birds, 
embracing  various   slender-billed 
forms. 
TEBETE,  a.  Cylindrical  and  tapering; 

fusiform. 
TEBMIXOLOGICAL,  a.  Pertaining  to 

terminology  (?). 

TERMINOLOGY,  n.  The  science  of  call- 
ing  things  by  their  right  names, 
according  to  fixed  or  scientific  princi- 
ples; hence,  essentially  synonymous 
with  nomenclature. 

(n.  Properly,  the  inner 
quills  of  the  wing, 
growing  from  the 
elbow  or  humerus, 
and  usually  more  or 
less  concealed  (in 
the  closed  wing)  by 
the  longer  scapulars. 
Frequently,  however, 
the  graduated  inner 
secondaries  are  in- 
correctly so  called, 
especially  when  dis- 
tinguished, as  they 
very  often  are,  by  dif- 
ferent color,  size  or 
shape. 
TESSELLATED,  a.  Checkered. 


TERTIALS, 
TERTIARIES. 


GLOSSARY. 


683 


TETRAD ACTYLE,  a.  Four  toed.  (Most 
birds  are  tetradactyle.) 

THORACIC,  a.  Pertaining  to  the  thorax 
or  chest. 

THORAX,  n.  The  chest  or  breast. 

THROAT,  n.  In  descriptive  ornithology, 
the  space  between  the  rami  of  the 
lower  jaw,  including  also  a  small  por- 
tion of  the  upper  part  of  the  foreneck. 

THYROID,  a.  Shield  shaped. 

TIUIA,  n.  In  osteology,  the  principal 
bone  of  the  leg,  between  the  knee 
and  heel;  but  in  descriptive  orni- 
thology, the  so-called  "thigh"  or 
shin. 

TIBIAL,  a.  Pertaining  to  the  tibia. 

TOMIUM,  ».  The  cutting  edge  of  the 
mandibles,  that  of  the  upper  being 
the  maxillary  tomium,  that  of  the 
lower  the  mandibular  tomium. 

TORQUATE,  a.  Collared. 

TOTIPALMATE,  a.  Having  the  hind  toe 
united  to  the  anterior  toes  by  a  web 
on  one  side,  as  in  the  Pelicans  and 
other  Steganopodes.  (Same  as  Ste- 
ganopodous.) 

TOTIPALMI,  n.  ( Same  as  Steganopodes, 
which  see.) 

TRACHEOPON.I:,  n.  The  name  of  a  nat- 
ural group  of  passerine  birds,  charac- 
terized by  having  the  syrinx  placed 
at  the  lower  end  of  the  trachea. 

TRANSVERSE,  o.  Crosswise,  or  at  right 
angles  with  the  longitudinal  axis  of 
the  body  or  feather. 

TRANSVERSELY,  a.  Crosswise. 

TRIDACTYLE,  a.  Three  toed. 

TRINOMIAL,  a.  Composed  of  three 
names.  In  biology,  a  name  com- 
posed of  three  terms — a  generic,  a 
specific,  and  a  subspecific. 

TRIVIAL,  a.  Sometimes  said  of  a  specific 
name. 

TROCHILI,  n.  The  ordinal  or  subordinal 
name  of  a  natural  group  of  Picarice, 
including  only  the  Hummingbirds. 
By  most  authors,  however,  the  group 
is  accorded  only  family  rank,  and 
associated  with  the  families  Cypselidce 
and  Caprimulgidce,  in  a  so-called  or- 
der Macrochires,  or  Cypseli. 

TRUNCATE,  a.  Cut  squarely  off. 

TYLAKI,  n.  The  pads  on  the  under  sur- 
face of  the  toes. 

TYMPANUM,  n.  Properly  the  ear  drum; 
but  also  the  naked,  inflated  air  sacs 
on  the  neck  of  some  species  of 
Grouse. 


TYPE,  n.  Of  various  signification  in 
ornithology.  The  type  of  a  genus  is 
that  species  from  which  the  generic 
characters  have  been  taken,  or  which 
is  specified  as  the  standard;  the  type 
of  a  species  is  the  particular  specimen 
from  which  the  species  was  originally 
described.  The  type,  or  typical  form, 
of  a  group  is  that  which  answers  best 
to  the  diagnosis  of  that  group. 

TYPICAL,  a.  Agreeing  closely  with  the 
characters  assigned  to  a  group,  genus, 
or  species. 

u. 

ULNA,  n.  The  posterior  bone  of  the 
forearm. 

ULNAR,  a.  Pertaining  to  the  ulna. 

UNARMED,  a.  Said  of  a  toe  which  has 
no  claw;  a  tarsus,  or  wing,  which  has 
no  spur;  etc. 

UNCIFORM,  )       Hooked 

UNCINATE,  \  a"  J        ecK 

UNDER  PARTS,  n.  The  entire  lower 
surface  of  a  bird,  from  chin  to  crissum, 
inclusive.  (Same  as  lower  parts.) 

UNDER  PRIMARY  Co  VERTS,  n.  The  pri- 
mary coverts  of  the  under  surface  of 
the  wing. 

UNDER  TAIL  CONERTS,  n.  The  feath- 
ers immediately  beneath  the  tail. 
(Practically  synonymous  with  cris- 
sum.) 

UNDER  WING  COVERTS,  n.  The  coverts 
of  the  under  surface  of  the  wing. 
Taken  collectively,  the  term  lining  of 
the  wing,  or  wing  lining  is  generally 
used. 

UNGUICULATE,  a.  Clawed. 

UNGUIS,  n.  A  claw. 

UNIPAROUS,  a.  Producing  but  one  egg, 
as  the  Petrels  and  Auks. 

UPPER  PARTS,  TO.  The  entire  upper  sur- 
face, from  forehead  to  tail,  inclusive. 

UPPER  TAIL  COVERTS,  n.  The  feathers 
overlying  the  base  of  the  tail — some- 
times produced  beyond  its  tip  and 
simulating  the  true  tail,  as  in  the  Pea- 
cock and  Paradise  Trogon. 

UROPYGIAL,  a.  Pertaining  to  the  rump. 

UROPYGIUM,  n.  The  rump. 

V. 

VANE,  n.  The  whole  of  a  feather,  ex- 
cepting the  stem. 

VARIETAL,  a.  Pertaining  to,  or  having 
the  characteristics  of,  a  variety. 


684 


GLOSSARY. 


VARIETY,  n.  Properly,  an  individual  or 
unusual  and  irregular  variation  from 
tho  normal  type  of  form  or  coloration, 
as  the  various  breeds  or  "strains"  of 
domestic  auimals,  but  the  term  is 
often,  though  improperly,  applied  to 
subspecies,  or  geographical  races. 

VENT,  n.  The  anus. 

VENTRAL,  a.  Pertaining  to  the  vent. 

VENTRAL  REGION,  n.  The  feathers  sur- 
rounding, or  immediately  adjacent  to, 
the  vent. 

fa.  Marked  with  ir- 

VKRMICULATE,     J      regular  fine  lines, 

VERMICULATED,  1      like  the  tracks  of 
(_     small  worms. 

VERMIFORM,  a.  Worm  shaped,  as  a 
Woodpecker's  tongue. 

VERNAL,  a.  Pertaining  to  spring. 

VERRUCOSE,  |       ~,r    , 

VERRUCOTJS,  r-  Wart^ 

VERSATILE,  a.  Susceptible  of  being 
turned  either  way;  reversible  as  to 
position. 

VERTEX,  n.  The  crown,  or  central  por- 
tion of  the  pileum. 

VERTICAL,  a.  Pertaining  to  the  vertex. 

VESTITUS,  a  or  n.  Clothed;  feathered. 
Clothing,  or  plumage;  as  nuptial  or 
breeding  plumage. 

VEXILLTJM,  n.  The  whole  of  a  feather, 
excepting  the  stem. 

VIBRISSA,  n.  A  bristly  or  bristle-tipped 
feather,  such  as  those  about  the  gape 
of  a  bird. 

VITTA,  n.  A  band  of  color. 


w. 

WATTLE,  n.  A  pendulous,  somewhat 
fleshy,  cutaneous  flap,  usually  bright 
colored  and  often  more  or  less 
wrinkled,  as  the  dewlap  of  a  Turkey 
and  the  gills  of  the  domestic  cock. 

WEB,  n.  Either  lateral  half  of  the  vein 
of  a  feather,  exclusive  of  the  shaft. 

WHISKERED,  a.  Ornamented  by  length- 
ened feathers  on  the  malar  region  or 
contiguous  portions  of  the  head. 

X. 

XIPHOID,  a.  Sword  shaped. 

z. 

ZONE,  n.  A  broad  band  of  color,  com- 
pletely encircling  the  circumference 
of  a  body. 

ZYGODACTYLJE,  n.  A  group  of  zygodac- 
tyle  birds,  comprising  the  families 
Rhamphastidce,  Capitonidce,  Buccon- 
ida  and  Galbulidce.  In  obsolete  sys- 
tems, the  group  was  much  more 
extensive,  embracing  all  yoke-footed 
birds,  which  are  now  divided  into 
several  distinct  groups;  e.  g.,  thePtci, 
Anisodactylce,  and  Coccyges. 

ZYGODACTYLE,  a.  Yoke  toed,  or  with 
the  toes  in  pairs,  two  before  and  two 
behind,  as  in  the  Woodpeckers,  Par- 
rots, etc.  Pertaining  to  the  Zyyodac- 
tyldB. 


INDEX  TO  SCIENTIFIC  NAMES. 


-  PAGE. 

Acauthis  linaria 422 

Accipiter  atdcapillus 258 

cooperi 256 

velox 254 

Actitis  macularia 201 

^chmophorus  occidentals 8 

^Egialitis  melorla  circumcincta 215 

montana 217 

nivosa 216 

semipalmata 213 

vocifera 212 

Agelaius  phceuiceus 398 

Aix  sponsa 71 

Ammoctramus  caudacutus  nelsoni ..  449 

henslowii 446 

leconteii 447 

sandwichensis  alaudiuus 444 

sandwichensis  savanna 442 

savannarum  passerinus 445 

Ampelis  cedrorum 512 

garrulus 510 

Anas  americana 60 

boschas 54 

carolineusis 62 

cyanoptera 66 

discors 64 

fulvigula  mactilosa 57 

obscura 55 

strepera 58 

Anhiuga  anhinga 37 

Anser  albifrons  gambeli 96 

Anthus  pensilvanicus 593 

spragueii 596 

Antrostomus  vociferus 342 

Aquila  chrysaetos 273 

Archibuteo  ferrugineus 271 

lagopus  sancti-johannis 269 

Ardea  candissima 123 

coerulea 124 

egretta 122 

herodias 119 

virescens 126 


PAGE. 

Asio  accipitrinns 296 

wilsouianus 294 

Aythya  aftiuis 84 

americana 76 

collaris 85 

marila  nearctica 83 

vallisueria 77 


B. 

Bartramia  longicauda 196 

Bonasa  umbellus 223 

Botaurus  exilis 117 

lentiginosus 115 

Branta  beruicla 100 

cauadensis 98 

canadensis  hutchinsii 100 

Bubo  virginianus 304 

virginianus  subarcticus 306 

Buteo  borealis 259 

borealis  caluvus 262 

borealis  kriderii 261 

borealis  harlani 263 

latissimns 267 

lineatus 264 

swaiusoni 265 

c. 

Calamospiza  nielanocorys 495 

Calcavius  lapponicus 430 

ornatus 436 

pictus 434 

Calidris  arenaria 184 

Cardinalis  cardinalis 483 

Carpodacus  purpureus 416 

Catharista  atrata 245 

Cathartes  aura 243 

Ceophloeus  pileatus 332 

Certhia  familiaris  americaua 622 

Ceryle  alcyon 323 

Chsetura  pelagica 849 


(6S5) 


INDEX  TO  SCIENTIFIC  NAMES. 


Charadrius  domiuicus 209 

squatarola 208 

Chari tonetta  albeola 

Chelidon  ery throgaster 504 

€hen  caerulescens 93 

hyperborea 95 

Chondestes  grammacus 451 

•Chordeiles  virginianus 347 

virginianus  henry i 348 

Circus  hudsonius 252 

Cistothorus  palustris 619 

stellaris 617 

•Clivicola  riparia 507 

Coccothraustes  vespertina 412 

Coccyzus  americanus 321 

erythroph  thalmus 322 

<:olaptes  auratus 338 

cater 340 

<k>linus  virginianus 219 

virginianus  texauus 222 

Colymbus  auritus 10 

nigricollis  californicus 12 

Compsothlypis  americana 547 

Coutopus  borealis 364 

richardsouii 366 

virens 365 

Conurus  carolinensis 315 

•Corvus  americauus 385 

corax  siuuatus 381 

cryptoleucus 382 

•Cyauocephalus  cyanocejmalus 388 

<Jyanocitta  cristata 377 

D. 

Dafila  acuta 69 

Dendroica  sestiva 550 

auduboni 553 

blackburnise 561 

cserulea 556 

coronata 551 

discolor 570 

dominica  albilora 564 

maculosa 554 

palmarum 568 

pensylvauica 558 

striata 559 

vigorsii 567 

virens 565 

Dolichonyx  oryzi  vorus 391 

JDryobates  pubescens 326 

villosus 325 

E. 

Ectopistes  migratorius 237 

Elanoides  forficatus 247 

jCmpidonax  acadicus 367 

minimus 370 

pasillus  traillii 369 


Ereunetes  pnsillus 181 

Erismatura  rubida 91 


F. 

Falco  columbarins 284 

mexicanus 280 

peregriuus  anatum 282 

richardsonii 286 

rusticolus 278 

sparverius 287 

Fregata  aquila 47 

Fulica  americaua 145 


G. 

Galeoscoptes  carolinensis 602 

Gallinago  delicata 160 

Galliuula  galeata 143 

Geococcyx  californiauus 319 

Geothlypis  formosa 578 

Philadelphia 579 

trichas  occidentalis 581 

Glaucionetta  clangula  americana...  86 

Grus  americana 132 

canadensis 183 

mexicana 134 

Guiraca  cserulea 488 


H. 

Habia  ludoviciana 484 

melanocephala 486 

Haliaeetus  leucocephalus 275 

Harporhynchus  rufus 604 

Helminthophila  celata 544 

peregrina 545 

pinus 540 

ruficapilla 542 

Helmitherus  vermi vorus 539 

Himantopus  mexicauus 154 

Hydrochelidou  nigra  surinamensis,     85 

I. 

Icteria  virens 583 

virens  longicauda 585 

Icterus  bul  lock! 405 

galbula 403 

spurius 402 

Ictinia  mississippiensis 250 

J. 

Junco  aikenl 465 

hyenialis :.  467 

hyemalis  oregonus 468 


INDEX  TO  SCIENTIFIC  NAMES. 


•"•  PAGE. 

Lanius  borealis 515 

ludovicianus 517 

ludovicianus  excubitorides 520 

Larus  argentatus  smithsoniauus —  19 

califoruiciu: :...  21 

delawarensis 28 

t'ranklinii 25 

Philadelphia 27 

Limosa  fedoa 186 

hpemastica 187 

Lophodytes  cucullatus 52 

Loxia  curvirostra  minor 417 

curvirostra  stricklaudi 420 

leucoptera 421 


M. 

Macrorhamphus  scolopaceus 161 

Megascops  asio 302 

Melanerpes  carolinus 337 

erythrocephalus 334 

torqnatus 336 

Meleagris  gallopavo 230 

Melospiza  fasciata 471 

georgiana 474 

lincolni 473 

Merganser  americanus 49 

serrator 51 

Merula  migratoria 653 

migratoria  propinqua 655 

Micropalama  hitnautopus 165 

Milvulus  forficatus 354 

Mimus  polyglottos 600 

Muiotilta  varia 535 

Molothrus  ater 395 

Myadestes  townsendii 641 

Myiarchus  crinitus 359 


N. 

Xumenius  borealis 205 

hudsonicus 204 

longirostris 202 

Nyctala  acadica 300 

Nyctea  nyctea 307 

Nycticorax  nycticorax  nsevius 128 

violaceus 130 


o. 

Oidemia  perspicillata 89 

Olor  buccinator 108 

columbianus 105 

•Otocoris  alpestris  arenicola 374 

alpestris  praticola 372 


Pandion  haliaetns  carolinensis 

Parus  atricapi Jlus 

atricapillus  septentrlonalia 

bicolor 

Passer  doincsticus 

Passerella  iliaca 

iliaca  schistacea 

Passerina  amceiia.... 


ciris  

cyanea 

Pediocsetesphasianelluscantpestris, 

Pelecanus  ery throrhynchos 

Petrochelidon  lunifrous 

Peucsea  cassini 

Phalacrocorax  dilophus 

mexicanus 

Phalaenoptilns  nuttalli 

nuttalli  nitidus 

Phalaropus  lobatus 

tricolor 

Philohela  minor 

Pic*  pica  hudsonica 

Picicorvus  columbiauus 

Piuicola  enucleator 

Pipilo  erythrophthalrnns 

maculatus  arcticus 

Piranga  ery thromelas 

rubra  

Plectrophenax  nival  is 

Plegadia  guarauna 

Podilymbus  podiceps 

Polioptila  csrulea 

Poocsetes  gramineus 

Porzana  Carolina 

jamaicensis 

noveboracensis 

Progne  subis 

Protouotaria  citrea 


290 
631 
634 
629 
662 
476 
47s 
491 
492 
489 
228 

43 
502 
469 

39 

42 
345 
346 
148 
150 
156 
375 
386 
414 
480 
482 
497 
499 
428 
109 

14 
639 
440 
139 
142 
141 
501 
537 


Q. 

Quiscalus  quiscula  seneus 410 


R 

Rallus  elegans 136 

virginianus 138 

Recurvirostra  american  a 152 

Regulus  calendula 637 

satrapa 635 

Rhynchophanes  mccownii 438 

s. 

Salpinctes  obsoletus 606 

Sayornis  phoabe 861 

saya 362 


688 


JNDEX  TO  SCIENTIFIC  NAMES. 


PAGE. 

Scolecophagus  carol  inns 408 

cyauocephalus 409 

Seiurusaurocapillns 572 

motacilla 570 

noveboracensis  notabilis 574 

Setophagaruticilla 591 

Sialia  arctica 659 

sialis <>:-)<; 

Sitta  canadensis 627 

carolinensis 626 

Spatula  clypeata 67 

Speotyto  cnnicularia  hypogsea 310 

•  Sphyrapicus  variii? 330 

varius  nuchal  is 331 

Spinus  pinus 427 

tristis 425 

Spiza  americana 493 

Spizella  monticola 458 

mouticola  ochracea 460 

pallida 461 

pusilla 464 

socialis 460 

Stelgidopteryx  serripennis 509 

Sterna  autillarnm 34 

forsteri 30 

hiruudo 32 

Strix  pratincola 292 

Sturnella  magna 400 

magna  neglecta 401 

Sylvauia  canadensis 509 

mitrata 586 

pusilla 588 

Symphemia  semipalmata  inornata,  194 
Syrnium  nebulosum 298 


T. 

Tachycineta  bicolov 506 

Tantalus  loculator 112 

Thryothorus  bewickii 610 

bewickii  bairdi 611 

ludoviciauus 608 

Totanus  flavipes 191 

melanoleucus 189 

solitarius 192 


PAGE. 

Tringa  alpina  pacifica 178 

bairdii 175 

canutns 167 

fuscicollis 173 

maculata 169 

miuutilla 176 

Trochilus  colubris 351 

Troglodytes  sedon  aztecus 012 

hieinalis 614 

Tryngites  subruficollis 198 

Turdus  alicisp 647 

aonalaschkse  pallasi 651 

fuscescens 645 

mustelinus 643 

ustulatus  swainsoni 650 

Tympanuchus  amerioanus 225 

pallidicinctus 227 

Tyrannus  tyranmis 356 

verticalis 358 

TJ. 

Urinator  imber 16 

V. 

Y ireo  atricapillus 531 

bellii 534 

flavifrons 524 

gilvus 523 

noveboracensis 532 

olivaceus 522 

solitarius 528 

X. 

Xanthocephalus  xanthocephalus...  396 
Xemasabinii 28 

z. 

Zenaidura  macroura 241 

Zonotrichia  albicollis 457 

intermedia 456 

leucophrys 454 

querula 453 


INDEX  TO  POPULAR  NAMES. 


A 

-0--  PAGE. 

Additions : 661 

Anhinga 37 

Avocet,  American 152 

B. 

Baldpate 60 

Bitteru,  American 115 

Least 117 

Blackbird,  Brewer's 409 

Red-winged 398 

Rusty 408 

Yellow-headed 396 

Bluebird 656 

Mountain 659 

Bobolink 391 

Bob-white 219 

Texan 222 

Brant 100 

Buffle-head 88 

Bunting,  Indigo 489 

•  Lark 495 

Lazuli 491 

Painted 492 

c. 

Canvas-back 77 

Cardinal 483 

Catbird 602 

Chat,  Long-tailed 585 

Yellow-breasted 583 

Chickadee 631 

Long-tailed 634 

Coot,  American 145 

Cormorant,  Double-crested 39 

Mexican 42 

Cowbird : 395 

Crane,  Little  Brown 133 

Sandhill 134 

Whooping 132 

Creeper,  Brown 622 


PAGE. 

Crossbill,  American 417 

Mexican 420 

White-winged 421 

Crow,  American 385 

Cuckoo,  Black-billed 322 

Yellow-billed 321 

Curlew,  Eskimo , 205 

Hudsonian 204 

Long-billed 202 

D. 

Dickcissel 493 

Dove,  Mourning 241 

Dowitcher,  Long-billed 161 

Duck,  American  Scaup 83 

Black 55 

Mottled 57 

Lesser  Scaup 84 

Ri  rig-necked 85 

Ruddy 91 

Wood 71 

E. 

Eagle,  Bald 275 

Golden 273 

Egret,  American 122 

Eliminations 661 

Explanations 5 

F. 

Falcon,  Prairie 280 

Finch,  Purple 416 

Flicker 338 

Red-shafted 340 

Flycatcher,  Acadian 367 

Crested 359 

Least 370 

Olive-sided 364 

Scissor-tailed 354 

Traill's 369 


—44 


(689) 


690 


IXDKX  TO  POPULAR  NAMES. 


V*  PAGE. 

Gadwall 58 

Galliuule,  Florida 143 

Guatcatcher,  Blue-gray 639 

Godwit,  Hudsonian 187 

Marbled 186 

Golden-eye,  American 86 

Goldfinch,  American 425 

Goose,  American  White-fronted 96 

Blue 93 

Canada 98 

Hutchins' 100 

Lesser  Snow 95 

Goshawk,  American 258 

Grackle,  Bronzed 410 

Grebe,  American  Eared 12 

Horned 10 

Pied-billed 14 

Western 8 

Grosbeak,  Black-headed 489 

Blue 488 

Evening 412 

Pine 414 

Rose-breasted 484 

•Grouse,  Prairie  Sharp-tailed 228 

Ruffed 223 

Gull,  American  Herring 19 

Bonaparte's 27 

California 21 

Franklin's 25 

Ring-billed 23 

Sabiue's 28 

Gyrfalcon,  Gray 278 


H. 

Hawk,  American  Rough-legged 269 

American  Sparrow 287 

Broad-winged 267 

Cooper's 256 

Duck 282 

Harlan's 263 

Krider's 261 

Marsh 2.V' 

Pigeon 284 

Red-shouldered 264 

Red-tailed 259 

Sharp-shinned 254 

Swainson's 20r> 

Hen,  Prairie •>:>:> 

Lesser  Prairie 227 

Heron,  Black-crowned  Night 128 

Great  Blue 119 

Green 126 

Little  Blue 124 

Snowy 123 

Yellow-crowned  Night 130 

Hummingbird,  Ruby-throated....  351 


•*•*  PAGE. 

Ibis.  White-faced  Glossy 109 

Wood 112 

J. 

Jay,  Blue 377 

Pinon 388 

Junco.  Oregon 468 

SI  ale-colored 467 

White-winged 465 

K. 

Killdeer 212 

Kingbird 356 

Arkansas 358 

Kingfisher,  Belted 323 

Kinglet,  Golden-crowned 635 

Ruby-crowned 637 

Kite,  Mississippi 250 

Swallow-tailed 247 

Knot 167 

L. 

Lark,  Desert  Horned 374 

Prairie  Horned 372 

Lougspur,  ChestnmVcollared r  436 

Lapland 4:50 

McCown's 438 

Smith's 434 

Loon 16 

M. 

Magpie,  American 375 

Mallard 54 

Man-o'-War  Bird 47 

Martin,  Purple 501 

Meadowlark 400 

Western 401 

Merganser,  American 49 

Hooded 52 

Red-breasted 51 

Merlin,  Richardson's 286 

Mockingbird 600 

N. 

Nighthawk 347 

Western 348 

Nutcracker,  Clark's 386 

Nuthatch,  Red-breasted 627 

White-breasted 626 

o. 

Oriole,  Baltimore 403 

Bullock's 405 

Orchard 402 


INDEX  TO  POPULAR  SAVES. 


C(J1 


PAGE. 

Osprey,  American 290 

Oven-bird 572 

Owl,  American  Barn 292 

American  Long-eared 294 

Barred 298 

Burrowing 310 

Great  Horned 304 

Saw-whet 300 

Screech 302 

Short-eared 296 

Snowy 307 

Western  Horned 306 

P. 

Parc.iuet,  Carolina 315 

Pelican,  American  White 43 

Pewee,  Wood 365 

Western  Wood 366 

Phalarope,  Northern 148 

Wilson's 150 

Phoebe 361 

Say's 362 

Pigeon,  Passenger 237 

Pintail 69 

Pipit,  American 593 

Sprague's 596 

Plover,  American  Golden 209 

Belted  Piping 215 

Black-bellied 208 

Mountain 217 

Semipalmated 213 

Snowy 216 

Poor-will 345 

Frosted 346 

E. 

Kail,  Black 142 

King. 136 

Virginia 138 

Yellow 141 

Raven,  Mexican 381 

White-necked 382 

Redhead 76 

Redpoll 422 

Redstart,  American 591 

Red-tail,  Western 262 

Road-runner 319 

Robin,  American i;.vi 

Western 655 

Rough-leg,  Ferruginous 271 

s. 

Sanderling 184 

Sandpiper,  Baird's 175 

Bart  ramian 196 

Buff-breasted 198 

Least 176 


Sandpiper,  Pectoral 169 

Red-backed 178 

Semipalmated 181 

Solitary 193 

Spotted : 201 

Stilt 165 

White-  ru  mped 173 

Sapsucker,  Red-uaped 331 

Yellow-bellied 330 

Scoter,  Surf 89 

Shoveller 67 

Shrike,  Loggerhead 517 

Northern 515 

White-rum ped 520 

Siskin,  Pine 427 

Snipe,  Wilson's 160 

Snowflake 428 

Solitaire,  Townseud's 641 

Sora 139 

Sparrow,  Cassiu's 469 

Chipping 460 

Clay-colored 461 

English 662 

Field 464 

Fox 476 

Grasshopper 445 

Harris's 453 

Henslow's 446 

I ntermediate 456 

Lark 451 

Leconte's 447 

Lincoln's 473 

Nelson's 449 

Savanna 442 

Slate-colored 478 

Song 471 

Swamp 474 

Tree 458 

Vesper 440 

Western  Savanna 444 

Western  Tree 460 

White-crowned 454 

White-throated 457 

Stilt,  Black-necked 154 

Swallow,  Bank 507 

Barn 504 

Cliff 502 

Rough-winged 509 

Tree 506 

Swan,  Trumpeter 108 

Whistling 105 

Swift,  Chimney 349 

T. 

Tanager,  Scarlet 497 

Summer 499 

Teal,  Blue-winged 64 

Cinnamon 66 

Green-winged 62 


692 


INDEX  TO  POPULAR  NAMES. 


PAGE. 

Tern,  Black 35 

Common 32 

Forster's 30 

Least 34 

Thrasher,  Brown 604 

Thrush,  Gray-cheeked 647 

Hermit 651 

Olive-backed 650 

Wilson's 645 

Wood 643 

Titmouse,  Tufted 629 

Topography  of  a  Bird 4 

Towhee 480 

Arctic 482 

Turkey,  Wild 230 

Y. 

Vireo,  Bell's 534 

Black-capped 531 

Blue-headed 528 

Red-eyed 522 

Warbling 523 

White-eyed 532 

Yellow-throated 524 

Vulture,  Black 245 

Turkey 243 

w. 

Warbler,  Audubou's 553 

Black  and  White 535 

Blackburnian 561 

Black-poll 559 

Black-throated  Green 565 

Blue-winged 540 

Canadian 589 

Cerulean 556 

Chestnut-sided 558 

Hooded 586 

Kentucky 578 

Magnolia 554 


Warbler,  Mourning 579 

Myrtle 551 

Nashville 542 

Orange-crowned 544 

Palm 568 

Parula 547 

Pine 567 

Prairie 570 

Prothonotary 537 

Sycamore 564 

Tennessee 545 

Wilson's 588 

Worm-eating 539 

Yellow 550 

Water-Thrash,  Grinnell's 574 

Louisiana 576 

Waxwing,  Bohemian 510 

Cedar 512 

Whip-poor-will 342 

Willet,  Western 194 

Woodcock,  American 156 

Woodpecker,  Downy 326 

Hairy 325 

Lewis's 336 

Pileated 332 

Red-bellied 337 

Red-headed 334 

Wren,  Baird's 611 

Bewick's 610 

Carolina 608 

Long-billed  Marsh 619 

Rock 606 

Short-billed  Marsh 617 

Winter 614 

Western  House 612 

Y. 

Yellow-legs 191 

Greater 189 

Yellow-throat,  Western 581 


INDEX  TO  PLATES. 


PAGE. 

PLATE  I        7 

PLATE  II       19 

PLATE  III      37 

PLATE  IV      49 

PLATE  V       59 

PLATE  VI      71 

PLATE  VII    87 

PLATE  VIII  99 

PLATE  IX      119 

PLATE  X       137 

PLATE  XI      169 

PLATE  XII    199 


PLATE  XIII    ... 

PAGE. 

219 

PLATE  XXV 

PAOE. 

...  385 

PLATE  XIV    ... 

231 

PLATE  XXVI     .  . 

...  403 

PLATE  XV 

247 

PLATE  XXVII  ... 

...  423 

PLATE  XVI    .. 

.  ..  259 

PLATE  XXVIII 

...  451 

PLATE  XVII  ... 

265 

PLATE  XXIX     ... 

...  473 

PL  VTE  XVIII 

.  275 

PLATE  XXX 

493 

PLATE  XIX    ... 

287 

PLATE  XXXI     ... 

...  515 

PLATE  XX 

.....  295 

PLATE  XXXII  ... 

PLATE  XXI    ... 

307 

PLATE  XXXIII... 

...  573 

PLATE  XXII  ... 

325 

PLATE  XXXIV  ... 

...  601 

PLATE  XXIII... 

343 

PLVTE  XXXV   ... 

...  629 

PLATE  XXIV... 

...  365 

NOTE. —  I  regret  that  some  of  the  illustrations  are  not  brought  out  as  fully  and  distinctly 
as  they  ought  to  have  been,  and  that  the  shadows  upon  many  shade  so  deeply.  Had  the  plates 
been  received  in  time,  the  defective  ones  wonld  have  been  corrected,  but  the  book  was  ready 
for  binding  long  before  their  receipt,  and  the  work  could  not  be  delayed  longer. 

N.  S.  G. 


THIS  BOOK  IS  DUE  ON  THE  LAST  DATE 
STAMPED  BELOW 

RENEWED  BOOKS  ARE  SUBJECT  TO  IMMEDIATE 
RECALL 


LIBRARY,  UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA,  DAVIS 

Book  Slip-70m-9,'65(F7151s4)458 


. 


N°  452010 

Goss,  N.S. 

History  of  the 
birds  of  Kansas. 


QL684 


LIBRARY 

UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA 
DAVIS 


